Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread (Page 3)

Hey peeps, we're less than a week away! How's everyone doing? The course will be WAY easier than Canada. It's relatively flat (see previous posts) and should be a fast bike course. Use a disc if you have access to one.I can't say definitively how special needs works since I've never used it but I believe on the bike they keep them across from the high school (I don't know when or where drop off is) and on the run you have full access to your T2 so you get 2 chances. Again, I'm not positive on this so either email the RD or they'll likely cover this at the pre-race talk.

My girlfriend and I are roadtripping 1500 miles to the race! We started in South Dakota and are in Salt Lake City today and tonight we reach Reno, then on to Cal for the rest of the week! We'll hit up San Francisco for a day and do some camping as well.



Here's the email from the RD about the special needs bags.

Hello Full Vineman and Full AquaBike Athletes,
We just want to let everyone know that we will have special needs areas on both the bike and run course this year.
The bike special needs will be located at bike aid station #4 (mile 57).
The run special needs will be just across from run aid station #0 which you will pass as you exit T2 to start the run and then 2 more times as you complete each run loop.
Empty bags will be available for you to pick in the packet pick up room at the "Help Desk" from me or Barb. We can also answer any questions you may have at that time.
On race morning you will bring the special needs bags with you where you will give them to our bike special needs and run special needs coordinators. Each will have a vehicle and an A-frame sign denoting which bags they are collecting.
On the course the bags will be set up in numeric order. You will need to stop and get the bags yourself. Volunteers will NOT be there to hand them off to you.
Please do not put anything in these bags that is of great value or that you will want back as they may not get back to the finish line. If they do make it back to the finish area they will be placed in with the swim gear bags.

For those of you worried about drinks getting warm in your special needs bags I would suggest freezing them the night before so that by the time you get to them, they will be thawed but still cold. As well, if you use some sort of powdered drink (Carbo Pro, etc) you may want to just put this in the bottle without water and simply add cold water at the aid station.

Hopefully this email has covered everything for special needs!

Hey Everyone!! Just wanted to wish all of you doing the Vineman Good Luck! I'm very excited for all of you.
I'm anxious to hear every detail in your race reports as I'm signing up for 2011.
Kick some booty!!

Anyone interested in a quick BT meet up before and/or after the race briefing at 2pm on Friday?

according to accuweather, the weather forecast looks like high 80s in guerneville and windsor for race day.  According to NOAA, it's going to be low 80s in Windsor and high 70s in guerneville.  I work with someone who lives in the area and often volunteers at Vineman and she says it's been unseasonably cool, although it looks like there's a bit of a warming trend towards the weekend.  In any case, it sounds like we won't have the typical 90+ degree heat that most years have.

Good luck to everyone doing Vineman Saturday.  I'll be reading RR's in preparation for taking on this course in 2011. 

I hope everyone had a great day out there!!!  I had a great bike split and got eaten by the run.  Happy recovery!

Abbie, when I walked with you at the end of your lap 2, you were in a rough spot and I'm glad you persevered and finished, no doubt with a fabulous smile.

It was rough day (mentally) out there for me on the bike.  My legs were obviously not fully recovered, but the run is my strength so i was able to pull it out at that point. 

Awesome day... I set a IM PR by 38 minutes. Put together a great ride 21 mph.

"Rough spot" that's sugar-coating it