Vineman 70.3 2010
Who's in?
Can someone give me a course breakdown, besides the course info that I got off of the website?
Swim course highlights/issues? Wetsuit-legal, I hope. I know it depends on water temps, but what has it been historically?
Bike course highlights/issues?
Run course highlights/issues?
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Comments
I haven't competed in the 70.3 but did the Aquabike IM distance in 2008.
The water temp is ALWAYS and issue and wetsuit legal won't likely be known until the day prior to the race. My guess is that we have had a very mild sping in NorCal with lots of rain and heavier than normal (as of recent years) snowpack. So, I'm going to plan on a wetsuit BUT if we get a bunch of 100 degree days, which is likely, then all bets are off. The beauty is that I think it is usually legal for suits AND it is such a shallow swim and also very close to shore so there is zero anxiety as well as very easy to sight if you are a right hand breather. You just look at the shore line on every breath and if you are maintaining your distance from shore...you are swimming pretty straight :-)
The bike course is not very hilly as I recall. It is less than IM Wisconsin. Compared to what you just rode here during ToC it will be a piece of cake. I think there is really only 1 hill that you sit up and spin to stay in your "gearing" but otherwise you just stay low and go.
The run course I did 3 miles out and back (6 miles total) during the Aquabike as it was my IMWis RR. It is a tough run by my estimation with some short, steep rollers (guessing 10%+ grade). I am not a runner so I am not looking forward to the run leg.
Crowds are great if the temps are reasonable. Expo is OK.
I just got in btw off the waitlist. I was going to bailout as my running vDot has taken a beating but I can use the race as a long training day :-).
See you there.
Vince
Usually HOT there. 80-100 plus by mid day. You never know though, it has been very cool here this year.
Wetsuits are usually the norm. I have never seen them not used.
The swim rocks, easy river out and back and shallow.
Bike course is beautiful. Rollers. Only one steepish hill and actually enjoyable to ride(changes things up a bit).
Run has a few hills and if you don't practice on hills they will seem huge when they really are not bad at all.
We are so so excited to be able to race there again!!!
CC
Done it 2x and have used the bike and run course there for RR's and several training rides.
Swim - What Vince said. River is shallow. You can actually walk sections of the swim. But with all the rain this year water may be higher. But not by much. There is some flow so you swim with the current one way and against the other. Moves very slow so not much of an issue. River is narrow and you will be by the shore either way. Only other thing is to look at the waves starts. You may be waiting for 1.5 hours after the first wave start to go so plan accordingly.
T1 - On pebbly dirt but they have mats down. Bring flop flops. I used a water bottle and towel to clean off my feet after getting out of the water and before the bike. Some people use small pans of water to wash their feet. Small transition area. The bike out has an immediate short (~30 foot), steep climb so have your gearing set accordingly.
Bike - Love this course. NOTHING like CdA in regards to hills. Lotsa rollers and one big climb which is Chalk Hill. Not very long. Road can be rough at times. Enough to launch bottles from their cages. They have tried to smooth out sections, but they aren't 100%. Overall, raod is in good condition and plenty of time in aero hammering at .80 - .85 IF.
T2 - In a different city. Big grassy area. Easy in and out. You will drop your stuff off the day before. Be sure to cover everything as it can get dewy/wet at night. I put my stuff in a shopping bag and hung it in the rack. Came in, ripped it open and T'd out.
Run - Hilly. The first mile is good for getting your legs dialed, but then some hills. It is typically VERY hot out there. No tree cover a lot of the way so plan accordingly. Plan for rolling hills and heat. Overall, nice run on back country roads.
Got get 'em Mr. Alexander! Ths is a great race!
John
I will be racing also. Here's my quick two cents. You did Wildflower in 2009. If WF bike course is 10 effort wise, then Vineman bike is like a 5. Similarly, if WF run is a 10, then Vineman run is a 7 or 8. What makes it difficult is usually the heat. When I did Vineman in 2007, it was 92 in the shade as I left T2.
I'll be looking for you. Go swim the river on Saturday before the race.
I 2x what Stark said about T1. Not a great transition and MAKE sure you have your gearing set low from the start. Some/many don't even mount their bikes from the start because they can't climb with their gearing from the onset and walk their bikes up the hill. You won't need to do that if you plan ahead.
Temp can be hot but Scott...you are from Texas. Not an issue for you.
Everyone have their hotels?
Vince
Glad to see so many others racing. I think last time I heard almost everyone was on the wait list.
You'll have a great time at this race. I race every year. I think it was a little friendlier before it was an "official" 70.3 race.
Race rehearsal #2 (didn't get to do #1) weekend is the 3-day 4th of July weekend. Can that be made into a big tri weekend, maybe? It's only two weeks out from race day.
V
I was out in NorCal this weekend for a college/fraternity reunion, so my diet went off a cliff. BEER BEER BEER!
And then, I didn't get home until 4am this morning due to all the crappy weather delays, and the last minute-change nature of Southwest Airlines (gotta love em!).
1) we can swim at Johnson Beach, Guerneville, on Saturday.
2) bring our bike on race morning (no day before race bike drop-off).
3) Where is the best place to spectate? The finish line at Windsor HS?
4) arrive at T1 (Johnson Beach, Guerneville) on race morning.
5) put our T2 (running) stuff at Windsor HS when we do packet pick-up on Saturday. So we won't see it again until we come flying in off the bike.
Anything else I'm forgetting?!?
You've got it nailed. Keep in mind during the swim that you want to stay closer to the shore (rather than follow the buoy line) and on the way back stay on the buoy line as you avoid the current then enjoy the current respectively. Just some local knowledge I was told about last week.
I'm going down Friday and Sat (ie: tomorrow) to drive both the bike and run courses. I will give feedback if anything unusual is there (ie: poor road conditions, lack of shoulder, etc).
Vince
Scott:
Looks like you have it dialed in. As noted below and to reiterate, best to put your T2 stuff in a water tight plastic bag and hang from the rack where you will put your bike. Then just rip open when you get there. The nights can be moist and if there is drizzle your stuff will get wet if it is out on the grass.
Also, if you don't have support at the finish/T2 area you may want to bring some extra clothes/hat/etc. and leave at T2 as well cuz it will be hot and it is a long bus ride back to the start area.
Have fun!
John
Don't they transport our wetsuits, etc back to T2? I can't remember.
V
Vince:
Yp. Last time I did it VM 70.3 you put all your stuff (wet suit, sandals, whatever) into a plastic garbage bag BEFORE leaving T2 (leave it at bike rack spot). They pick it up and take it to T2. What I don't remember is if there is a bag size limit? 13 gallon? 20 gallon? I remember mine was stuffed with my wet suit and T1 stuff.
One year, and not sure it it was a one-time issue, but mine and a bunch of others bags tore open (not sure why) and they lost most of my stuff. Was a disaster picking threw everything in the back of the truck.
Best to have have a sherpa for all your stuff at T1 (hand them the bag leaving transition) and they take it to T2 for you.
John
One thing I remember messing up...the buoys were blue, and my eye caught a glance of blue and I freaked out a bit. It turned out that it was a tarp covering a boat docked on the far shore. I was swimming upstream and thinking "yipes, if the buoys are on my right I'm REALLY messed up! But I figured it out and all was well.
Uhhhh, I guess I should say, Vineman was my first IM, so my info is 5 years old.
Mike
I'm staying in Napa with my cousins.
I'm going to try and swim at the beach on Saturday (suggested time?), and then off to the expo to packet pickup (between 10:30-11:30 per the race/athlete packet on the website), etc.
I'll be flying the TriBike Transport colors of red, black and white, so be sure to stop me and say hello if you see me.
My wave starts at 6:46am on Sunday...dang that's EARLY! But with my Central timezone system not fully adapted yet, it'll be almost 9am for me. I think that will work to my advantage as I know my body will be awake by then.
Trade you for my 7:58 swim wave.
I'm headed down on Friday morning. I might swim and run before the expo BUT I'm building some SAUs by staying on the coast. That may mean sleeping in and cuddle time as that won't happen Sun. Tmi?
I will look for massive cut calves at the expo to locate you.
Vince
I know we won't know bib numbers until Saturday, when we get them at packet pick-up (different than a full IM, I know).
Just wondering?!?