Vineman 70.3 (Page 3)

Not sure if I'll be doing Barb's race this year (Vineman 70.3 is closed), but if any of you all are in the area and want a preview of the course, we're more than happy to go ride with you. 

Also, we can rec some good pasta-loading places for dinner the night before, and carnitas burrito places for post-race protein-reloading.   

Rode the course on Saturday.  Was a beautiful day out.

I'm sure you've all seen this from the website:

We didn't do the tail section at the start from Guerneville (T1) to Westside, so here's a picture of what you'll see on Westside

These are along Dry Creek

The small climb up Canyon

After the downhill, the turn into Geyserville

Will have to post more later...need to get ready for work!

Awesome photo's... Thanks for sharing.

Dennis

Vineman loop pictures continued...

Along 128

On Chalk Hill Rd. 

Faught or Shiloh Rd.

Old Redwood Highway

At the end of the course, you'll roll up to Windsor High School.   You'll enter on the south end so you won't pass the school as shown below, but you will if you do the full vineman.

And on the full vineman course, you'll also go through this section to reconnect the loop

Here's a ticker for you all

The bike ride is enjoyable.  Very scenic as you can see and as you already know.  It shouldn't be too hot on the bike since it'll still be early, but yeah, that run will be hot for sure, plus a few rolling hills.

The hill you are talking about is Chalk Hill.  In the scheme of things, it's not a huge hill by California standards; it's a 385' climb.  I may not be a good judge because I live in a hilly area and do a lot of hilly rides; neither my wife, my buddy, nor I found Chalk Hill to be much of a hill as a training ride.  Racing is certainly a different story and in the heat of the summer, it's is undoubtedly tougher.  Last year when I did the full vineman, I remember it seeming like a significant climb and relative to the rest of the course, it is.  There was also a guy stopped on the hill because of cramping. 

the roads are open to traffic, but I honestly don't remember there being very many cars at all on most of the stretches.  Dry creek did have some as did the return stretch from old redwood highway on.  At all turns, there were police to hold up traffic and wave you on, so I don't remember it being much of an issue at all.

I ride a double, and it put me down into low gear, but only for a very short while (maybe a minute or two).  Unless you do all your riding in a pancake flat area, you should be fine.

The cars did not seem to be a problem last year.  Lots of county sherriff and CHP, lots of advance publicity, so all the locals (even the winery's) know that the roadway is going to have lots of riders coming.  Only thing close to a problem I had was a guy passed me, about the same time I moved over to avoid a pothole.  I guess if I rode a little faster that wouldn't happen!!!! 

Zeke,

T1: This will be at Russian River shoreline at Johnson's Beach..  You will be given a big bag at packet pick-up on Saturday to put yer gear in after you get yer riding stuff on and BEFORE you leave T1..  You can either leave it right there for volunteers to transport to Windsor Hi, or you can hand it to family over the fence if you have anyone there..  You must bag everything in that race numbered bag to assure all yer gear shows up at Windsor Hi if you choose volunteer transport.

T2: Drop off all running gear at the designated spot on Saturday..  There are racks just like at T1, so you can rack yer bike when you come in and yer running gear is positioned already from Saturday, because you found yer designated spot and laid everything out.  Put something down as the evening gets damp if there's something you don't want wet.  Chances are by that time it will be warm enuf and already dry.  Remember, you must drop off your running gear after your packet pick-up on Saturday..  The racks are assigned in both locations based on what wave you are assigned.

I think I covered everything..  As long as its the same this year as last year!

Lori

Ok, questions about transistions and such... I finally figured out how to reduce the size of my photo's from last year (I think).

Here it goes...

(Pre-race jitters.JPG)

(T1_Johnsons_beach.JPG)

(Start of the swim.JPG)

(Leaving T1.JPG)

(Entering T2.JPG)

(The Finish Line.jpg)

(The Showers.JPG)

The bees were out last year as well, my cousin got stung on his foot after taking his shoes off at the finish. One of the womens pros got stung during the bike as well. My dad is doing it ths year and allergic to bee stings, hopefully he brings a sting kit.

I was stung as well, on Chalk Hill.  It probably was pretty funny for people watching me, beat on my helmet, with a power bar in my hand, trying to get the damned thing out.

Dennis

Here you go... the mileage didnt' quite add up, because I didn't make the correct loop at the winery...

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/map.asp?routeid=25194 

Click on the link, then the elevation graph tab.  Not a lot of hills, the heat is what made it a challange last year.  My fastest ever 1/2 marathon (stand alone event, on a cool day) was 1 hour, 52 minutes.  I did this 1/2 in 2 hrs, 11" (after the other two events to warm up).  So, I guess I"m trying to say it's not a hard run course.

Very cool, thanks!  I'm going to assume the winery is roughly mile 6-7 so the biggest downhill and climb of the second half is pretty soon after coming out of the winery back onto the road.  Also looks like the 2nd half is a gradual overall ascent.

449ft of climbing looks wonderful compared to Wildflower's 1700ft.

Oh, you guys!  All those photos are certainly motivating me to get out and train!