It's not supposed to be an easy race but when I pay premium $ I expect: - clear directions on the course - reply to my emails - marshals on … MORE
It’s not supposed to be an easy race but when I pay premium $ I expect:
– clear directions on the course
– reply to my emails
– marshals on the course for everyone
– decent roads for the bike leg
This was my first IM but definitely not the first triathlon. I have trained properly for it and being the first attempt at the full distance I picked an IM branded event, being confident that everything will go smooth. The roads on the bike were awful but the big disappointments were the run course and the lack of customer service. At the end of the day, I’m your customer! The race was in May, we’re almost in August and nobody from IM Santa Rosa or IM had the decency to get back to me. I ended up being DQ-ed because on the second loop of the run I took a wrong turn and run less. I realized that something was wrong during the third lap so after crossing the finish line I went straight to the official tent. Where there were no Officials available! And the race was still ongoing. Following day I spoke with the Race Director who obviously couldn’t help and pointed that it’s athlete’s responsibility to know the course and since I managed to follow the signs during the 1st and 3rd lap it was my fault for turning at a wrong spot. Since there were no marshals on the course how do you guarantee that nobody tripped on your A-board and moved it in such a way so the arrow would point at the wrong direction? How can you leave a run course unsupervised? How fair is for all the participants to only have marshals on the course for the first 3 hours of the run only? (stated by one of the race officials the following day) I’ve done smaller local races were the race directors have done a way better job than IM brand. Smaller races where marshals were on the bike course. Smaller races where directions were clearly given or put in place. I would not recommend this location to anyone or any other races organized by this race director
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Extremely poor customer service
It's not supposed to be an easy race but when I pay premium $ I expect: - clear directions on the course - reply to my emails - marshals on … MORE
It’s not supposed to be an easy race but when I pay premium $ I expect:
– clear directions on the course
– reply to my emails
– marshals on the course for everyone
– decent roads for the bike leg
This was my first IM but definitely not the first triathlon. I have trained properly for it and being the first attempt at the full distance I picked an IM branded event, being confident that everything will go smooth. The roads on the bike were awful but the big disappointments were the run course and the lack of customer service. At the end of the day, I’m your customer! The race was in May, we’re almost in August and nobody from IM Santa Rosa or IM had the decency to get back to me. I ended up being DQ-ed because on the second loop of the run I took a wrong turn and run less. I realized that something was wrong during the third lap so after crossing the finish line I went straight to the official tent. Where there were no Officials available! And the race was still ongoing. Following day I spoke with the Race Director who obviously couldn’t help and pointed that it’s athlete’s responsibility to know the course and since I managed to follow the signs during the 1st and 3rd lap it was my fault for turning at a wrong spot. Since there were no marshals on the course how do you guarantee that nobody tripped on your A-board and moved it in such a way so the arrow would point at the wrong direction? How can you leave a run course unsupervised? How fair is for all the participants to only have marshals on the course for the first 3 hours of the run only? (stated by one of the race officials the following day) I’ve done smaller local races were the race directors have done a way better job than IM brand. Smaller races where marshals were on the bike course. Smaller races where directions were clearly given or put in place. I would not recommend this location to anyone or any other races organized by this race director
Great first time Ironman experience
This was my first Ironman experience so I was not sure what to expect. I found the location of Santa Rosa to be excellent and the locals were extremely supportive … MORE
This was my first Ironman experience so I was not sure what to expect. I found the location of Santa Rosa to be excellent and the locals were extremely supportive and there’s a great selection of places to eat and drink.
The registration process was super simple in the Courtyard Square, the location of “Ironman Village” for the duration of the weekend. The athlete briefings were also held there.
The swim was in Lake Sonoma, some 40 minutes away, so the Friday bike drop off was a bit of a trek but there was a transportation company that would take your bike there and rack it for $40. We just headed up at 7am on Friday morning to check out the lake, have a warm-up swim and be ready for T1 opening at 10am. I’m glad we did because it was getting pretty busy there from 10 onwards. Then it was back to downtown Santa Rosa to drop off the run bag.
On race morning the shuttles leave the transit area starting at 4:15am and I’m glad I got one of the early ones as I heard some complaints later that people were waiting for a long time for the shuttles to make the roundtrip.
The swim was well organized and I really liked the staggered start with 5 athletes entering the water every 5 seconds. With some 1800 competitors there I did not feel crowded at all. The run back up the boat ramp was the second challenge of the day and the wetsuit strippers did a great job – as did all the volunteers, all weekend.
The bike starts with a ride across the bridge and then a fast descent where some caution is required. The ride is through some beautiful wine country scenery but some of the road conditions are pretty rough, enough to warrant some velcro on the bottom of my bottles to prevent them departing the bike. I found this the hard way during some test rides so was prepared on race day. The roads were rough and led to a number of flat tires and lots of complaints. This seems like a common issue in Sonoma County so I’m not sure that there’s much that WTC can do about it.
The aid stations were well situated and well stocked and there were a few small but steep hills to climb with some even better downhill sections following them.
T2 was in downtown Santa Rosa and the crowds were fantastic on the entry, exit and during the run. The run is 3 loops along the creek trail so there is some monotony involved but it was nice and shaded in the afternoon heat. As the darkness came it was pitch black in some parts but very flat on the gravel sections with no surprise holes etc. The run also had well situated and stocked aid stations and some great volunteers that kept everyone’s morale up.
The finish was awesome, and a big relief, with a run down the chute in the main square. The post race paella was pretty good but the pizza had been sitting out a few hours too long. I guess I just need to get there earlier!
All in all a fantastic event for a complete beginner. Great location, organization and local support.
Gorgeous Scenery but Misfortune Happens
This is my very first Full Ironman ever. With limited experience, I came into the race with only 1 triathlon in my belt. With that being said, I really had … MORE
This is my very first Full Ironman ever. With limited experience, I came into the race with only 1 triathlon in my belt. With that being said, I really had no clue what I am getting myself into, except it will be another sweet challenge to overcome once I finish the race.
Given only 3 months to train from scratch, I was totally under-trained and not ready for it. I had no road cycling experience before April this year. I bought my first road bike back in April right before my Boston Marathon. However, my triathlon training did not start until May due to my busy race schedule with both Boston and Big Sur Marathons in April. In addition, work schedule has been super busy with mandatory overtime. (Note that I work outdoor requiring hiking 5-10miles daily in rugged terrain.) This surely cut short my training time.
In the beginning of June, I have completed my first Olympic Triathlon. Feeling the urge for a more challenging experience, I registered the Full Ironman out of the blue. Many people asked me why Full Ironman right away; I answered the local Half Ironman was sold out back in November last year. Of course, my daring personality will always get me into crazy ideas of challenging myself physically to the limit.
However, misfortune was bestowed upon me when I had my bike stolen on pre-race day, while I attended the race briefing and packet pick-up in downtown Santa Rosa. I then spent the remaining afternoon filing police report and scrambling to find a replacement bike. With special thanks to the race director and his assistance Judy, I was provided with a loan bike from the local bike store for free and got a free bike transport to the start line. But the anxiety of the race only grew in me as I lost my appetite for fueling that evening.
Is Full Ironman my limit? Maybe. I did get my very DNF in my racing career. I swam 4 min longer than the cut-off time required by the event official (2hr 20min). Obviously, I am not a fast swimmer; after all, I have always been a runner most of my life. But I don’t think I have reached my limit yet. I was not prepared for the open water racing. With my only previous open water racing experience back in 2001 when I was still 6th grade, I don’t think I really know how to be efficient in open water. In fact, my downfall of the race was not practicing enough of sighting in open water. According to my Garmin watch, I swam 2.9 miles as supposed to 2.2 miles which was the official distance for Full Ironman swim. Sadly, not being fully aware of my time and surrounding during the swim costed me dearly by not being able to continue my race regardless of still being pumped and ready to go for a ride.
With a DNF at my first Full Ironman, you may think I have nothing to offer for the rest of the race course. You are partially right. I did not have the full experience of the entire race like other finisher had, but I am a local from Sonoma County with great knowledge of the entire bike course and run course. Because this is the very first Santa Rosa Ironman, you will find the course kept changing quite a bit until the week before the race. And so let me explain the race course with greater details.
The race started at Lake Sonoma which is located in Geyserville, west of Hwy 101. The swim is composed of 2 loops in the lake. Because we had a hot summer this year, the water was warm at 78.1 degree Fahrenheit, which was the maximum water temperature to be a legal wetsuit triathlon race. I, on the other hand, swam without one. This year race morning was clear of fog. Triathletes were able to witness a gorgeous sunrise over the lake while awaiting to enter into the water. Being a local, I know that it’s hard to predict the fog in the area. We were surely lucky.
After the swim, it’s a quick descent ride from the lake to the park visitor center. Cyclist with encounter one of the biggest hills in the race at around mile 7 on Dutcher Creek Rd. From there on, it’s all easy rolling hills and flat course along Highway 101 and the beautiful wine country. The next decent size hill is not until around mile 35 on Lytton Springs Rd. The race official changed the bike course at last minute and eliminated a brutal incline at around mile 50-54 originally. However, there was 2 turnaround locations (not my favorite). Once folks get to downtown Santa Rosa, it would be a 2 22mile-loop course around Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. The bike course is fairly easy, but the roads aren’t all evenly paved. There are areas during the 22mile loops have major potholes and sometimes gravel shoulders.
Once dismounted from the bike in downtown Santa Rosa, triathletes would proceed to the final phase of the race, 3 out-and-back loop run along Santa Rosa Creek Trail. Oh yes, you are gonna hear me grumbling about this. As a long distance runner, I enjoy exploring new scenery during my race. This is just outrageously wrong to make someone run the same loop course 3 times as part of a marathon. But after all, it is an Ironman, and people would be tired and would like to see their love ones more frequently, so I would accept the race official last minute executive decisions.
So what have I learned from this experience? Full Ironman is not for everyone. I am a terrible open water swimmer. You must train for it, or else you won’t do well. Also, it is better to park on the street instead of parking in the Santa Rosa plaza parking garage. At least with all the eyes on the street, it’s less likely to get your bike stolen. Also, you may as well use the $40 bike transport service to get your bike to the start line, so your bike gets proper attention throughout the process. Finally, my challenge to complete an Ironman is not done yet. I still need to check it off my bucket list, which means, I will be back in 2018 to redeem my DNF.
Good for mountain goats
I am sad to see this race bough by WTC, it's wonderfully run and the volunteers were great. Small town feel while still looping us through gorgeous wineries. MORE
I am sad to see this race bough by WTC, it’s wonderfully run and the volunteers were great. Small town feel while still looping us through gorgeous wineries.