244 HIM finishers at Napa...probably another 60 or so full IMer's. Race atmosphere was very low key, helpful, entertaining, spectator and racer friendly. Highly recommend HITS to someone looking for a race. An absolute bargain for the price!
Yep...time for me to admit that they appear to be succeeding. The new price structure is having a positive impact on their entries. But boy-oh-boy would I love to look at their books.
Good venue for $75. Be prepared to be self-sufficient as there were too few aid stations. Only 2 on the bike. On the run they were 1.5-2 miles apart. Ok for a 1/2 but I think they need to be closer for a full. Each aid station was only staffed by one volunteer. Actually I don't think these were actually volunteers, but actual "staff". There was an announcement at the awards ceremony that they couldn't get volunteers. Apparently they were offering money to tri clubs and community organizations, but could not get any takers. I live fairly close and heard no advertisement for this. If they were truly seeking volunteers they should publicize it more!
The transition area was set up very well. Everyone had their own "stall" complete with a little bench to sit on if needed. Each person was assigned a spot which was nice. The swim was a mass start... all 1/2 and Full participants started together. The course was well marked. I did not notice very many porta potties on the course ( luckily I didn't need them, only in transition). No crowd support at all. The location is fairly remote so probably only family and friends at the finish line.
Only food at the finish line were chips ahoy and a few bagels cut up sitting next to a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly. They were to have a local restaurant cater, but the food never arrived, unless it came after I left. I finished around 12:30 and stayed until 3:00... No additional food by then.
The finisher medal was attached to a ribbon that said Naples Valley, CA. The event was in Napa Valley, CA
Overall it was a good training day, a "C" race. I would have been pretty upset if I had paid more for it ,or if it was my "A" race.
Not sure they will survive if they don't pay attention to the details.
I will definitely treat my HITS race as a hard training day. Race report after race report state that HITS over promises and under delivers. With many events under their belt they continue to make the same mistakes. If they had kept the old price structure I think the long course events would have croaked, but the new tiered price structure really turned around their abysmal numbers. I have low expectations for them so I doubt I will be disappointed. Folks love to hate on WTC, but they deliver a uniformly good product. I am glad HITS is here though, if only to keep WTC prices in check.
@ Lynne - I'm on the fence now regarding Naples. Carl Noftsger and my wife conspired to get me to sign up for IMCOZ again...Dec 1 this year. So HITS would be just 6 weeks later. Might be a good training effort though.
Just a HITs comment.-full race report some other time
I've done Nappa 70.3 '12 & 13 and Havasu '13 all 70.3
Enjoyed all. Nappa changed bike course from 2012 and now is safer (road less rough/traffic) and less challenging hills-though still hilly. Sparse aidstations/spectators on bike which was OK with me. Run well stocked hilly out n' back. Small but pleasant. small numbers of Full athletes -very challenging for those brave enough.
LHC was a hoot as I went to high school there in early 80's. bike had a few short and supper steep hills with many walking their bikes and screamer descents, but otherwise flat with a area about a mile of "no pass" gravely paved path& parking lot...my nutrition spot, but got stuck behind some particularly slow riders. Biggest complaint was the HEED was so dilute i swear it was strait H2O. (didn't plan on that). run 90% pancake flat but temps got up there and they ran out of pre-de-fizzed coke on the OLY course I was told. Small #s of Full and I felt for them out on the lonely out leg...saw at least 3 riders out past the cutoff still making their way in at sunset.
HITS seems to get better managed and more popular with each season. I'm not doing Nappa this year as I am deployed and will not be able to get leave ....am doing Vineman Full in July and will likely do Havasu 70.3 again and/or Palm Springs Full (HITS).
HITS just has a nice small vibe -really not fair to compare to IM. Just need to be very open to riding alone for long segments in some locations.
I'd recommend HITS 70.3s for competitive event and consider Full for personal challenge.
Comments
244 HIM finishers at Napa...probably another 60 or so full IMer's. Race atmosphere was very low key, helpful, entertaining, spectator and racer friendly. Highly recommend HITS to someone looking for a race. An absolute bargain for the price!
My take on Napa HITS..
Good venue for $75. Be prepared to be self-sufficient as there were too few aid stations. Only 2 on the bike. On the run they were 1.5-2 miles apart. Ok for a 1/2 but I think they need to be closer for a full. Each aid station was only staffed by one volunteer. Actually I don't think these were actually volunteers, but actual "staff". There was an announcement at the awards ceremony that they couldn't get volunteers. Apparently they were offering money to tri clubs and community organizations, but could not get any takers. I live fairly close and heard no advertisement for this. If they were truly seeking volunteers they should publicize it more!
The transition area was set up very well. Everyone had their own "stall" complete with a little bench to sit on if needed. Each person was assigned a spot which was nice. The swim was a mass start... all 1/2 and Full participants started together. The course was well marked. I did not notice very many porta potties on the course ( luckily I didn't need them, only in transition). No crowd support at all. The location is fairly remote so probably only family and friends at the finish line.
Only food at the finish line were chips ahoy and a few bagels cut up sitting next to a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly. They were to have a local restaurant cater, but the food never arrived, unless it came after I left. I finished around 12:30 and stayed until 3:00... No additional food by then.
The finisher medal was attached to a ribbon that said Naples Valley, CA. The event was in Napa Valley, CA
Overall it was a good training day, a "C" race. I would have been pretty upset if I had paid more for it ,or if it was my "A" race.
Not sure they will survive if they don't pay attention to the details.
Just a HITs comment.-full race report some other time
I've done Nappa 70.3 '12 & 13 and Havasu '13 all 70.3
Enjoyed all. Nappa changed bike course from 2012 and now is safer (road less rough/traffic) and less challenging hills-though still hilly. Sparse aidstations/spectators on bike which was OK with me. Run well stocked hilly out n' back. Small but pleasant. small numbers of Full athletes -very challenging for those brave enough.
LHC was a hoot as I went to high school there in early 80's. bike had a few short and supper steep hills with many walking their bikes and screamer descents, but otherwise flat with a area about a mile of "no pass" gravely paved path& parking lot...my nutrition spot, but got stuck behind some particularly slow riders. Biggest complaint was the HEED was so dilute i swear it was strait H2O. (didn't plan on that). run 90% pancake flat but temps got up there and they ran out of pre-de-fizzed coke on the OLY course I was told. Small #s of Full and I felt for them out on the lonely out leg...saw at least 3 riders out past the cutoff still making their way in at sunset.
HITS seems to get better managed and more popular with each season. I'm not doing Nappa this year as I am deployed and will not be able to get leave
....am doing Vineman Full in July and will likely do Havasu 70.3 again and/or Palm Springs Full (HITS).
HITS just has a nice small vibe -really not fair to compare to IM. Just need to be very open to riding alone for long segments in some locations.
I'd recommend HITS 70.3s for competitive event and consider Full for personal challenge.
Dave H