Vineman Ironman 70.3 : Official Thread

Things are going well.  I am on track for a healthy vineman!   I need this race for a qualifer for the Ironman Hawaii. 

My swimming is behind last year--but that is by design of the plan I'm on.  The bike is much stronger--and I've gotten a few quality long distance rides in so far.   The run is about the same as last year--except I'm still healthy!

Course overview from when I rode it last year (that's poweredbyfear (in blue) and DW in the pictures).

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

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

Great photos!   It is just like I remember!

Those pictures are great.  I am doing FL 70.3 in 3 weeks, my first.  This will be my second.  I think I am more excited for this one than FL.  I hope to survive the first one and enjoy the second.

Couple of thoughts. 

1.  I would check the motionbased site for vineman courses profiles.

2.  The ride has two hills of significance.  However, either are that bad.  The evil "chalk hill" really isn't that bad. However, it is late in the ride.  

3. There are tons of rolling hills. 

4.  There are sections that the pavement is rough.  Not as bad as Treasure Island, but better than Wildflower.

I found the run to be more difficult. There are four hills on the course.  Hill two has a "false summit" that is hidden by a curve.  However, the third hill is the toughest.   My quads cramped up during that hill.   There are at least four water stops on the course and La Creme (which I'm drinking now... :-)   ) winery is a great turn around point with water misters.   The course can be really hot and the heat radiating from the streets can be intense.

Also, I would recommend checking out prior year race reports for more detail. It one of the best resources available from BT! 

I did 80 on the course on Saturday and the a two mile brick. 

Less than a month to go.  Any other east coasters making the trip out?  How are you shipping your bike?  I am bummed that TriBikeTransport is not making the cross country trip. 

I have not done the Longhorn. However, here is most of the run from last year.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6315794

There was no stripper last year.   That's a sentence I never thought I would say in this forum.