Ford Ironman 70.3 California - 2008 (Page 2)

I might suggest staying in Carlsbad rather than Oceanside.

None of the hotels are "On" the course and all will require some sort of a drive/ride to the start line. There is very limited parking at the Harbor and most  folks will park at the pier and ride the last mile or so to the Harbor where the start/finish is.

Some very posh places to stay:

La Costa Resort
Four Seasons Resort
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

Some of the better local places to stay:

Hilton Garden Inn, Carlsbad, California (On the Beach in South Carlsbad)
Grand Pacific Palisades, Carlsbad, California (next to Legoland and the Flower Fields)
Carlsbad Seapoint

And some of the less pricey but still very nice places to stay:

Best Western Beach View, Carlsbad, California
Ramada Inn Carlsbad
Beach Terrace Inn
Holiday Inn Carlsbad (Right by the Flowerfields)

There are rooms to be had in Oceanside also but I am just a bit biased

Also, if you are flying in, there is a regional airport (Palomar) right in the area. Much less hastle than Lindberg Field and has direct flights from LA and Phoenix. (A Big +++ if you are traveling on America West (Now USAir) since everything goes through Phoenix.

Oh, for those not familiar with the North County San Diego Area, Downtown Carlsbad is about 5 miles from the start line at Oceanside Harbor.

Registered a while back so will be back to avenge the course in '08. It kicked my rear end this year, so let's break that 7hr barrier.

What did kill me is that I started to train 2 1/2 month before the race, weighted 298lbs, and had not exercised for about 3 1/2 years. It will get to you on those 3 climbs they had on the back. Heck, I ended up walking all three hills this year. But I have been login some mileage this year, so I should be doing better. Plus I have been riding once every 6 weeks on hilly terrain. Probably will have to make it more regular as January comes around, but should be doing just fine.

Let's get together again before the race, and have lunch. Catch you later.

Donato, while I would echo Tim's advice not to stay in Oceanside (yech), if it's only one or two nights, we stayed at the Guesthouse Inn  http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=guesthouse+inn&near=Oceanside,+CA&fb=1&cid=0,0,12633801214717014217&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image

We did just Fri nite 2007 and it was fine.   It's a quick ez ride (less than 5 minutes) down to the start (although it is uphill on the way back, but mostly through a parking lot), and my wife walked it in about 10-15 minutes.  On the attached map, the race is basically at Harbor and N. Pacific Street, and there's a parking lot between Riverside Drive and Harbor that you go through. 

They have a nice little breakfast set up beforehand, coffee, bagels, peanut butter, cereal, etc.  Also mini fridges in the room.  I saw 20 or so racers staying there this year.  Cheap as well, rates right now are around $75-80.

As for checkin, it's not at the race "site" but at the pier, which the run crosses, you'd have to drive to get there anyway most likely, or is an ez bike ride from the Inn.

edit - while I am looking forward to IMAZ, I kinda wish I was going back to Cali 70.3 with a little more experience and training under my belt, Like Xan, sub 6 is my goal there.  there's always 2009

Hi Chris.  Thanks.  That looks like a nice option.  i have 2 friends also doing this race so I'll pass the info on to them as well!

Too bad you're not doing it this year.  Would have been nice to meet you.  If I had to schedule my 2008 all over again, I might have chosen to do AZ instead of this one, but maybe it worked out better to use a half as a tuneup rather than a full!  perhaps we'll cross paths in 2009!

No idea of accuracy, but there's some posts on ST to the effect that there are in excess of 1400 athletes signed up already and they expect it to sell out soon(er than last year)

FWIW

Well I am in as well.  Mark it down as my second half.  Did IM CA 70.3 last year.  I would love to break the 6 hour mark this time around now that I know how to train a little better for this race.

 Time to build base

Chris, Too much work not enough play.

IMAZ, you rock man.  I got a chance to train on the run course a little bit.  Not too bad for my 10 miles of the 26.2.  IMCA70.3 is going to miss you though.  I will do the Clydes well this year.  I am getting back in the groove, weight loss is already underway and strength training.

So you will start seeing more of me on here.  Keeps me honest.

Too bad I can never find a person to train with out here in Simi Valley.

J

Awesome.  We are planning some training rides sometime between now and IMAZ, we'll drive up to Malibu area just south of Cross Creek, and go up to Las Posas and the gas station at the 101.  Long flat windy training.  It's sort of in the middle, if you're interested I'll let you know

I have chronic shin splints and I worry about them all the times, I have good days and bad days. I really want to do a HIM and I figure when it comes to the run if I have to walk because of the pain I will walk.  My strategy is to do well enough on the swim and bike that if I have to walk the run I will have plenty of time to finish.  I'm not trying to win my AG so finishing is always going to be good enough for me.

Just signed up for this race -- my first HIM.  Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaaw !!!  Oh man, what have I done? :-)

Yup, I'm officially in, too (can't believe I haven't posted here yet!)

This will be my first HIM, following this 2007 season of racing sprints and one Oly.

I'm following one of the BT training plans and modifying it to my needs (am in the first couple weeks of it, actually).

Will be doing California International Marathon on 12/2, am very interested in Pac Shoreline (now Surf City) half as a tune-up if we do a group thingie!

Good luck training, all! Sign up if ya haven't already!

As I recall, Surf City (AKA, PacShore) was the semi-offical Tuneup for IMCal last year.

The timing is perfect but the race fills up so get your spot if your going to do it. Also, the full marathon is just about sold out if you were thinking of being hard core