New Northern California 1/2 IM for 2010 (TBF Hit III)

I got the same email.  I am definately signing up for this one.  No travel expenses, can't beat that

My only concern is that there is no race history, nothing worse than doing a 1/2 IM with lousy aid stations, I guess TBF is OK, so Im soo tempted to drop the 130 because it is a limited race, time of year, fast course.

Apparently they did the race twice before. They have good reputation and they organize their Olimpic and sprints tris well, so I think I am going to take a chance and drop the $130.  For the price, I think its a good deal and I have confidence in TBF. 


Now, I just have to stay injury free

Has anyone seen a course map for this yet? I'm curious as to what the bike course is going to be. It could go up into the foothills and be a little hilly or down towards the delta and be windy. I'm curious as to where they are going to go with it. I couldnt find a map or one from the previous times they have done this course.

That was my next concern, along with staying injury free!

I sent the race director an email requesting course info, I will post response.

Any update on this?

No update, I have sent a second email requesting info and still no response!  I will give them until Friday and then I will abort the whole Idea. There are too many red flags.1.No successful race history for this event 2.absolutely no course info.3.No response to my 2 emails.
Im not about to get ripped off!

I have to say after 3 emails and zero replies I am disappointed, I will be doing Vineman or Big Kahuna instead. Even a reply saying "sorry for lack of info and that we will get back to you soon" would have worked!

I just got this reply from Bill at TBF : 

 "We are putting on the TBF HIT III - Half Ironman Triathlon, next year on September 11, 2010. It will be at Rancho Seco Park . We are opening registration on August 9th at the Tri for Real Triathlon from 6:30 am til 12 noon with a special one-day early entry price of $130. Registration will open to the public the next day online for $180. The field will be limited to 500 athletes and the race will be a USAT event. The course will be a 1.2 mile one-lap swim in Rancho Seco Lake . The bike course will be a one loop course turning left out of Rancho Seco Park, turning right on Clay Station, Dillard, Jackson Highway, Highway 120, and Twin Cities Roads and then left back into the park. The run course will be our Tri for Real course twice with a little extra added before the turn-around. 
Bill "

Somebody just mapped the bike rout on BT
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/map.asp?routeid=100948

I am considering doing this race in September and was wondering if anyone has actually ridden the course or is familiar with the bike route? The link above states 6,959 feet of climbing but the elevation graph does not reflect anywhere near that.

I haven't ridden the course, but there can't be anywhere near that much climbing.  Most of the course is on flatland.  Just the eastern portion is in the foothills.  I would believe 700 feet, but not 7,000 ft.

The area round Rancho Seco is all flatland.

If I was to guess, I would put the elevation gain around 1500-2000 feet. There are going to be some rollers but there are no real hills on the course.

I was thinking about doing this until I saw the run course. It is basically the same run course for their Tri-for-Real Olympic Distance races, only doubled. For anyone who hasn't run a race at Rancho Seco before, it is a hot, dusty fire road. I ran the sprint out there in August last year and everything below my knees was caked in dust after just 3 miles. There is also virtually zero shade on the bike and run courses. The run course was screaming hot when it was 80 degrees at 9:30, I can only imagine how it would be at 95 degrees at 1PM in September, which is entirely possible on race day.

I will say that TBF puts on a well run race, but with the current course I personally won't signing up anytime soon.

We're doing it. Eric is putting together a couple of relay teams through his office, and I'm hoping to do the whole thing. This will be my first HIM, and I'm a little anxious. But not about the course or support. TBF has been great to me through the years. Of course, I'm usually one of their last finishers, but that's OK too.

I can't do this race after all as work plans have changed. I am looking to transfer my registration to anyone who wants to do this race. I will give a discount off the registration fee.

Please contact me at bppdesigns@yahoo