Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island : Official Thread (Page 15)

Funny but my experience was totally opposite as yours. I registered on Friday afternoon and there were no lines or waiting. I was in and out in less than 15 min and only because I walked around a bit. I stayed in Warwick and drove to the swim area on Saturday to check out the course and there was some traffic on 1A getting to Narragansett but I thought it was normal for July. Plus since the bike check in was optional that’s a hassle easy to avoid. On Sunday I drove to the starting line leaving @ 4:35 am and the only traffic I encounter was just before turning onto Sandhill Cove and it took us like 10-15min to actually park. I was racking my bike around 5:20ish.

The race started late due to the waves moving the buoys but I didn't think the delay caused any trouble, it is the ocean and more than once I’ve seen a race delayed because of this. In fact I was happy they kept the swim as any other race would have been quick to cancel it.  I started on the same wave as you did, still I had no issues passing people during the bike leg and I never felt the course was crowded in anyway. (Like races such as Steelhead or Florida) In fact it is among the few 70.3s I've done I never saw people blatantly drafting/cheating.

The course was good for most part with normal potholes as any other road I ride every week and the only crappy section was the last miles heading into Providence. Yes that wasn't fun but still it wasn't that much of an issue IMO. Even with the pothole I hit during the race it was no different as the potholes I’ve hit head center through training, that's just racing.

The run course was hard and fun; the hill at the turn around, the big hill and the false flat heading out I think were all good challenges and then the down hills made for fast sections. The support all along the race course was great; they had plenty of volunteers everywhere, stocked aid stations, etc. They had a nice spread at the finish line with food and beverages.

My friend who drove back and forward on race day said it wasn't an issue and she got parking right at the light on Memorial Street. Having the race finish in downtown Providence gives spectators choices to hang out and eat while waiting for racers unlike other races where there is nothing around. The only time I had to wait and it was like 15-20 mins was for my wetsuit bag. Yes that could have been more organized but I don’t think that’s something to fret over. Even the line for LP registration went smooth and I was in and out in 15 min.

Unlike you I think the race course was rather unique and the organizers offered a pretty solid race and experience. Yes the two transition areas can be a logistic challenge but I think they did a good job, definitely much better of what I heard from last year and the venue was pretty fun. My only complaint would be their lack of communication prior the event, but for race day I think it was pretty well run and up there with Tman and other great 70.3 races. I would do this race again for sure, it was well organized, the course was fun and the competition was very strong, that for me is worth more than anything else. Maybe we did different races…

Glad to have met Lazy Marathoner in T1 - we had a beautiful day for sure. Seems like everyone had a good race! Sat. was a breeze which was a pleasant surprise.  Fitness wise, I felt fine but once I got home, I realized my derailleur problem caused my frame to crack...ugghhh.

Holy Cheesey Collages Batman!!

Finish photo, I can't get it to link from my album for some reason, hope the attachment works.

(IMRI.jpg)

I didn't pay anything for mine.  I'm okay with white copyright writing over mine.  I don't even see it anymore, honestly.