RAM Racing events 2010

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2009-12-16 5:40 PM

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Subject: RAM Racing events 2010
Looks like RAM is offering $10 discounts for their 2010 races, except the Hot Chocolate, if you register before 1/1/10.

I'm in for Bigfoot and maybe the North Shore Half.  Caveat Emptor with Bangs Lake.

http://ramracing.org/

2009-12-16 7:34 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
Their running events are decent with the exception of Hot Chocolate, not sure how they think 12k people on the lakefront path is a good idea. 

I would highly, highly recommend against doing any triathlon's sponsored by RAM.  Bangs Lake was a joke and I have heard of several issues with Bigfoot.  After my experience with Bangs Lake and the attitude that they gave me, I refuse to do any of their races or buy any products from their store. 
2009-12-16 7:55 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
Ok...I gotta ask - what is the deal with Bangs Lake?  I didn't do this race this year, but I did do it last year (08), which was their inaugural race...and I thought it was great for my first Olympic distance race.   What happened at this year's race, that has left such a bad impression with so many folks? 
2009-12-16 9:36 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
mattb1 - 2009-12-16 7:34 PM Their running events are decent with the exception of Hot Chocolate, not sure how they think 12k people on the lakefront path is a good idea. 

I would highly, highly recommend against doing any triathlon's sponsored by RAM.  Bangs Lake was a joke and I have heard of several issues with Bigfoot.  After my experience with Bangs Lake and the attitude that they gave me, I refuse to do any of their races or buy any products from their store. 


thanks.  I wouldnt do Bangs Lake again.  Cant this year anyway.  I have not heard bad about Bigfoot.  Probably should go read some race reports before I drop the dough.  Youre right about Hot Chocolate: too big for its own good.  Even Bucktown 5k was insanely crowded.  RAM is successful at drawing participants, you just gotta hope their infrastructure can keep up with customer base.
2009-12-16 9:48 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
The only bad thing about Bigfoot is the swim.  It is out and back along the shore and the return was in to shallow of water.  People were standing and walking.  The 30mph wind was pushing everyone into the shore and causing the people swimming out to drift into the people swimming back.  It would of been fine had they moved the buoys another 50 feet away from shore.
2009-12-16 10:38 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
Uggg. After the Bucktown & HC this year no way I do another RAM event. Amazing how 10k people can get bibs #14000-15000 for bag check. HC was hyped up so much from the previous year, everyone I know who did 08&09 says it was a shadow of the race it was. Seems they're only interested in increasing size of race, not keeping the quality of it.

Northshore wasn't bad except for the Heed.

Plus, walked into the store and was flat out ignored for 5 minutes as they discussed the boxing event the night before. Never again.

2009-12-17 9:04 AM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
nscrbug - 2009-12-16 7:55 PM Ok...I gotta ask - what is the deal with Bangs Lake?  I didn't do this race this year, but I did do it last year (08), which was their inaugural race...and I thought it was great for my first Olympic distance race.   What happened at this year's race, that has left such a bad impression with so many folks? 


Check the race reports for details.  Long story short:

1) Swim was long (I went 1:15 in an Ironman and did 41 minutes for an Olympic)
2) There was only 1 buoy on the entire swim and the out portion was directly into the sun.  Nothing to sight off of
3) It was the hottest day of the year and they had 4 aid stations on the run stationed in the direct sun serving boiling Heed and water.  Which sucked even more for the volunteers sitting out there in the heat. 
4) They had the first aid station at .75 mile and the next one at almost the 3 mile mark.  Long ways to go in 100 degree heat.
5) To top it off, I sent the race director an email asking her if the swim was long or the buoy got blown off course due to the wind.  She responded with "The course was accurate.  You need to practice swimming more and I would highly recommend you learn to breath on both sides to avoid looking into the sun."

The reply I got from the race director is what set me over the top with them and why both my wife and I refuse to buy anything from their store or participate in any of their events.  I guess with 600k yards of swimming I've done over the last 2.5 years doesn't count as practice.  Still pisses me off now that I think about it. 
2009-12-17 9:20 AM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
I did Northshore, Bigfoot, Hot Chocolate and have no complaints.

Northshore was a well run race.

Bigfoot the conditions were miserable, 25 mph wind...I agree that the swim wasn't ideal but lots had to do w the insane chop....the bike portion and run were fine.

Hot Chocolate was crowded but again I had no issue running my pace and 'njoying the day.   

Also, Ram gives the best swag around Chicago....for Bigfoot they gave an awesome transition bag, and a running hat....easily $50 value.   Hot Chocolate hats and wind breakers are cool too.
2009-12-17 9:55 AM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
I've done BigFoot, BangsLake, HotChoc x 2, North Shore Half, and Terripen and continue to enjoy them all.

Aside from the start time (6:30) BF, BL - I haven't experienced any issues with quality at the races. I'll be doing the DU at Bangs this year and probably the sprint @ BF.


2009-12-17 12:17 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010

Ok, while I agree the swim at Bangs Lake was directly into the sun during the 2008 race (same course I assume) that I did...and it did make it extremely difficult to sight...the rest of the race seemed fine to me.  But then again, this was only my 2nd triathlon that I had ever done, so perhaps I just didn't know any better.  The weather conditions in 08 were much different from the extreme heat and sun in 09.  It was a very chilly race day in 08...temps in the low 50's at start time.   I can't really comment on some of the other issues (not enough aid stations during the run) that were mentioned, because I don't recall that being a problem during the 08 race.  Perhaps it was a different race director for 09?  Don't really know.  I will also agree about the "swag"...best goodie bag I've received so far.  Got a pretty nice transition backpack bag, a running hat, cool t-shirt, and other stuff....so that got a big thumbs up from me.  



Edited by nscrbug 2009-12-17 12:17 PM
2009-12-18 7:22 AM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
Bangs lake was my first ever race and it was a bit of a letdown.  I did the aquabike

-  Swim was into the sun
-  buoys were small and hard to spot, and not enough of them
-  swim was long (I did 42 minutes, should've been around 30 min)
-  There were no aid stations on the bike at all - VERY HOT day
-  my aquabike race ended in the transition, didn't know that, no one told me, so I past it up and lost a couple positions.  --  Also, didn't get any water when I finished, had to go beg at the run finish.
-  for my first race, expected more than just to pull into transition, no hooray you finished or anything, just grabbed my chip and sent me away

I will probably do again, just to see improvement and its close to home.  Hopefully they will take into account survery filled out. I have been asked and have done 2 so far.

2009-12-22 12:04 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
This year RAM took over many of the races (North Shore, Hot Chocolate (i think) and a few others.  First thing they did was almost double the prices. 
2009-12-24 7:24 AM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
Well, signed up for BigFoot and North Shore 1/2.  Anyone else?

Happy Holidays.
2009-12-24 12:11 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
suzimmer - 2009-12-22 12:04 PM

This year RAM took over many of the races (North Shore, Hot Chocolate (i think) and a few others.  First thing they did was almost double the prices. 


North Shore was their first year as the owner, but they've been a sponsor prior. Your information is wrong on all the others.
2009-12-24 12:14 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010
ChicagoMan65 - 2009-12-24 7:24 AM

Well, signed up for BigFoot and North Shore 1/2.  Anyone else?

Happy Holidays.


I have a calendar alert set to remind myself on Big Foot. 1/2 Marathon's don't really fit in my schedule this year after March. All I remember about NS was one massive hill, the rest of the course was good.
2009-12-28 2:06 PM
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Subject: RE: RAM Racing events 2010

mattb1 - 2009-12-17 9:04 AM
nscrbug - 2009-12-16 7:55 PM Ok...I gotta ask - what is the deal with Bangs Lake?  I didn't do this race this year, but I did do it last year (08), which was their inaugural race...and I thought it was great for my first Olympic distance race.   What happened at this year's race, that has left such a bad impression with so many folks? 


Check the race reports for details.  Long story short:

1) Swim was long (I went 1:15 in an Ironman and did 41 minutes for an Olympic)
2) There was only 1 buoy on the entire swim and the out portion was directly into the sun.  Nothing to sight off of
3) It was the hottest day of the year and they had 4 aid stations on the run stationed in the direct sun serving boiling Heed and water.  Which sucked even more for the volunteers sitting out there in the heat. 
4) They had the first aid station at .75 mile and the next one at almost the 3 mile mark.  Long ways to go in 100 degree heat.
5) To top it off, I sent the race director an email asking her if the swim was long or the buoy got blown off course due to the wind.  She responded with "The course was accurate.  You need to practice swimming more and I would highly recommend you learn to breath on both sides to avoid looking into the sun."

The reply I got from the race director is what set me over the top with them and why both my wife and I refuse to buy anything from their store or participate in any of their events.  I guess with 600k yards of swimming I've done over the last 2.5 years doesn't count as practice.  Still pisses me off now that I think about it. 

I'm with Matt on this...they absolutely SUCK at putting together their triathlons...they suck you in with the goodies and then fail miserably on the actual race.  Too bad to since there aren't a lot of OLYS in our area...but I don't think I will ever do one of these again.

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