Ironman 70.3 Florida : Official Thread

I'm in.  Haven't signed up as of yet, but I will soon.  Did this one a few years back when it was still at Disney.

Quick question for those of you who have done this venue before.  Are there any hotels within walking distance of transition?  I would like to combine this with a family Disney trip, but would rather not have to get the family up at 4am race day just to drive me to transition....

I have not done this race before, but my in-laws live near the venue.  When visiting, before the race was moved here I used to run a lot of the run course.

Unfortunately, there are not any hotels nearby, you would either need to go north about 12 miles to the interchange of I4 and 27 where there is a Hampton, a Holiday Inn Express, and I think a Comfort Inn.  Winter Haven has a handful of chain hotels and it is about a 20 minute drive depending on traffic from there.  I know there is also a Hampton in Lake Wales, which is about 15 miles south on 27.  There may be others there as well, but I am not sure. 

Early morning, you are about 30 - 40 minute drive away from Haines City staying at the Kissimee area Disney resorts so it isn't a terribly long drive, but it isn't around the corner either.

Raced it last year.  The closest hotel is the Roadway Inn, much closer than all the others but it is nothing to speak of.  Last year my door wouldn't even lock   I only use it because 1) it is cheap 2) it is the closest hotel and 3) my wife isn't with me.

It is still a few miles away so not walking distance and, there isn't ANYTHING close to the hotel so you need to drive to eat. 

Probably going to sign up again this year since it is so close.  Doing New Orleans just a few weeks before.

Duane

I volunteered this year and joined the long registration line the morning after! Well worth the trip for the experience and tips from athletes (granted we are only 6 hours away so we could drive and it wasnt too cost prohibitive). I wasn't comfortable enough trying to chance it online so I convinced my husband that this was the way to go. It also gave us an opportunity to test out the condo we were thinking of renting for 2013.

Not sure, it is not normal for the races I have done, but none have had host hotels this far away.