Ford Ironman 70.3 California : Official Thread (Page 2)

halfironmike - 2009-09-10 8:57 AM You can ride on base to preview much of the ride.  I believe the riding hours are 9-3 on weekdays, and I'm not quite sure what the limitations are on weekends (we rode through there on Saturday, but probably didn't get to the gate until after 9).

You just have to have your ID to show at the gate and the MPs might not let you ride all of the way inland, which means you may not be able to preview the most important part, which are the hills.  Just know there are a couple of them and you slow to a crawl and will be up out of your saddle for a while.  The biggest one is around the 30-mile mark and there's another around 40-44.  There are a couple of downhill sections that get a bit technical, but only one where you have a mandatory speed limit.  There are volunteers there to slow you down.

The Tri Club of San Diego hosts a Saturday morning ride that meets at the Starbucks on the corner of Camino del Mar and 15th in Del Mar at 8.  The standard ride turns around at the Oceanside harbor (CA 70.3 transition area) and the longer (+/-60 mi.) option heads north through the base for an out-and-back.

ChrisM - 2009-09-30 3:05 PM

  A bit more expensive than the 2 star deals, but may be worth it since you probably won't be hearing people screaming at eachother/having sex/arguing whatever, as tends to happen at the $80 2 star jobbies

Google Holiday Inn oceanside marina

mrbigheado - 2009-10-01 10:24 PM just wondering, but where do you guys plan on staying in oceanside, somewhere relatively cheap.thanks

lmscozz - 2009-10-13 7:19 PM

I got in thanks to Jezzieswims through multisport and am thinking about when to start my training plan. I have a marathon on 12/6 and will need a few weeks to recover from that, but will likely be able to bike and swim. That will give me about 14 weeks I think. I'll definitely be riding as much of the course as possible. I live fairly close to the base and rode it frequently over the past year. As a heads up, there's a bike race on base in February called the Bulldog that gives you a glimpse of the usually unavailable roads. It's run by the marines and well supported and organized.

LeahDD - 2009-10-13 8:45 PM

I went and looked at the course maps for both the Bulldog and the 70.3.  The courses do overlap for a period, but I couldn't tell if where they overlapped it was particularly hilly.  Anyone know??

~ AZ Sunshine ~ - 2009-10-16 9:50 PM Thanks everyone for sharing so much information.  I'm still torn on my training plan.  I hope to decide this weekend. 

Are there any "official" course pre-rides?  I'd love to get a look at those big inclines before race day.  From the sounds of past posts you can get on base but not all the way to the inclines.  Do I have the correct understanding?