I’m doing IMFL and read on the website that if I’m not there on Thursday, 2 days before the race, I can’t do the race. Why? What’s the purpose of having packet pickup 2 days before and requiring that the whole trip be a day longer?
From the IMFL site:
**I can’t make it to PCB until Friday, what should I do? **If you can’t make it until the Friday you will not be able to participate in the event. All athletes must register by Thursday , no exceptions
From the IMFL site:
**I can’t make it to PCB until Friday, what should I do? **If you can’t make it until the Friday you will not be able to participate in the event. All athletes must register by Thursday , no exceptions
I don’t think that is required of pro’s though?
Thursday?, you should be there on Wednesday. That will allow you to enjoy all the great activities in PCB. Which include Wallmart, Omelet House, Waffle House and the grand daddy of them all…the RV Sales center.
it is my understanding that you can email them to make arrangements to pick up your packet on the Friday.
Didn’t think of that. Thanks.
You need to be in Panama City on Thursday because instead of the confusing array of writsbands and swim caps, race organizers will be grouping waves and participants through varying lengths and styles of “mullet” haircuts.
These hair cuts are also camoflauge and should protect you from cock-eyed rednecks looking to mow down “sissy triathletes”
The purpose of Thursday packet pick-up is to force you to in essence stay an extra night in your hotel. Since the PCB tourist development council is one of the big sponsors of the race, they’ve got to get their money’s worth out of the deal.
(and if you can’t handle the Waffle House, go west about 30 miles. Much more upscale area with some great restaurants- Basmati, Criolla’s, The Red Bar, Elephant Walk, Cafe 30-A, off the top of my head, and there’s the thrill of finding something neat on the $10 rack at the Saucony store at Silver Sands outlet mall near Destin)
I’m going to PCB with my family. Can you tell me some good places to shop and what roads to get there on?
Like that one 30 miles west…what hwy and what are we gonna look for. Thanks!
I’m actually about 45 miles west of there, and haven’t road tripped that far east in a while.
Silver Sands Outlet Mall- not always the best prices on everything, but if you poke around, there is good stuff at very good prices. Take US 98 east towards Destin for something like 45 minutes. It’s just past the big Sandestin Resort complex on the north side of the road. My favorite places there-Westpoint for linens, the Saucony store for its $10-$15 sample sale rack, Polo, J Crew and Banana Republic for clothes. There’s a really really good pizza place called Ciao Bella in the western part of the mall, and the gelato place gets a thumbs up as well. There are a couple of shopping areas in the Sandestin Resort (Market Shops at Sandestin, Village of Baytowne Wharf) that offer higher end clothing and such, but you will pay full metal retail price.
Bass Pro Shops- interesting for it’s giant aquarium (see what you’re going to be swimming in the Gulf with) and lots of different fishing and hunting gear but I find it overstimulating. Should be a source of decently priced CO2 cartridges, but I haven’t priced them there yet. Also on US 98 about 10 miles west of the outlet mall. A bunch of other stores in the same development (Destin Commons) are scheduled to open some time in November.
Seaside- cute to the point of twee beach town that was the set for the movie The Truman Show. Take US 98 west across the Walton County line, go left (south) on CR 30-A for a while. Good bookstore, interesting, but spendy stores. Similar smaller cute little beach developments with shopping areas- Carillon Beach at US 98 right by the Bay County/Walton County line, Rosemary Beach on 30-A before you get to Seaside.
Alvin’s Island- the ever present t-shirt store chain. There’s a big one somewhere on the main PCB road that has a live gator enclosure that’s kind of neat. Ask directions from whoever you’re staying with. They’ll know what you’re talking about.
There’s a big new shopping center (The Pier Park development) in the planning in PCB, that is eventually going to be pretty cool, but it’s probably a couple years before completion. The Panama City mall is a generic mid-sized mall with the same stores you get at every other mid-sized mall in the US.
For general food, the good grocery store chain is Publix. Very reasonable prices for Gatorade and Clif Bars, their deli subs are good when you want a quick no-fuss meal, and they’re a major sponsor for one of the big tri series in Florida (Publix Family Weekends)
Thanks! This will give us something to do other than the beach thing.
According to an email I just received from IMNA, there will be late reg. from 9-11 am on Friday.