Hy-Vee Triathlon : Official Thread

I think a lot of stuff is still up in the air.  The website is undergoing a big change and nobody from Hy-Vee is saying anything.  I will see some of the "big players" in the Des Moines Tri scene this weekend at an indoor charity ride.  I'll try to get some scoop and maybe a code or two. 

who's got two thumbs and just registered for hy-vee?   

This guy!

Me Too!  This year I'll actually make it to the start line! (broken collarbone '09)

Recently moved to Des Moines from Chicago.

Just registered for the Hyvee Triathlon.

Will be doing the majority of my training at the riverfront YMCA in des moines.  If you see a mid 20's guy rocking out the expresso bike feel free to say hi (confirm it's me by my photo gallery).  I'd be happy to chat during a run around the track.

Hy-Vee is a great race, very family-spectator friendly. One of the best races I have done. I have signed up for the Kansas 70.3, which is the week before Hy-Vee, dont know if I will be up physically for it the very next week. Who Knows...Good Luck to everyone competing.... 

Hawkeye:  Where are you located??  I am also doing Kansas this year.....was hoping to do HyVee but I don't think I would be up for racing back to back weekends, especially since this is my first HIM.  I am over in Western Iowa (CB area).....and a Cyclone Alum!!!

HarleyClone,

Im over in Western Iowa too, Sioux City, I have signed up for the Ironman Wisconsin in September, so my main focus is on that, I have not done the Kansas 70.3 before but some of my friends have and thought it was a well put on race...good luck with your training and the race season...

HarleyClone,

Im over in Western Iowa too, Sioux City, I have signed up for the Ironman Wisconsin in September, so my main focus is on that, I have not done the Kansas 70.3 before but some of my friends have and thought it was a well put on race...good luck with your training and the race season...

so, who's done this before?  i am wondering about bike drop off on saturday and pick up on sunday.

from what i gather, the packet pick up is at valley southwoods school.  do i bring my bike there on saturday and they will take it to the race site?  or do i take it to the site myself after picking up my packet?  is it crazy on saturday?

are all athletes required to park and shuttle at valley west mall?  what time do those start up?

what about getting your bike after the event?  if i have shuttled down, how am i going to get my bike back?
 

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and what about the swim?  i see there is only a single start time for all age groupers.  is it one massive start or do they break up the ag every few minutes or so?

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It won't be a mass start. Either TT or waves. I'm sure they'll post more information when the race approaches. Its only april.

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This will be my first triathlon ever.  Did I make a good choice?  If you see a balding, dazed and confused, guy in his early 30's on race-day, do me a favor and point me in the right direction.

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no need to worry about those uni swimmers.  they seem to do alright  

OK - here is how Hy-Vee does things.
You will do your packet pick-up on Friday or Saturday.  When you go to packet pick-up you have to go through the race beiefing, which takes about 45 minutes.  They dio a presentation and the head referee will speak to everyone.  Then you get in line and pick up your packet (tons of swag) and all that.  You do not check your bike in here.  They also have an expo with samples and stores and whatnot.
On Saturday, you will take your bike to the drop-off location at Raccoon River Park after a certain time that they will tell us at the race briefing.  You will get your bike checked in and all that good stuff and then leave it there overnight (under fenced in area and security guards).  You wiull show up in the morning of the race with your body marking already done (They use TriTats body markings and you get those in your packet).  You will also get a bracelet that matches your race number.  You will either take the shuttle (not recommended) or park in the area to the East of the lake on the grass and then hoof it in (about 1/2 mile, maybe) or take a shuttle thingy (like at Disney).  You then set up your transition area and away we go. 
Starts are in waves by gender and age group.  Not too bad for the crowd.  It is a shore start.  You come out to a ramp that heads into T1 off of the beach.  Bike course is out and back mostly on a two lane road (pretty flat).  You re-enter T2 and head out to the east, flip a U turn after you run past the crowd and head out to the run course which is EXTREMELY hilly.  It is also an out and back and it climbs a very large hill known to locals as "cemetery hill".  The good part is that once you crest the hill for the second time at the cemetery, it's really all downhill from there and then you run in on blue carpet to the finish. 
There is a ton of food, showers, massage tables, and all that.  After you cross the line in the stadium they give you your finishers medal, you chill, and then they open up transition - at which time you get your bike and ride it back to where you parked.  Shortly after that they start the Pro race.  They also have a hugte expo behind the stands where they give away everything under the sun.  Remember that Hy-Vee is a grocery store, so they get a lot of their vendors to show up and give stuff away.  I had gronola bars for months after last years race. 
I have been there for every race, so if you have moire questions, let me know. 

I think it was every three minutes last year.

thanks john! 

I'm soooooo stoked to do this event. Hoping when I do the Holiday Lake one that will help get the first Triathlon in 14 years jitters out of me. Thanks for all the info it will help me out a lot.

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Well the biggest report I can say is at Christmas I weighed about 260 and now I'm down to a slighty less chuncky 223 right now. My goal is to get around 205 so that is a comeback in itself. I figured other than just saying I need to lose weight I needed to have a reason to shoot for. So I made a goal to do Triathlons this year and use that as some motivation. But will see how it goes. Again if anyone sees someone in all red gear on a Equinox 7 lost as can be. That would be me.