Camping vs Hotel for Kansas 70.3
I have a friend that raced Kansas 70.3 a few years ago and said it sucked getting in and out of the race site (a mile walk from the car to transition...?). But, he said the transition area has changed since then. I have another friend that camped last year and said it was really slick getting in and out.
Now that the transition area has changed, does it still a pain to park and get to transition race morning?
We might have the option of camping in a RV, which would be less expensive and easier to get in and out race day, but we would be sharing it with several other people, and would have to deal more with the elements which could be searing heat. The hotel would be more comfortable, but cost more and be less convenient. I would like a good-night’s sleep, which I believe is more likely at a hotel, but don’t want added stress on race morning.
Comments
It will be an epic camping experience...jeremy knows how to make the party...plus, do you actually get a good nights sleep the night before the race??? Save the cash for IM WI and WI camp!
Ask Jeremy to bring the little kid pool from pigman and we can fill it up with ice again for ice baths after the race
Ebe
I camped with Jeremy last year for the race and it ended up working out very well. We got there in the evening 2 days before the race, set up, and just relaxed that evening. The next day, it was a short walk over for packet pickup, bike check-in, etc, it was very nice not having to stress or drive anywhere to make it to the race events. It was pretty hot there the days leading up to the race and I remember it being pretty comfortable in the camper still. We headed into town for lunch, had a nice dinner the night before the race back at the camper. Race morning I got to sleep in much later than usual since we were already on the race site. During the race itself the run course passed in front of the camper I think 4 times, so it was great to have everyone there at a central support location.
After the race, it was also great to be able to walk back to the park facilities, get a shower and get cleaned up, then go back to the race itself to cheer on people and whatnot. All and all, it really turned out nice.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express last year and are again this year. Great room and price is good. About a ten minute trip with traffic the morning of the race. What did SUCK was we parked in the pitch black and really had no logisitical idea where I was and got on a bus that drove about 5 minutes to T2 and dropped us off.
Note the transitions are about 1 mile about so be sure what you place in t2 and set up is ready because it is a long haul down the BIG AZZ hill to t1. Last year I forgot my watch so had the pleasure of going back and forth.
On the run all the campers and tents are right on the route and it was nice to see all the families and friends cheering for us. Agree would be nice to finish, walk a few hundred feet, shower, and return.
But no afterwards we had to gather all of our stuff, get on our bikes, and ride them approxim 1 mile or so and try and guess which of the three grass parking lots we were in. I had the key so just set the panic alarm off to find my car. Otherwise I would have been searching for some time......It was nice afterwards to soak in the hot tub though and sleep in a comfortable bed.......
So I'm now sorta looking for a race in June and am interested in Kansas. Not interested in the travel but I wants hills and a competitive field on a challenging course. Q's:
Anyway, thanks for the input. Kinda surfing the web to see what my options are.
And please tell me more about the logistics of the race for someone flying in. In a perfect world, Coach Dick would rely on the ENNetwork to fly in, get a ride to the race, be pointed to a cot and bag to sleep in, race, be knee deep into a steak and 6 pack of Newcastle by 2pm watching the race, as pregame to real event which happens as dinner in the campground Saturday. Ride back to airport on Sunday, done.
That's how we roll with Wildflower, anyway
Swim - nothing special here, small dirty midwest lake
Bike - think 1 loop of IMWI, but it is two out and back sections instead of a loop. I think both turnarounds are at the top of climbs. Mainly similiar climbs and rollers. Biggest climb is like Midtown in IMWI but a little longer and it is at mile 52ish of the bike course. The course is easier than Oceanside (or I assume Wildflower) but harder than the typically midwest draft fest 70.3.
Run - double out and back on a camp site path. Great crowd support. One decent hill that you hit twice but it really isn't a big deal.
Admin - race morning traffic can be a pain if you don't get there early. It is a slighly walk from parking to transition but not too bad. Separate transistion areas.
Travel - I THINK it was about 45 minutes from the airport to race site. You would need a car if you don't have someone to help you out.
I love the race but it didn't find it the time or money budget this year. I'm doing Muncie in July with Trent instead to try something new. If you want competition, come join us or do Wildflower.
Thanks!
I was planning on doing epic stuff pretty much all of July and August and didn't want to break it up with travel to a race. Already traveling to Madison for WI camp. But I have a solid 8-10wks of opportunities to maybe take my trailer somewhere and get all Rocky IV in the mountains...
June just works better because I'll have run fitness by then but far enough out from WI that I don't have to be geeked out about every weekend. No WF for me, don't have my run yet and I'm dirtbiking in AZ/UT that weekend
I will have a car down there...you might be able to fit into one of the campers,if not, you are a marine, htfu and sleep on an air mat...great pro field at the race for a "challenge" Let us know and we can hook you up with some of your super pimp coach needs
Thanks for the offers to help, I'll let you know!
1st - I agree with Matt's Course report. The rollers and hills keep you focused on pushing but not to hard knowing you have some "midwest" climbs to deal with. Run is fast and at times shaded. Fan support is GREAT....
2nd - I can't tell you much about the fly in/out details but with us 4 of us having a couple of cars I'm sure we can get you taken care of. Being IN the camp ground in my opinion is the only way to go. Sat morning it easy an eazy walk to packet pick up T1 and T2. On Race morning if you are out side driving in you have an extra mile walk in with all your gear. Then after your done a hot shower, post race fav food, and a cold beer make for a great time watching everyone finish.
I and 4 other ENers are camping next to three other groups of us from the great state of IOWA... I am sure we can help you out with the BEEF and if I know Wes, Ebe, Trevor and myself beer after the race will not be an issue. At this time I have I have one couch in my camper that you could use and I can alway bring a cot or extra air bed for you to use.
To sum it up we can take care of ya.
PS when are you heading to CO? I will be in Estes Park for a Training week in May.
JR
Outside on a cot would be cool. I've been meaning to invest in a Big Agnes bag, pad, and REI has an affordable bivy I've had my eye on, all as moto-camping solutions. But my camping progression has been "isomat" (bootcamp, infantry school, etc) --> thermarest on the ground (attached to infantry company) --> thermarest on Humvee hood (artillery) --> thermarest + cot (Battery XO), all with bivy. Hard to go back to on the ground unless I don't have a choice
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If I were to rent a car and drive to the race, what's involved (fees?) with getting into the campground, what difficulties would have I have getting out and to an airport on Sunday if I wanted to do the Oly, etc? The camping part of WF is why I do the race, awesome time. But they charge a $50/day "festival fee," roads in/out of the camp are closed until about 3p each day, etc. Can be a cluster.
Thanks for the help, very interested!
Not going to CO. If I did the mtn thing it would be up the eastern Sierras, about 4-5hrs from my house. Camp/sleep at ~6500ft and climb all day at 8-10k
Regarding the course agree with Matt. The swim to bike transition sucks and is long but nothing like what I see in Madison except it is on damn rocks/pebbles!!!
Lots of spots for post EN brews!!!
Come to Kansas, just click your heels 3x
Sleeping on the Humvee was my fav... I would just spoon the 50 Cal... She keep me warm during those cold Iraqi nights..
Ok, just saw that the long course is on Sunday, I assumed Saturday. Doode, they need to learn from WF: you do the long course on Saturday and short course Sunday. Then you're done racing by 2p Saturday to get your booze and food on. Keep the short course racers up all night with the party, then cheer them on from your lawn chair while nursing a bloody mary. Break down the tent and jet home after the race.
Jeremy, so you're arriving in the campground Friday (what time?) and leaving Sunday after the race? Monday morning?
I found that Frontier flies direct from LAX to Kansas City and the bike flies free...things are coming together!
I don't think I'm going to do this race. It would be a B-race for me and so I don't think the expense and travel time would be justified. I can stay here, get my long ride in on Saturday and race an Oly on a course I know very, very well on Sunday. Next year I'm planning to come back to the half distance with maybe Cali, Wildflower if it's not on the same weekend as IMSG, and a couple summer halfs as well. Maybe Kansas and Racine.
You can get the camping info from the race page. Not sure if they sold out or not. We have a large EN crew at this race, so I am sure we can work something out.