Rumpus in Bumpass International : Official Thread (Page 3)

On Slowtwitch the forum is saying gravel road. Maybe SetUp got handed a last minute blow. Just the same some folks knees aren't made for gravel and or trail...race day for good or bad just got more exciting...

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/Rumpus_in_Bumpass_has_moved!_P3874733/

I'm really disappointed in Setup Events.

1) They begin their email with "a week before the race..." We're not a week before, we're THREE DAYS before....

2) The only explanation given is "Some changes happened very recently at the Marina that made it very clear we needed to change venues." Seriously? In the absence of any other explanation, it leaves wide open speculation that the RD screwed up. Specifics on what exactly led to the change would end that speculation.

3) A 10K on gravel is very different than a 10K on hard surface. This should be acknowledged and registered racers given the option of a refund.

I've always been a big supporter of Setup Events, but between this and screw-ups at Tidewater in 2010 and 2011, and Colonial Beach in 2011, I'm beginning to wonder if they have grown too fast and bitten on more than they can chew.

I planned on going up for the race meeting on Friday to check the course, but now I'm even more interested in doing so.  I'm still trusting Set Up hasn't screwed us and even if so, that I can only worry about those things in my control at this point.  We'll still have a blast and the weather is looking great, right! 

I also have to remain positive just to make it to the starting line, I've been having knee pain the last two weeks and finally reduced my training to let it heal and recover, hopefully in time to toe the starting line and enjoy the first tri of my season.

Good attitude there-thanks for the reminder. Have a good race.

I can't make it to the pre-race meeting, but if I can I'm going to drive by the race site. Depending on the run surface I may be out--with Kinetic Half four weeks away, I can't take any chances turning an ankle on loose gravel or bruising a metatarsal on rocks.

The run has always had a section through the woods, last year (I think it was last year) it was raining race morning and it was a slippery mess running through it, I had to slow down quite a bit to make sure I didnt' slip and fall.  10k in the gravel is probably a better option.

It is my understanding that the property owner withdrew permission. The RD had to scramble to find another property to hold the race. The property has changed hands since last year and the new owners had some reservations regarding liability.

The Rumpass race has been around for many years, I do not think this is a result of overexpansion.

So, the thing that strikes me is that no announcement was made about this until three days before the race, and a vague explanation for the change was given. Surely this has been going on for some time now? I know that sometimes permits for road closings are not in hand when registration opens, but apparently in this instance the site was not even secured.

In fairness to racers, we should have been told of the changes earlier, and given the opportunity to withdraw (with full refund) or not, based on the new course. I would like to think Setup did the right thing, but it does seem as though they might have hedged their bets to ensure a sold-out race.

Water Temp - 65F

Swim Wave Start Times Posted

http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=1959

I'm going up tomorrow to check out site and will try to report back anything that I can find. 

I had on OK day.  Swim was what I normally do.  Bike maybe a bit better.  I did have fun on the bike.  Run was another story.  The first leg on the gravel just sucked the energy right out of me before I could make the mental shift to do a trail run rather than a road run.  

Really sucky traffic on the way home.  I-95 north.  

I learned a lesson..I thought with the wetsuit I'd still be okay in the swim with minimal training and focused on run and bike since December...that fopah added 5 minutes to the swim

Bike was good...That was a really fast bike course

Run never stopped hurting for me...but the pain did stop after the finish line...anyone doing Kinetic?

RE: Kinetic.  I am registered for the HIM but won't make it due to a commitment for my daughter.  Instead, I'll be at Monticelloman near UVA the week prior.

RE: Rumpus.  I won't say much here because if I do...after you all heal you might come find me.  I'm feeling okay although my back is sore -- probably from sleeping in a tent with three kids last night.  I was able to PR by 11 minutes so all of my complaints on the day are minor.

I'm focused on my first IM in July so I was very happy to put the race behind me without any technical problems.  The good weather, the smooth water, the PR -- it was all icing on the cake.