Setup Reg

Are you one of them?

I'll be honest, I thought registrations would be waaaaayyyy more than they are right now.  I was wrong (Again!).

I was sure Azalea and White Lake Half would sell out rather quickly, so I have already registered for those two.  Doesn't seem like there is any urgency to sign up for later races, so I'll wait on those.

I don't plan on signing up for anything until the day before prices go up.  No point really.

I remember a time when you had to get in the first hour in order to race Tri Latta on the first day!  But there is only Setup to "blame" for this. CLT used to have 2-3 races (Latta/Wylie/Lake Norman).  Now we have a glut of races (some on the same weekend) and which has forced the two day events (Latta/LKN) to be trimmed to one day. 

I assume they are still making money though or they would be even more contraction of events.

Plenty of reasons and some blame to go around for Setups down registrations.

Competition- yes a lot more options including the very popular mudder and obstacle races.

Price and swag- I did a couple events where I paid good money and got a bag with a ugly Tee shirt in it.

I can do my local YMCA's TRI The Buck Hurley in Salisbury where I get more swag, better prizes including money, a better post race party for about half the price of a setups event. More local organizations are putting on there own events and doing a better job. Another example is The January trail race at The WWC, you get a really cool hoodie, I like the hoodie and will race it again this year.

Safety- The last time I did the Lake Norman Tri coming back into town I had to share my bike lane with heavy traffic very sketchy,at times I did not have 3 feet of width. My favorite races are the ones with lane closures or coned off bike lanes in high traffic area's

The White lake debacle of we are going to swim, no swim , we are going to swim, no swim...you can wear your helmet, no you can't, yes you can...total chao's before I start a HIM.

Then to top it off The course description at that time was a total lie..."Mostly smooth roads in excellent condition" "Partly shaded run course around the lake"...I said to myself never again and I won't let them making a liar out of me.

Last year the week after White Lake I drove to Virginia and did the Kinetic Half at Lake Anna State Park a much better race and course.

Now I have no grudge against setups as a matter of fact some friends work for them and maybe things are changing, and I do think they do a wonderful job at B2B

I've noticed that for some events as well and find it very misleading. I did Belews Lake last year based on the location description: "Belews Lake Triathlon is centrally located in Stokesdale, NC for easy access and short travel time from almost any spot in the Triangle.". I have a different definition of short travel time than they do- it is a good hour-90 mins from my house, which is not a particularly easy drive for a sprint. I'm fine with driving- just prefer them to say "it is in Stokesdale which is the middle of nowhere with only one hotel in the 20 miles around race site". I guess no-one would sign up though and they do have to market themselves. For the same race they say "The run consist of no major hills and provides a great view of Belews Lake", which is pretty funny because it is a pretty hilly run (nothing major, but hilly IMO) and you only see the Lake for about 0.25 of a mile as you come back down the non-major hill to the finish. I am not knocking the race (which I really enjoyed) but the description online is misleading. And yeah, the White Lake one is awful. FSSERIES does the same thing though so not sure whether that is a reason for the registrations being down though-  I think it is more a factor of the economy, significant competition, etc. And yeah, the swag is something people consider!

What is the trail race at the WWC? I, too, want a hoodie!

I hope they have improved. My wife did one of the trail races out there last year (2011) and her exact words were, "Worst organization ever."  She races as much or more than me so she is no stranger to how a good race is to be run.

I know they have greatly improved non-sporting events out there in the past year so hopefully they have improved the sporting events also as it is a great location.

Finances.  Choices.  Recovery from a busy 2012.  I may only race 2-3 times in '13.  But one of them might just be a Setup event.  Another likely a FS Series.  The third, well, that's the early-season WTC thing.  Oh, and a marathon.  So, make that 4.  Heck, maybe even a late-season marathon, not sure.

But it is interesting how the urgency has changed.  Now it's moved over to Ironman registrations, ultramarathons, and Boston, where it used to be the local events.

Maybe next year.  Already have 2 x 70.3 and 1 x 140.6 on the schedule for 2013.

Yup, you are like me. I suspect Raleigh 70.3 will be a one-and-done deal for me. The rest of the races have a place and a time. For instance, will likely do the Cary Du and Beaverdam (FSSERIES) events for no reason other than they suit my schedule and are NOT White Lake. But then will do Triangle (local, nice race by Setup) and maybe even Pinehurst (another Setup). Those, to me, are repeaters. An IM 70.3 in June in Raleigh is fun...once. Or maybe more times. Depends, said Mr. Wishy Washy.

I agree the folks I know at Setups are wonderful, I don't think any post were meant to diss anyone, we were discussing why registrations for there races are down, marketing , economics, consumer satisfaction ect  ect.

X2. I like Setup too- didn't mean to sound like I was dissing them (if I did). I do find some of the descriptions misleading and maybe they will adjust them in time.