If you were asked this question what would you consider to be some of the most important components of a race that would make you come back year after year without hesitation.
If you had to choose between two similar races on the same weekend in close proximity what would be your reason? Please rank in order of importance.
Good Swag (ie. Technical T’s instead of cotton, socks etc.) Entrance Fees Travel Considerations USAT or Non-USAT sanctioned Prizes Finisher medals/hats (more swag) Pre/Post race events such a carbo-loading dinners. Course layout. Course safety. Course distance accuracy. Aid Station amenities. Qualifier for another event. Other (please add)
Pre/Post race events such a carbo-loading dinners./Good Swag /Finisher medals/hats
I’m only doing Sprint and Oly, so aid station amenities are not so important, as long as there are a few water stops on the run. I also only do local races, so that either makes travel considerations n/a or the number 1 priority depending on how you look at it.
How about the course aesthetics? For example the San Jose Oly is a well run race with great post race goodies but frankly the course is just plain ugly. I realize it is a race, but the location is big for me. By contrast, one of my favorite races is Donner Lake Oly. Swim in beautiful and clear Donner lake, then the drop dead gorgeous ride over Donner Pass with enough granite to make you think you are in the Alps and finally a very nice loop around the lake. And the post race location on the beach is great. In San Jose, you run around a cement pond the color of nuclear waste. Just not the same vibe for me.
Don’t mean to degrade J&A as they are first rate…just trying to illustrate my own view on this.
Other: Venue and chip timing (I hate trying to get my own splits)
My favorite race of all time is the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Oly). Big Kahuna (Half) is almost the same.
Swim around the SC pier and hear the Sea Lions barking at you. Last year we had one swimming in the middle of the pack. Scared the crap out of a couple of guys who saw him go by underwater!!
Bike on scenic Hwy 1 (PCH for you SoCalers)
Run along the cliff, overlooking the ocean.
Weather is always just right. It’s a little slice of heaven and a reasonably fast course.
Option for the same weekend is Bethel Island. It’s closer to home, a smaller (weaker) field, flat as a tabletop… a PR course with a solid chance of making the podium. I’ll do it the day Santa Cruz sells out before I get in.
5-USAT (usually assures me that at there will be at least an attempt to control drafting)
6-distance accuracy
7-aid stations, for instance make sure you have what you advertise as someone might not take gel on the run assuming they will find it at the aid station
8-Good swag, tech Ts are cool
9-Prizes/medals
10-qualifier (last because I don’t think it’s really a choice when your are putting most races, either it is or it isn’t)
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“This is my focus race for the season and I can’t wait.”
It’s my “A” race every year, and next year I should be aging up to 55-59, so a chance to finish high (and get away from Dean Harper, who will go under 2:05 at 51 years of age).
See you there, I’ll be the guy on the Black Stealth flying the TSR colors. I’ll be in the the last men’s wave, so if you swim real slow, you’ll get to pass me on the run. I usually show up for that race at about 4:30, to get prime rack space, near the bike out.
I happen to like the course a lot, although we had a bit of wind this year. The first part of the bike is a bit dull, but it’s slightly downhill, so I was too busy hammering to really notice. The back side is OK, but not great. Overall, the bike course is very nice, from a rider’s perspective. I don’t notice much other than that.
“The run… hmmmm… don’t remember the run. Musta been tired:)”
You and me both, bro’. couldn’t find my legs.
So how’d you do?
Friend of mine won Clydesdale, and blew by me so fast (about 6:30 pace) that he almost knocked me down. I tried to jump on him for a draft, but he was rockin’ and I was fadin’…
“J&A’s Uvas race is a truly nice venue.”
It’s a pretty course, but every time I sign up for that race (three tries) I get hurt and don’t make it to the start line.
BTW, J&A’s Folsom Int’s (8/15) is a cool venue as well. I’m doing it as a relay, because I’ll be two weeks off of Half Vineman.
The run… hmmmm… don’t remember the run. Musta >been tired:)"
You and me both, bro’. couldn’t find my legs.
So how’d you do?
Friend of mine won Clydesdale, and blew by me so fast (about 6:30 pace) that he almost knocked me down. I tried to jump on him for a draft, but he was rockin’ and I was fadin’…
It was my first olympic distance race. Quite a shift from Uvas, distance wise. Ended up 2:10 because of a penalty. But now I know the drafting rules better:)
I was originally going to do folsom also but have decided to try to stay closer to home. Santa Cruz is nice and close.
Regarding the Pre- and Post race events: you ought to post a separate question asking people to related stories on their best and worst experiences for each of these and, of course, why.
I did IM Florida last year and I gotta say the post-race event was mostly lame. The food was hideous. For $50 x number of attendees I figure they ought to be able to contract with a few dozen caterers who can put out a tastey spread that will suit many people. Spread the risk; some of the caterers will get it right. Instead, they contracted with some mush manufacturors… I felt like it was gradeschool quality.
On the upside, the organizers did a fine job slamming together a complete race video in time for this event.
“It was my first olympic distance race. Quite a shift from Uvas, distance wise. Ended up 2:10 because of a penalty.”
Woah, so you were 2:07 straight up before being docked? That’s awesome. If I could get over all the runner’s injuries, I’d have a shot at 2:15, which would get me on the podium and possibly the top step for my AG. But then you’re AG is quite a bit deeper…
Still, what I wouldn’t give to be able to do 2:10. And 2:07 would have put you top five in your AG? First try? Wow.
The penalty was 2 minutes, so I think it was closer to 2:08 w/out. My age group is deep, but nowhere near as deep as 30-34. Not looking forward to aging up:)
Having just returned from a first year 1/2 IM the topic is fresh on my mind:
Get me the important info well before the race. (course map, aid stations, real distances, etc.)
Do just enough in the race so that I can concentrate on racing. This means have aid stations where you told me you would have them, don’t run out of water, don’t run out of cups. Have at the aid stations exactly what you told me you would have. I don’t really care what is at the stations so just water and gatorade is fine with me, but have it there. Having a volunteer at the aid station is also good. A 10 gal. water cooler bottle sitting on the ground is not an aid station. Control traffic just enough that I can focus on racing and not worry about becoming road kill. Mark the !@#!$ course so that I don’t have to stop passing traffic to ask if they’ve seen any runners up ahead!
Can I add one? How about crowd appeal and athlete visibility? I love to take my family to these races and the ones they enjoy the most have the most visibility to the transitions, finishing lanes, great announcers, and friendly coordinators/volunteers.
This is only my first ‘official’ year on the tri-scene, but the races I’ve attended and dragged my family along were more enjoyable for all of us when they could see what’s going on and get excited about the event.
Ralph’s was my first event and the setup, announcers, volunteers, and racers were great - so in my families eyes all events are compared to this one. The last couple of races I’ve competed in have been smaller regional/local events where the racers numbered in the hundreds (not thousands), and while it’s expected to have a smaller production level at the smaller events, I still hope to have the same level of friendliness, visibility, and excitement.
My wife made a comment after my last race (an Xterra event) about the arrogance of some of the coordinators/event planners, and racers, and it was disappointing to hear. Unfortunately, this was not the first time she noticed this. I understand the event coordinators are overwhelmed with the responsibilities of pulling off a fantastic race, but they do have to make sure the families and race watchers are treated with respect! Especially if some of them are kids (like mine, age 7, and 12) who are starting to get excited about racing too.
Just like in real estate: location, location, location. Rural, scenic and hilly get my vote.
Safety is also a concern although there is one race I may do even though it scares the hell out of me. It’s a race in a beautiful area but goes through a small touristy type town with almost no traffic control. There are cars angle parked downtown and occasionally back out into the path of riders. There is a left turn from a busy highway where you must watch your own ass. It’s something of a handicap for for the safety-minded as the young and brave blast on through while some of us, wanting to live through the season, slow down. I recommended that the RD at least put up a sign that a race is in progress.
