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2012-01-15 7:11 PM

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Kansas City Area
Subject: Midwest Meltdown questions
I'm seriously considering doing the Midwest Meltdown race in Paola this summer (2012). I have some questions:

Is it a worthwhile event? How is the course (I've seen the maps)?

Is it normally wetsuit legal?

Amy comments about arrival or parking?

Thanks,

Someguy


2012-01-15 8:03 PM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

It's a low key race.  I've done it three years in a row.  Last year there were roughly 220 participants.  The course is pretty flat, basically loops around the lake as you've seen on the course maps.  Parking is not an issue at all due to the small number of participants.  There is no awards ceremony, the KLM races are "no frills" type races but a great deal, I paid $140 for three races last year.  If you want pageantry (sp?), awards, tons of spectators you won't find it at this or any KLM race.

I don't think this race has been wetsuit legal in three years, mainly because it's in late August and the lake is pretty small.

2012-01-15 8:21 PM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

Oh but it was wetsuit legal in 2010... cause I always bring mine and I was the only sprint course person to wear one.  But, I got 5th overall, so it worked for me.  =)

Normally in late August, it's not cold enough for wetsuits, but stranger things have happened.

You get a solid run event, in my opinion.  No medals, but you get a decent shirt and it the course is pretty good.  Roads are in decent shape and they have worked the kinks out of transition.

2012-01-15 9:51 PM
in reply to: #3992035

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
TriJayhawkRyan - 2012-01-15 8:21 PM

Oh but it was wetsuit legal in 2010... cause I always bring mine and I was the only sprint course person to wear one.  But, I got 5th overall, so it worked for me.  =)

Normally in late August, it's not cold enough for wetsuits, but stranger things have happened.

You get a solid run event, in my opinion.  No medals, but you get a decent shirt and it the course is pretty good.  Roads are in decent shape and they have worked the kinks out of transition.

I probably would have noticed it was wetsuit legal if I had one in 2010, and I did the sprint also.  Which brings up a good point, always bring your wetsuit, chance favors the prepared.  RD's can get creative in terms of where to measure the water temperature.

2012-01-16 9:09 AM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
Great event.  Beautiful venue.  No hills of any note on bike or run.  Get there early for a good transition spot at the top of the hill.  I took 2nd overall in the sprint this year, so the competition can't be that great.  ;-)
2012-01-16 9:14 AM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

I think it is a worthwhile race, I've done it in 2009 and 2010, only missed it in 2011 because it didn't fit my schedule.  It was wetsuit legal in both 2009 and 2010 due to, as someone else mentioned, creative temperature measurement.  Parking is across the street in the grass, if you have spectators arriving late (after the course is closed to traffic) they won't be able to get in but there is a good spot to park/watch at the southwest corner of the bike/run course that is still accessible after the race starts.  A note about the transition layout, if 5-10 seconds of transition time matters to you or your results, get there early, there are only a few racks that are on a direct path from swim to bike and bike to run, many others will have you running some extra distance in transition.



2012-01-16 9:51 AM
in reply to: #3991926

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Kansas City Area
Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
all of the great replies are much appreciated.  I figured it would maybe take months to get replies to my post.  Do you guys check this forum regularly or use some mechanism to get an email when someone posts to the Kansas forum?
2012-01-16 10:03 AM
in reply to: #3992741

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

Under settings for your profile, Mass Subscribe tab and click your states.

Emails in your inbox for us stalkers of the forums.

2012-03-05 9:27 AM
in reply to: #3992741

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

Some guy,

My favorite of the three is Midwest Mayhem in Lawrence.  I like the course (and as a swimmer I like not having to get out and running for a second loop for the swim, Jackson and Meltdown you do that for long course).  I've done Mayhem/Lawrence Memorial since 2003 probably.  Jackson County has a hairy "s curve" at the bottom of a hill straight into a wooden bridge for the bike.  Paola/Meltdown has some rocks on the road for bike portion.  Like prior poster said three races for $140 (I think $170 this year) you get three races....just not the frills (which I'm good with) so for the price, you can't beat KLM series in KC.  (btw-if you finish top three Bill (RD) will send you gift certificates to Cycle City)

2012-08-01 1:16 PM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
Anyone interested in a course ride 8/11 or 8/12?  Couple loops and a small run?  We could practice running up the hill avoiding those nasty weeds with the prickly thorn balls on them...
2012-08-01 2:16 PM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
What hill?


2012-08-01 10:24 PM
in reply to: #4341590

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

TriJayhawkRyan - 2012-08-01 1:16 PM Anyone interested in a course ride 8/11 or 8/12?  Couple loops and a small run?  We could practice running up the hill avoiding those nasty weeds with the prickly thorn balls on them...

Hell yes I'm there.

2012-08-01 10:24 PM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
Any idea if the RD will take either SMP or Topeka Tinman bibs for early bird pricing? I heard this was the case for Mayhem and Jackson County...
2012-08-06 11:08 AM
in reply to: #4342615

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
Training ride/run this Sunday, 8/12 at Lake Miola.  Meet at the beach parking lot (gravel lot by the race transition area) for 4 loops on the bike and 1 loop on the run.  8am start time.  Be there or be square.
2012-08-06 7:01 PM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
see you there
2012-08-22 8:10 PM
in reply to: #3991926

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

I havent received an email or any information regarding early packet pick up. Any one else having this issue? I did receive two seperate emails shorty after registering online from bikereg, which were "registration confirmation" & "transaction receipt" emails.



2012-08-22 8:13 PM
in reply to: #4375980

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
coyote39 - 2012-08-22 8:10 PM

I havent received an email or any information regarding early packet pick up. Any one else having this issue? I did receive two seperate emails shorty after registering online from bikereg, which were "registration confirmation" & "transaction receipt" emails.

Haha... nevermind... I found the information after a lil detective work.

1-5pm this Saturday @ UltraMax in PV.

2012-08-26 6:40 PM
in reply to: #4375984

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
How did it go?  Did you get the rain we did in north KC for the Weatherby Lake Tri?  Absolute downpour.
2012-08-27 9:26 AM
in reply to: #4381289

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

The Meltdown went down without much of a hitch.

There was some strong mist just before sunrise, but after daylight hit, no rain cool temps and clouds.  The roads were wet but drying more and more on each loop.  If you could pick the center of the road for your line, no problem.

15th overall for me on the long course, 3rd in age group.

My wife was racing the short course, but someone pulled her foot that she had surgery on an ankle and popped it out of socket right at the end of the swim.  She opted to play it safe and call it a day at the swim exit.

2012-08-27 9:32 AM
in reply to: #4381930

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions
Good job, Ryan!  Sucks about your wife.  I understand bumping and the occassional blow to the head/body.  But a grab is unquestionably intentional.  Never understood how someone can compete without a conscience.
2012-08-27 9:36 AM
in reply to: #4381947

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Subject: RE: Midwest Meltdown questions

I hate to think that someone would pull someone's ankle right at the end of the swim intentionally.  I'm not sure what that would gain you, but some people take the swim as the chance to get out any aggression in life they have.

But I digress, blog recap coming soon.



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