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The "Let's Set a Date for the IMWI Tri-Rally" Thread

Coach RichCoach Rich
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EN MidWest Sleeper Cell...ACTIVATE!!

Tell me when the IMWI camp should be. Since the dawn of time I've always done my camps up there the weekend after 4th of July, so as to not conflict with the holiday weekend and to kinda mark the transition from general prep to race prep for IMWI athletes. This has worked well and last year we had 70+ people at the camp.

However, feedback that P received from you guys at the expo this past weekend was that the proposed date of July 7-10 conflicts with a couple local races.

So...please propose some new dates for me. I'm good with anything OTHER THAN the weekend of your final race rehearsal per the plans. The weekend of your first RR would be ideal which, by my math, is the weekend of Aug 6-7? What say you?

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Comments

  • mattsullmattsull

    I would prefer the original date of July 10th. Works out better for me to do a BBW then. I'm also fine with August 6-7 and would be doing my RR up there anyway. I'm good with whatever the group decides on.

  • DanielaDaniela
    What weekend doesn't have a couple local races...? I've asked for the July date off work, but might be able to change it. From what I've seen from last year (wasn't there) there seemed to be a lot of information that I would want to know earlier than later (it's my first IM). Anyway, I'll do whatever.
  • manconamancona
    The major conflicting race I know of is Muncie 70.3 which a number of EN members are already signed up. Additionally there are two other local halfs the following weekend. I did my own BBW aronud the camp last year and felt it during Racine 70.3 last week, but that was my own stupidy.

    I agree with Daniela, during July and August its tough as pretty much every weekend is going to conflict with someones race, so no matter what someone won't make it.

    If the goal is to do a Race Simulation like ride on the course again my suggestion would be the weekend of the first RS like you suggested, because that just makes sense as the majority of the team will want to do that type of ride that weekend and being on course is an added bonus. Plus the timing of the RS is a good time to start mentally making the change to race and execution mode so a good time to here the 4 keys type talks.

    I understand why you always did the weekend in early July but is seems really early for a race simulation.
  • gilliattgilliatt
    June, July, and August are tough months for everybody. We get roughly 100 days of good summer weather (give or take 30). Unfortunately you aren't going to make everybody happy. The original dates sound good to me. I will be there with bells (and chamois cream) on.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks

    I need to have this date settled very soon. It's on my calendar for July 7-10. I am supposed to travel to Boston for a professional conference on the 10th and I am currently planning to fly out of Madison. I also received an invitation to another (optional) conference that conflicts (July 6-8) with the Madison rally date. I am currently planning to turn that down, but I would go if you moved it.



    The weekend of July 15-17 is out because of my conference (alluded to above)

    The weekend of July 22-24 is out for me because it's my son's A-race for the summer, and I'm going with him and doing it with him.



    The weekend of Aug 5-7 does look ok.

  • jburbattjburbatt

    I'd personally love any weekend but the Muncie weekend, as I would like to meet up with everyone and get up to Madison to ride.



    In the IMWI area (IL,IN,WI,IA,MN,MI) it looks like there are 5 HIM/IM distance races in July and August (help me out if I forgot a race):



    July 9- Muncie 70.3

    July 17- Racine 70.3, Door County

    July 23- Chisago Half Iron Distance

    August 14- Steelhead

    August 21- Pigman



    I think the August 5-7 date would work well, and allow most that might want to attend the opportunity to attend. As Matt said, it looks like we have a large group of ENers doing Muncie, and I know a lot of people like Racine and Door County. Doing the camp in August would allow those people to do their races and still attend the camp as a BBW. That's my vote!

     

  • Beth_SBeth_S

    I vote earlier in the season June/July v. August. But my season is flexible.

  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    Posted By Jennifer Burbatt on 03 Feb 2011 09:07 AM

    I'd personally love any weekend but the Muncie weekend, as I would like to meet up with everyone and get up to Madison to ride.



    In the IMWI area (IL,IN,WI,IA,MN,MI) it looks like there are 5 HIM/IM distance races in July and August (help me out if I forgot a race):



    July 9- Muncie 70.3

    July 17- Racine 70.3, Door County

    July 23- Chisago Half Iron Distance

    August 14- Steelhead

    August 21- Pigman



    I think the August 5-7 date would work well, and allow most that might want to attend the opportunity to attend. As Matt said, it looks like we have a large group of ENers doing Muncie, and I know a lot of people like Racine and Door County. Doing the camp in August would allow those people to do their races and still attend the camp as a BBW. That's my vote!

     

    JB, thanks for putting these dates together for me.

    I'm inclined to go with my August date:

    • More likely get/not conflict with the July race peeps.
    • Sounds like many of you, and likely other EN training plan peeps, were planning to use the course for an RR that weekend anyway.
    • Anyone racing IMWI whose also racing Steelhead or Pigman...that's not a good idea and I'd try to talk you out of it anyway.

    So....August 4-7 it is?

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Next order of business...the weekend schedule. Notes:

    • Friday and Saturday rides will both be RR opportunities. Last year no one took advantage of the "epic" ride opportunity on Saturday, with most deciding to just ride the course again.
    • I think the discussions were valuable.
    • Not going to do the catered thing. Too much work on our end, I don't think the food was that great, and not really a value added to the camp...more of a potential liability of there's not enough food, etc. Agreed?
    • I would like to do a Team-only dinner/social but not sure where/how to fit it in? Between whatever your schedule is for Thursday, how hungry you are Friday and Saturday, it's tough to fit in. Any suggestions?

    Host Hotel: Clarion. I think this worked well last year.

    Thursday:

    • 5:30p: camp registration, get your schwag back, etc
    • 6-8p: Four Keys Talk, questions, etc. Likely won't take that long but planning for the time.
    • 8-10p, beerz somewhere. Great Dane has been the old-standby but I'm open to suggestions. The upstairs gets loud.

    Friday:

    • 7:45 -- Team picture in EN kit
    • 8:00 -- RR of the course, optional brick afterwards
    • 6pm -- Rich debrief's RR, discusses "advanced" IM racing topics: bike fit, set up, nutrition, hydration, transitions, etc
    • 8p EN-only social somewhere?

    Saturday:

    • Basically the same schedule as Friday.
    • Evening discussion will be on IM training.

    Sunday:

    • Long run on the course, camp ends.

    Suggestions?

  • William JenksWilliam Jenks

     I just looked up in the 2010 season planning tool when the various events were.  RR #1 was scheduled at the end of Week 6 (with week 12 being the race).  That is actually the week before Aug 4-7, i.e., July 28-31.

     

    As long as you don't mind dealing with a lot of us asking how to adjust to that, I don't see a compelling reason that Aug 4-7 is worse than July 28-31.

     

    ---------

     

    On the schedule, here are my thoughts:

     

    I found the dinner to be a nice social event that added to the camp.  I agree that too little food etc can be a risk and that the arrangements may have been a pain...but the idea of a social dinner for campers is a great one I think.  It lets people schmooz but still get to bed early and/or not drink a lot of beer if those are their choices.  It also lets people who are thinking about joining EN meet some of the folks.  Is there an alternative way of doing this, e.g., by doing the same kind of "reservation required" business but having it at a sit down and/or buffet place willing to let us use a room?  For youth sports dinners, we've held them at not-very-exciting Italian buffet (read: mostly pizza/pasta).  The food isn't great, but that's not why you're there.

     

    Coach talks/discussions are essential...for real information, for "marketing", and to orient people as to what's going to go on the next day.  It's a tentpole around which the rally feels organized.

     

    Clarion worked fine.

     

    Friday evening EN-only event looks like the best place for it.  Looks to me like the time frame is tight unless the EN team event is dinner.  Otherwise, make your talk start at 5 so that we get out by 6:30 and can eat before getting to the post-meal EN event by 8:00. 

     

     

     
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Ok, my calendar math sucks. Can someone confirm WJ's math is correct for me and we'll go with that new, new date.

    Dinner for campers:

    Needs to be buffet style at the host hotel, otherwise we (the camp) loses too much to the admin of driving, being seated, etc. Buffet at the hotel probably saves a total of 1.5-2hrs of friction.

    Registration:

    Will be on Active.com vs RSVP on FB. The loosey-goosey of an FB RSVP kicked my ass last year. I didn't really know how many people we'd have show up until...they actually showed and even then I'm still not entire sure :-)

    Also, we plan to charge $20 for the camp and make a charitable contribution to a local charity. Again, good thing to do but also ensures (a little) that the camper numbers are more confirmed vs a free, RSVP type deal.

    Reg on Active also means we can collect $$ for dinner at the time of registration, if we want, have much better admin tools, etc.

    Team Dinner:

    Friday evening at Gray's Tied House, same place where the IMWI race weekend team dinner was? Does that work?

  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    Active.com registration for a trivial fee like that is a good idea. Even a pretty small number like that means you'll have a better idea what the numbers are.

    Buffet at the hotel works if they will do it... will they be flexible on numbers? Or do they have a room to accommodate? As a participant from last year, I wouldn't have known one way or another who catered it...the hotel or someone else. If the hotel will do it and realizes they will be dealing with hungry peeps, that sounds like a good solution.

    Wm
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Last year I set up the buffet through the hotel and they contracted out with a caterer to provide the food, etc.

  • HayesSanbornHayesSanborn

    I'll probably be up there regardless of the weekend choosen this year.

     

    Rich, Can I go to the bathroom time for a little payback

  • jburbattjburbatt
    Did we get a special rate at the Clarion last year? Only reason I ask is that there is that sweet $50 a night deal at the Marriott-Madison West in Middleton when you say you're there for IMWI training.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Yes, we got a reduced rate. I like the Clarion because it's right on the bike course, very near the start. Dunno where Middleton is?

  • jburbattjburbatt
    Posted By Rich Strauss on 03 Feb 2011 05:37 PM

    Yes, we got a reduced rate. I like the Clarion because it's right on the bike course, very near the start. Dunno where Middleton is?



    Middleton is just west of Lake Mendota, about 9 miles straight north of Verona.

  • gilliattgilliatt
    August days work fine, I liked the schedule last year. I have a hard time complaining about an almost free camp.
  • DanielaDaniela
    Not sure how many people it affects, but if the date really is July 28-31, it's the end of RAGBRAI. I know it's not really training, but a few of us were going to ride the last few days. Personally, I would definitely choose the camp over a few days of RAGBRAI.
  • Barbara SpitlerBarbara Spitler
    I'm excited about the August date! I may actually get to attend this year! Doing Muncie, so this works out great!!
  • rah2774rah2774

    yikes - it may be too late to weigh in - but I'm game with any weekend except an RR weekend.  Since I'm racing WI, I want to be able to stick to the schedule as closely as possible.

    I agree that any weekend you choose will conflict with someone's race - but, in theory, not with someone racing IMWI as that's ON time and we shouldn't be racing... with that in mind, I'd be game with keeping the July weekend but can go with the flow as it will be the same amount of time off either way...

  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    Posted By Becky Hirselj on 04 Feb 2011 08:04 AM

    yikes - it may be too late to weigh in - but I'm game with any weekend except an RR weekend.  Since I'm racing WI, I want to be able to stick to the schedule as closely as possible.

    I agree that any weekend you choose will conflict with someone's race - but, in theory, not with someone racing IMWI as that's ON time and we shouldn't be racing... with that in mind, I'd be game with keeping the July weekend but can go with the flow as it will be the same amount of time off either way...

     

    Becky, if it helps, doing an epic weekend like this (RR ride + sorta RR ride + long run) 6wks out from the race is fine. You'll be fine. In the past I've scheduled epicer weekends like this for people as close as 4wks out.

  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    Have you settled on a weekend yet?
  • jr051477jr051477
    I just saw this traffic today. So Rich if the Dates are set for Aug great I will need to suck it up and drive on. If not.......

    Personally, I liked the dates from last year and had made plans for the same weekend. The reason I liked it was, this RR and the RR at week (I think its week) 18 work perfect with EN Camp and MOWS (Aug 20th) weekends in Madison for RR’s on the course.

    Please don’t think that I am bitching in any way. I know that you guys are trying to accommodate a ton on tri geeks that are A types and such. In trying to line up that block of my summer with things going on and my “Gotta” do workouts the Camp and MOWS RR both worked great. Again in you change the dates or already have I will adjust fire. 14ys in the Military have taught me one thing, Semper Gumby…… Thanks again for doing this. I know it will help everyone a great deal. Hope I can make it.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Ok, the official dates will Thurs evening, July 28th through 12pm Sunday, July 31st:

    • Sync'd with the first RR in your training plan. There is no better venue to do a race rehearsal than...the actual race course .
    • Doesn't conflict with the two biggest HIM's in July in the area.
    • Hopefully this is enough advanced notice for many of you to make plans to join us.
    • If the original date works better for you, or you just want to go up there twice, you're welcome to organize yourselves and do just that. In fact, the inspiration for these tri-rallies were member-organized camps on the IMUSA and WI courses.

    We'll have registration and other details up shortly so you can begin to tell your friends but those dates are above are set!

    FYI, because I'm racing IMWI this year I'll be up there with my tri bike and tri-geek game face on, one I haven't worn in almost three years! I just hope I can find the P3C in the garage sometime in the next few months!

     

  • cerranocerrano

    I'd like to enter my vote to veto the new dates.  With the close proximity of Madison and Iowa, I would hope that RAGBRAI could be considered.  Can I hear from the rest of the Iowa delegates? 

    And please, no comments that RAGBRAI isn't a race or important training.  I understand this, but it's kind of a big deal in Iowa.  All work and no play make EN members...

  • jetskrjetskr
    I had a great time last year but can't make it this year on that particular weekend. The last weekend in July is always a big family weekend.

    Fortunetly for me, Madison is close enough that I can get up there with friends another time.
  • CarlCarl
    I am game for the dates that are set. I live in Altoona, IA and Ragbrai is staying the night here and that will suck to miss but I have never did any leg of the race so oh well. I am also doing IM Wisc so it is vital for me to get on the bike course and suck it all in. I need to learn how to ride hills and how to ride hills. Its my understanding there are a few areas that are critical to make up a few minutes here and there.

    Looking forward to seeing you all there. From all the traffic and talks I have been involved in I bet we have over 60 peeps plus....Should be EPIC.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Sorry, dates are set to match the date of your first RR as scheduled in your IMWI training plan.

  • rah2774rah2774
    thanks for confirming the dates... I'll make it work!
    And, FWIW, at least a few of us have mentioned a repeat of the Memorial Day weekend trip to train on the course (and potentially the HHH courst the following day) - so if the July dates don't work, hopefully we'll have a decent sized group for the holiday weekend!
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