Racine logistcs / lodging thread
In response to Rich's email requesting Racine logistics and lodging info I shot a quike email with top-of-mind-thoughts. At this request, I'm pasting the text of what I sent him below. It was really just the top-of mind stuff so as I think of other things I'll add them. Anyone who has done the race before and wants to add their thoughts should feel free to do so. And anyone who is planning to do the race for the first time and has questions on these logistical topics can post them here. Cheers, Matt.
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A few thoughts on logistics:
- The race sold out this year well over a month before race day. So team members should not wait until the last minute to sign up.
- There is only one hotel that is walking-distance to the race. That is the Radisson. It gets sold out QUICKLY. I believe it is also a 2-night minimum.
- A lot of people stay at the Marriott, that is the only other 'full service' hotel in the area. The rest are more budget places like Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, etc. Most of these are located about 5-ish miles straight west of Racine in Sturtevent. All of them get sold out due to the triathlon.
- Some people stay in the Milwaukee airport hotels, usually because that's what a web search says is available once they get around to booking. I do not recommend this. Rather, there are a bunch of hotels south on I94 around the Pleasant Prairie/Kenosha area (most are pretty budget, but there is a full-service Radisson). Much closer that Milwaukee.
- There are very few restaurants in Racine, and even fewer that have a good menu for pre-race (a lot of prime rib it seems, and many of the Italian places are very pizza-focused). If you have a smaller group you could go to the Applebee's or Olive Garden and take a pager and wait, but for a group of any size that is a nonstarter. What we did this year was eat at a restaurant called Mangia Trattoria in Kenosha. It's 10 miles south of Racine and about 20 min drive. They could accommodate a large group with lots of notice I'm sure. This location also suits team members who live in the really northern Chicago suburbs and who will stay at home and drive to the race in the morning (for example, this year Mike Semmerling hosted Bruce Thompson at his place).
- Parking at the race site is a bitch so you have to get there early. I arrived at 5:15am and I wouldn't want to get there later.
- Mandatory bike-check on Saturday…a real PITA for the Chicago-based folks who would love to stay at home…
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How many EN folks do you/we anticipate signing up for this event? I need a rough contract size to research the discounts.
I'm trying to research lodging discounts at these locations:
-Racine Marriott (7111 Washington Ave, Racine, WI 53406 ,(262) 886-6100 )
-Radisson Racine Harbourwalk (223 Gas Light Cir, Racine, WI 53403 ,(262) 632-7777 )
-Hampton Inn (1200 West College Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53221, (414) 762-4240)
-Staybridge Suites Milwaukee Airport South (9575 S. 27th Street, Franklin, WI 53132, (414) 761-3800)