Challenge Roth or Ironman Regensburg
Looking to possibly do one of these races in 2013. I posed this question over on ST as well.
I know that IM Regensburg is fairly new (first race in 2010 I think). I read through Paul Hough's RR. Roth seems to have a fanatic following and I've never read anything negative about the race and it consistently sits atop any "Best Races" lists.
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I was considering Roth, Frankfurt, and Regensberg for 2012 and decided on Roth. I think both Regensberg and Roth are great races and the big factor for me was the change in the Regensberg date from early Aug to mid June and my living/training in Chi. I guess something with the local farm community and harvesting caused the change.
Roth is great. A fast, scenic bike course, 2 loops, but not flat. Kind of reminded me of Wisc. The run is flat. Swim is like one long lap pool. The locals go nuts. Great fans. The whole vibe is very friendly and positive and they really do appreciate how crazy an IM is. And they like to drink beer and scream at you when you roll through the villages. I spent a decent amount of time on the bike just laughing.
I would HIGHLY recommend staying in the town and not in Nurnberg if you can help it. I homestayed with a local family. I'm more of a "clean motel with air conditioning leave me alone" type before races but I have to say staying in the hood and meeting the locals MADE the trip. They are super nice and really love having athletes stay with them. It's a big deal for them, and seeing Roth and the surrounding countryside is fun. You can bike the course, run by the canal, and just relax, instead of schlepping back and forth from somewhere else. There are also places along the bike course to stay. Race morning you don't want to have to drive in from Nurnberg. If you do stay in Nurnberg, Nuremburg, (whatever spelling you choose) there is a train to Roth that will carry you and your bike easily to town and back for checking out the course.
@ Chris - The homestay thing isn't for me. You should ask my wife what I think of bed and breakfasts. I feel like I'm encroaching on their lives (yes, I know they willingly agree to let you stay there for $$$) but I can't help but feel I'm a bother. I also don't want people bothering me or going out of their way to feel like they need to entertain me in anyway. I just want to go somewhere, put my key in the door, do whatever I need to do and control my environment.
My somewhat irrational B&B/Homestay feelings aside, I'm just way too attached to modern conveniences and creature comforts. I need A/C, I need the internet, etc. I read some ST posts about homestays at Roth and the biggest complaint was the lack of modern amenitites. I read one post that sticks in my head about a family wanting to do the homestay experience and they were absolutely miserable all week because it was a warm week and the home they stayed at did not have A/C. The dude didn't sleep well all week and was completely drained come race day. I don't want that to be me. I would probably be okay but I also know I can stay at the Hilton, Sheration, Le Meridien, etc. in Nuremburg and I know it would be okay.
I resisted a homestay too. I am absolutely the same way re getting a hotel and AC and keeping it simple. In fact, I booked a hotel in Nuremberg (which sucked) through Nirvana, then moved out when I met the couple in Roth through a friend who was staying next door. It saved the race for me. Otherwise I'm stuck in a broom closet with no AC an hour from the race, and dependent upon strangers. I hate that. It was super hot last year- except for race day itself.
I lucked out. My hosts were young and nice and understood my schedule. They had AC and internet. It was like a US home except that they have a different word for everything over there......
One of my hosts was running in the relay, doing the marathon. They were cool as can be, and left me alone. The neighborhood had a cookout the night before and, again, the kindness and humor was touching and I was more relaxed than I've ever been going into a race. I think it pushed me out of my completely self involved, self important mode and I had less time to obsess. I also was actually less worried about logistics as I had a lot of time in Roth to get the lay of the land and I had local support if I needed it. And it added another dimension to the whole adventure. After all, I wanted the Euro experience too. I could have raced here, and out of a Hampton Inn.
Good luck and make sure your hotel has AC and you can get to Roth in the morning no problem. it is a very, very, fun race.
@ Chris - I will try to keep an open mind. We will probably be going with another family (or another two families) including former EN member David Scholl's clan. David was born in Germany to German parents and moved to the USA when he was 10 or so. He's fluent and knows the country. He has a bunch of relatives still over there (including his sister) and I'm going to rely on him for the most part. Majority rule will ultimately prevail. I think we'd be more inclined to stay at a hotel with three families in tow in order to keep us all in the same place. We will rent cars and all that so we can do some travel post-race, so traveling back and forth won't be an issue beyond inconvenience.
@ Brian - My wife isn't too keen on spectating all day either. She and my son did not go with me to IMFL last year but did come out to IMTX this year and it's just a long, boring day for them (and IMTX was freakin' hot). Didn't your family come to PCB last year? I seem to recall you telling me at the EN dinner they were coming into town the following day. Did she not like the spectating at PCB?
@ Paul - I'll think about that if I choose IM Reg over Roth (which doesn't seem likely).
If I had others in tow, and particularly non-triathletes, I would probably select Regensburg, if only for the variety of restaurants and an interesting host town. But when I travel to a race alone, a lot of the host city amenities are lost on me prerace because I'm off my feet resting.