Rev3 Cedar Point 2011 photos

Here's a link to my Picasa album of Rev3 Cedar Point. I'll post an updated guide once I recover from the drive home! Great weekend and so proud of everyone who raced.
PS, ignore the time on that clock...still set to pro clock!

Ironman Texas

This is a long-overdue post. I was so wiped out after IMTX and Rev3 Quassy that I needed a little triathlon down time. But, Herewith, the spectator guide to IMTX.

General:
The Woodlands is a very spectator-friendly venue for a race. There are shops and restaurants all around, plenty of places to rest and recharge. It's not the most spectator-friendly bike course, being on giant loop out into the Texas hinterlands, but the swim, run and finishline areas are all great for watching yoru athlete all day. Go stroll around the finishline area of Market Street before durring and after the race and patronize those great shops. LuluLemon had a great display of all the athlete names. The Cupcakery had yummy sweets. The line for Starbucks will make you want to cry. the H.E.B. also has a coffee bar...the line will also be insane. Chipolte is there for lunch. Go calm your race-day nerves at Tommy Bahama's bar.
The Woodlands is great.

Travel:
Book your hotel *early*. They pretty much all sold out. People from Houston booked rooms in The Woodlands to avoid the race-morning drive. There is a Marriott directly across from venue that is the official host hotel. If it's not already booked for next year I'd be surprised. But there are many others. Don't hesitate. Book and if you end up not needing it, cancel your booking.

Pre-race.
The expo is set up in a big parking lot across from the finish area. It's a nice expo. The check in took no time at all when we were there Thursday morning. Our athletes were in and out. The good folks at World Triathlon Corporaton have apparently taken a page out of the Disney book and the registration tent dumps you out into the merchandise tent. Exit through the Gift Shop, indeed. My fellow sherpas and I couldn't resist the IMTX cowboy hats. Why not? 
My one beef here was there was no 'volunteer' tent. There was no one place you could, as a registered volunteer, go and say "here I am, where's my T-shirt and my parking pass." This caused some stress as we weren't sure what to do race morning. Coordinating with our volunteer team captain was a bit of a pain since he was so busy getting stuff set up but we eventually managed to sort it out. It seemed like if you weren't part of a 'group' of volunteers (like, ours was run by the very nice people from Team in Training) they kind of left you hanging.
There are a million places to eat and shop but we stopped at Rudy's BBQ just off of I-45 after packet pickup for a bit of a chow-down.

Race day:
We drove up from Houston so were up very, very early to make the 45-min drive. It was easy to get into the venue to do athlete drop off. There is official parking in designated parking garages. Do try and use these if you can because if you try and park in unauthorized lots you will be towed. We got a bit lucky by going in a secret side entrance and it worked out OK but there were reports that people who parked at the nearby Mall and by the ampetheater were being towed. That'd be a really crappy end to a very long day so you're better off playing by the rules.


Swim:
The swim start is about mile from transition. Plan for a crowded walk. If you want a spot on the bridge crossing the lake to see the start, get there very early and say goodbye to your athlete at transition. You can also bushwack a bit to stand on the east side of the lake to watch the start. the main Swim in side of the lake will be crowded but there is a lot of room and this is where morning clothes drop off is.
You should have plenty of time to walk back to transition/swim out before your athlete gets there.

Bike:
Bike out has a nice, long road you can stand along to get a shot of your athlete leaving. I'd advise not sitting right at the mount line because it's very crowded. Head a little bit further out and you should get a nice clean shot and they'll also be able to pick you out of the thinner crowd.
The course, as I mentioned above, is one, huge loop. You can get in your car and drive north on I-45 and connct back up with the course in the national forest. HOWEVER, I strongly advise not crossing over the course to the west side. The traffic is terrible getting back across, my inlaws sat for more than an hour to get through one intersection. Getting back into The Woodlands, the greater community, not just the downtown, is very, very difficult from that side. If you miss your athlete in the forrest, cut your losses and head back down I-45 to come back into The Woodlands from the east side.

Run:
The run is a three-loop course along the canal. Plenty of great places to watch your athlete. The finishline goes in  a loop around the Market Street area. There is a park in the middle you can set up camp in.

More General:
Medical was set up in a building just past the finishline along the north side of the park.
The H.E.B. across from transition is a huge win. Having a giant grocery store right there is amazing.
There are 'real' bathrooms adjacent to transition, just be mindful of athetes who need them

We used TriBike Transport to get Mr. TheyTri's bike too and from the race. It was hugely helpful to not have to worry about bike assembly/disassembly. They *are* open in the expo area until midnight the day of the race so you can take bike out of transition and bring it over to them for transport immediately following the race. Note that if bike has a disc wheel, you'll need to take it off and replace it with a spoked wheel before you turn it over to them. (unless you're totally beside-yourself exhausted and look like you're gonna cry and then they'll take pity on you.)

Tri Sherpa Kit

We're gearing up for Ironman Texas here at TheyTri HQ. We leave in three short days so the initial packing phase has begun. I tend to pack first so that I'm nearly 100% by the day we leave, minus the last minute essentials, so that I can concentrate on nagging Mr. TheyTri relentlessly about his checklist. I do it out of love. And OCD. But mostly love.
140.6 distance races are a really, really long day. It's important to plan ahead as much as you can to bring what you may need while simultaneously not overburdening yourself. If you're staying near the race venue or have a car parked nearby you can get away with schlepping a lot more on the day and just grabbing what you need when you need it. Conversely, if you won't be near a stash spot all day, pare things down. Similarly, if you're somewhere busy, like downtown Lake Placid or The Woodlands where there are shops and malls, you can fret less about forgetting something. But, if you're in the Backside of Beyond for 17 hours, go prepared!
So, what goes in my Sherpa Kit? Glad you asked.

1. The bag is essential. I highly recommend a lightweight backpack over a shoulder bag. I have a great mid-sized Le Sportsac backpack with several pockets.  I love it because it's very light (though, some would argue also less sturdy) and it's roomy without being terribly bulky. It's also water resistant, which is great if you're carrying electronics like your camera and mobile phone. I also carry a little wristlet sometimes so that I don't have to carry my whole wallet. Just some money, my bank card, my credit card and my ID. I don't need my Target card or Stop and Shop bonus card for the day so leave it at home.

2. Camera. My camera is fantabulous. I love it. It's a Nikon and it's great for action shots. Do I love that it's heavy, no. But it takes amazing pics and to me it is worth it. Point and shoots are totally great, just be aware that most models don't have fast enough shutter speeds to catch a cyclist going by if they're really moving.

3. Athlete guide or similar. Whatever has the maps, the times and the contact info for the race directors. With the wonders of Evernote, I've actually been able to store the PDF of the IMTX guide electronically so I don't *need* to bring the hard copy but I feel better doing so. Just in case.

4. Chargers/extra batteries. I learned this the very hard way at IMLP in 2009. I now bring a wall charger in case I'm in a restaurant or shop or something that has plugs available to use while I'm on a break. I have a car charger in case I have a vehicle handy and lastly, I just bought a 'solar powered' extra battery. I'm unconvinced that it works but am bringing it to IMTX to give it a go. It also takes a charge via USB so worst case I can charge it before we leave and just have it as a backup battery in case of the predicted apocalypse that day. (May 21, 2011)

5. Snacks and water bottle. IMTX looks to be in a hub of civilization so food should be easy to come by for most spectators. However, I'm volunteering a mile away and want to make sure I have provisions, especially water, given how hot Texas will be. I have my Camelbak Groove, which has a built in filter so I can be ok with tap water from anywhere. I also plan for food. If I'm just watching Mr. TheyTri I can plan times to go grab something but if I have many people to cheer for it can be hard to get away to go grab something. So, I make sure I've got a few calories stashed in my bag.

6. Medical items. I carry a J&J first aid teeny-weeny kit. It has band-aids and alcohol wipes etc...but it's about 4" square. I also carry Neosporin spray and advil. Wet wipes, eye drops, allergy meds, antacid, tampons. Yes. Go to the travel section and buy the teeny packs.  I also sometimes stash tweezers but I can't find my extra pair! A tiny Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool to have tweezers, scissors and a file handy would be good, too.

7. Health/beauty: SUNBLOCK! SUNBLOCK! SUNBLOCK!! I cannot stress this enough. I have a little bag that I keep some of the above medical.health and some 'beauty' items in. Bobby pins, hair elastics, baby powder, a teeny hairbrush, safety pins, chapstick with SPF etc...i even keep a travel-sized deodorant in there. Again...a long, long day!

8. Clothing items. These vary depending on climate, but I always have a visor or hat to keep the sun off my face/out of my eyes. If I have a car nearby I try and bring a change of shoes. I bring my Crocs flip flops more often than not because they're small, light and comfy and if I had to stick them in my backpack, I could. I always wear my running shoes because you're on your feet a lot. I'm volunteering at a water stop at IMTX and so may switch out to my Crocs flops then so that my shoes don't get all wet. But, a change of shoes is nice if you can manage it. As for rain gear...I can't be bothered with umbrellas etc...if rain is forecast, I make sure to dress in clothes that dry quickly/wick.

9. Last, but in no way least: Cell phone! Essential for keeping groups together and Tweeting updates!

There are a few items that don't go in my "kit" per se but if you have a car handy consider: umbrella, chair, cooler, coffee thermos!

Hope you find this all helpful. If there's something I've missed that you simply cannot live without race day,  let me know in the comments.

MacGyver Wife

I tend to be a little worst-case-scenario. I also come from a long line of spit-and-gum handymen. My father's been known to drive golf tees into a wall to hold something up in lieu of nails or brackets (dirty family secret). But, I married into a family of people who actually measure things before they cut and read directions. These bits of Mrs. TheyTri trivia are really just to introduce my list of "Things You Should Put in Your Special Needs Bag So Your Spouse Doesn't Worry." These are things that, 56 miles from home with no support vehicle in sight, you'd want your athlete to have. Be a nag and make them put it in there...those bags can hold a heck of a lot so why not?!

• Duct tape. Duct tape. Duct tape. It fixes nearly any problem. broken cleat? Duct tape. Loose cable? Duct tape. Hungry? Duct tape. (Kidding. but I bet it'd work!)
• Rubber bands.
• Zip ties
• Gels/blocs/calories of some sort. Consider *actual* food, like stuff that grows in nature.
• Extra tubes/C02
• Electrical tape
• Safety pins
• Allen wrenches
• Toilet paper
• SuperGlue (see Duct tape)
• Advil/Asprin/Tylenol

Please feel free to add to the list in comments, we'd love to know what is indespensible when you're out on your own.

Disney Marathon Weekend Tips

Part II of our Disney adventure!

We took some notes and compiled some helpful tips for spectators and racers alike. Generally we focus on the non-racer but since I participated in this event there's a smattering of both kinds of tips.

Planning Ahead:

• Book your hotel rooms the day you/your racer registers for the race. Rooms fill up quickly for marathon weekend. You can change the reservation without penalty until 5 days before your check in if you find a better deal. Take advantage of this. Better to have something booked than be scrambling.
• All Disney hotels will provide busses to the Expo, to the start race morning and back from the finish to your hotel. But, Polyneisan, Grand Floridian and Contemporary are all on the race route if that's a consideration for spectators. Port Orleans French Quarter abuts the start line corrals, though we're sure Disney discourages people from walking over. (you didn't hear it from us). More on busses later.
• Park tickets aren't cheap. Really think about how many days you'll want to be walking around parks vs the need to keep your feet up. Having said that, adding days is simple once on property and once over 3-day pass it's inexpensive to add days. (e.g., we added a 6th day to our park hoppers for about $5 a piece)
• Disney dining plan is a fine option if you'd like to have everything in one package. We got a bit confused by it (our first time using) and, frankly, had to go off the plan a few times for appetizers we wanted and our drinks. I'm not sure how much it saved us. Like the park tickets, it's a numbers game.
• Good idea to book dining reservations ahead of time for sit-down meals. If you don't, expect a long wait or being told they're not taking walk ups. Better to have them and not use them than searching around for a table.  
• If you book via Disney Travel, you have to CALL them to OK  your booking and to have the ballance charged to a card about 30 days before arrival. They do NOT automatically bill the ballance to the card you used for your deposit. They will NOT call to remind you until after the 30 day mark and at this point they are entitled to cancel your reservation if they can't reach you. Pay attention.
• Orlando International Airport is about a 35-min drive from the Disney property. Magical Express is a good option for people staying at Disney hotels. Recommend it for inbound trip, especially if you'll be arriving early in the day before your room is ready. Book a month out and you'll receive yellow bag tags. Once you have these, ME will pick up your luggage and bring it directly to your room while you can go and enjoy your first day at WDW. However you're on their schedule. This means on your return trip, you will be scheduled for a bus to the airport 3 hours before your flight. ME is good because on some airlines you can check in and check bags at your hotel and receive your boarding passes and then just cruise to the airport without a care, bypassing check in counters entirely. But, if you want to spend more time on property before your flight, a cab is an OK option and costs around $50. The front desk at your hotel can connect you to the cab company to arrange a pickup.
• WEATHER: Could be anything. January weather is highly varriable. In 2010 they had snow marathon morning. in 2011 we had great running weather. Was cool but not freezing at start. Spectators not moving around may find it chilly. Most days were jeans and t-shirts durring the day with a jacket at night but we had one day wearing shorts! Makes packing a pain but plan for anything. If you do forget something, there is a Nike outlet just off property at the Orlando Premium Outlets on Vineland Ave (between I-4 and International Drive). This area also has a ton of chain restaurants and shops.

Race Weekend:

• Get to the Expo as early as you can both in terms of days and hours. If you're in on Thursday, go Thursday morning. Expo opens at 9...try and be there as close to 9 as you can. We were there early and got through the pickup process fairly quickly. Those who arrived after noon waited in long lines, especially on Friday when people were picking up for both 13.1 and 26.2.
• Race brings in a ton more people than would be there otherwise in January. January is also summer vacation for South America/Southern Hemisphere folks so don't be surprised by giant tour groups. If you can live without a bag at parks, it'll save you having to wait in long bag-check lines.

Race Morning:

• Busses. So. Frustrating. A five minute trip to start line at Epcot took an hour and 1:15. Give yourself ample time to get there if you need to check clothing, use the portaloos, have a warm up. Pee before you get on the bus.
• You didn't hear it from us, but you can walk to the start corrals from Port Orleans French Quarter. The corrals are a good 20 minute walk from the Epcot parking lot in any event. Whichever way you walk, be cautious and visible.
• Spectators tips:
• It will be dark until 7 a.m. If you line up along the startline road and want your racer to see you either pick a pre-determined point for them to see you or consider wearing glow necklaces or bring flashlights or somesuch. There are 27,000 runners and you can be hard to pick out.
• Epcot busses and Monorails will be very crowded. Give yourself ample time to get where you're going.
• Bring clothing layers. And snacks. And your cell phone.
• Good observation points:
• Ticket and Transportation Center
• Parking lot of the Contemporary
• Main Street USA (not sure who they let in here or when. Park ticket may be required) check out the Spectator Resources on the Marathon site.
• Road along the Grand Floridian and Polynesian
• Epcot parking lot, close to bus depot
• Set up a pre-determined meeting point following race. Finish line is chaos.
• After race, there's a booth that will engrave your medals with your chip time!

I may update this as more things occur to me but please feel free to add your tips in the comments!

So, I did it! (and had fun...don't tell anyone)

So, that's me. Up there ^. With the ears. Crossing the finish line of the 2011 Walt Disney World Half Marathon. I generally don't go in for tooting my own horn but...TOOT! I'm damn proud of myself for it. If you'd told me three years ago that I'd do that I'd have laughed in your face. It's really kind of amazing what you can do when you stop whining and saying "no" to yourself.
I'm going to divide this up into two posts, one a race report and a separate one on general WDW Marathon Weekend tips.
But, before I go any further, I have to give a HUGE thank you to Mr. TheyTri for all of his support in this. I know he was worried, but he stayed positive and supportive the whole time. Thank you, honey. And I have to give another huge thank you to Cat Webb and Sam Dickey for running with me and making my first half experience fun! I'd not have done nearly as well without them making me smile the whole way! And, last but not least, a big thanks to Jeremy Webb and Dave Dickey for making the trip so much fun with so many laughs! And congrats to Jeremy on his half PR!
So, Thursday we wake up before the crack of dawn to catch our flight to ORL from Westchester County Airport. I love Westchester Airport. It's tiny, efficient and, most importantly, 20 minutes from the house. No problem with flight at all. Our other two traveling parties weren't so lucky out of Houston and Chicago.
We arrived in Orlando, collected bags and then hopped on the Magical Express to Port Orleans Riverside. We took advantage of the online check in to skip the long line and fortunately, a room was ready for us. dropped off our bags and then headed to Hollywood Studios for some lunch and to wait for everyone else to arrive. Good meal then we decided we were too exhausted from the 4 a.m. wake up so we went back to room to crash. After a snooze we met Jeremy and Cat at Epcot for a celebratory drink at the Rose and Crown. Then onward to meet Sam and Dave for dinner at Shula's at the Dolphin. Aside from Mr. TheyTri putting his foot in his mouth within 10 min. of meeting Dave, laughs abound. Drinks abound, too.
Friday is packet pick up at Wide World of Sports. We bus it over, the Mears busses were so efficient (at this point)...way better than the Disney busses which were *painfully* slow from Port Orleans. Our lines weren't very long so we managed to cruise through getting numbers and collecting our goodie bags. We poked around the expo a bit but I wasn't, to be honest, all that impressed by it. It was crowded and nothing we haven't seen a thousand times before. (Though, we all did laugh at the "will run for wine" shirts).
Magic Kingdom for a bit then back to the hotel early for race prep and early bedtime. I had nervous energy but had a glass of wine (ok, 2) with dinner to calm my nerves and then crashed out.

Woke up before alarm at 2:55 a.m. Coffee on. Clothes on. Ready to go. I wasn't sure what to eat, I get nauseous if I eat too early, so I just had 2 bites of a Luna bar and two bites of a Lara bar and then decided I couldn't stomach it. Brought a packet of Justin's Honey Almond Nut Butter for the bus ride instead. (Thank God...hit the spot). Coffee. Let's GO!
Chilly morning, but not bad. Board the bus quickly and we're off. But...not off far...the traffic getting to the Epcot parking lot was *horrible*. It took us an hour and 15 minutes to take what should have been a 5 minute ride. I was so anxious we were going to miss the start. Disney really needs to sort that out...institute a bus only route to Epcot or something. It was all the more frustrating later when I saw that we could have walked to the corrals from Port Orleans French Quarter in about 5 minutes. I'm sure Disney frowns on that but I can assure you people will do that next year if they don't sort out the busses.
Anyway, we get there and we finally link up with the rest of the team. Quick smooch from Mr. TheyTri and then we head to our corrals. Cat and Sam hung back with me in my lame-o F corral so we could all run together.
After all the pre-race stuff, Al Roker, Anthem etc...the fireworks go off and the first corral goes! Go honey and Jeremy! We hang around for another half hour or so until they get to our wave and then...we're off!
I oddly didn't feel that nervous. I was nervous before we left the hotel but the bus situation made me so annoyed that I just wanted to get going!

The course is flat, flat, flat, with only a few 'hills' caused by overpasses. Love it. My kind of course! We shuffle along to the 5k mark and then take a little walk break while Cat and I take our jackets off...was a bit overdressed and was overheating once I was moving. Then, back to the run. Just about mile 5.5, just when I'd ordinarily start to be crabby and wanting a walk break, we enter the Magic Kingdom. How can you be crabby running up Main Street USA with crowds cheering you? You can't, I tell you! We smiled and kept running through Tomorrowland, with a bit of a potty break, then through Fantasyland and through Cinderella's Castle. Again, impossible not to smile. We, of course, had to stop and take a picture. The whole point of running the damn thing!
On through Frontierland and then through the backstage area and out onto the road again. By this time we're getting tired and the road at this point in the race is narrow and crowded. We took a few walk breaks simply because it was pointless to run...too many bodies in too small a space.  We pretty much did a run walk the last four miles or so. With me earning the nickname Captain because I made the girls run the downhills! I felt surprisingly good, though my right side started to crap out on me...hip, knee, pinky toe. I was also surprisingly cheerful. Running with friends is so key!
Finally we spy the Epcot entrance. We agree (or, I command) that we're gonna run the whole last stretch once we enter the Epcot park. It seems like the longest mile on Earth, but we get there and we, all three, cross the finish line smiling. I hear Mr. TheyTri cheering from the stands and I see him smiling with Jeremy and my in-laws, supporters extraordinare!
We joke and smile and make a bee-line for our medals. Then grab some food and meet back up with Mr. TheyTri and Jeremy.
I felt great. I knew I was going to be sore, but I didn't feel dead. I was happy and proud and it was a really remarkable feeling. I tell myself "no" a lot. "Can't." I guess I proved myself wrong.

Rocky Mountain High

The TheyTris were in Aspen last weekend for a wedding. It is making me sad that we're not there NOW. God, I fell in love. Were it not for the minor details of home, work, family and funding I'd pull up stakes and move there. Ah, well. A dream.
We got in late on Friday night after a long day of travel and a pit stop at the Bride's childhood home in Glennwood (also lovely). We checked in at the Limelight Lodge (very nice) and hadn't been there three minutes when Mr. TheyTri was spotted by a fellow triathlete...Michael, a four-time Kona finisher. He'd spotted Mr. TheyTri's M-dot tattoo. Naturally.
Michael and Mr. TheyTri chatted for a bit and he gave us the scoop about where to run (Rio Grande Trail) and bike (Trail or up over Independence Pass) and directions to the local rec center so he could swim. Mr. TheyTri was in his very last week of hard training before Rev3 Cedar Point, his main race of the year. I called it "bonus altitude training." But, he handled the interruption of his last week with grace and for that I thank him. And, I can think of worse places to do a final push!

As it happened, before bed Friday night we saw @lancearmstrong tweet that he was going to be participating in the Aspen Uphill run the following morning to raise money for the Aspen High School track team. How many times in your life can you say you got to race with Lance? So, bright and early Saturday a.m. Mr. TheyTri and our friend, Lauren, hustled up to the Silver Queen Gondola and registered for the race. A little 4.6 mile trot with something like 3,400 feet of climbing. No thank you, Lance or no Lance.
While Mr. TheyTri and Lauren did that, I actually strapped on my sneakers and went for a run on the Rio Grande Trail. I was nervous that the altitude was going to make running a misery. But, much to my surprise, I felt...good! I was comfortable with my breathing and legs felt fine. Well, fine for me. The scenery on the Trail is simply spectacular. Waterfalls and streams and mountain vistas and gorgeous homes and ... have I mentioned I want to move there? Sigh....
Anyway, I got my dinky half-hour run in and then went to join up with my girlfriends for pedicures pre-wedding while Mr. TheyTri went off for his swim. You have your fun, I'll have mine.

The Wedding was in an old ghost town up in the mountains above Aspen in Ashcroft (also a HUGE cross country ski destination in the winter) at the last functioning building up there, Pine Creek Cookhouse. It was the most spectacular spot. It was a beautiful day, the bride was beaming and it was just a hell of a lot of fun. I miss having those girls around more often. I've know them for almost literally my whole life and I love 'em.
Mr. TheyTri turned in early as he had a long run and a long bike scheduled for the following day. I stayed on as long as I could stay awake and had a blast. Despite a small incident slipping on the dance floor and landing on an unfortunately-placed glass of wine. I'm so graceful.
So, Next morning, very early, Mr. TheyTri hopped on his bike that he rented from the nice folks at Aspen Velo and went for a 2 hour ride back out to Ashcroft. While beautiful, he had to pack it in after the first loop because it was SO COLD coming down the mountain before the sun was up. We'd not thought to pack warm bike gear. A word or two on biking in Aspen. EVERYONE bikes in Aspen; road bikes, mountain bikes, fixie bikes, cruiser bikes, they are everywhere. We had great service picking out the bike at Aspen Velo and, frankly, even better service at Hub of Aspen where we, unfortunately, couldn't rent Mr. TheyTri a bike because the only ones they had in his size were out--turns out there was an MS 150 that weekend and rentals were pretty cleared out. To their credit, they didn't try and put him on some POS alternate bike, they sent us down to Aspen Velo, instead. Go visit Hub of Aspen if you ever need to rent there. Please.
After ride it was time for brunch at Sky Aspen for the wedding party. A quick bite and then some good-bye's as friends started heading back to their respective homes. Mr. TheyTri headed out the the Rio Grande Trail for his long run. I toddled around the town and snapped some pics.

After late checkout at the Limelight, we packed up and began the drive back to Denver. But, we had some time since we were staying overnight in Denver to catch an early morning flight back east, so we decided to take the scenic route. We headed out of Aspen and over Independence Pass. Holy Moly is that beautiful (if a bit white-knuckle-y for the driver). The scenery was just gorgeous. Huge groves of Aspens standing sentinel and amazing peaks and valleys. Even still a bit of snow!
We continued over to Leadville, America's highest incorporated city. It's an old mining town and has a bunch of old Victorian buildings. It's a bit run-down but it's still interesting to drive through. As it happens, the end of the Leadville 100 running race was that day. We didn't see any of the runners, though we saw some support vans earlier in the trip. And I thought Mr. TheyTri was nuts. I stand corrected.
All in all, an amazing trip. I have to admit to being very saddened and annoyed when we landed at JFK by all the noise and rudeness that is New York sometimes. We will definitely be going back to Colorado for more vacations. It was bliss, however short a trip.

REV3 Quassy, 2010

Since I've been so good about posting up my IMLP stuff, I figured it was high time I got around to doing the same for Rev3 Quassy, which happened back in June. June and July have been insanity around HFWT so apologies for the delay.
Anywho, we live near-ish the Quassy venue, about 40 minutes, so our personal experience with hotels is pretty useless...please feel free to add yours to the comments section. But, we have some good tips about other things! This is year 2 of the TheyTris participating at Quassy. Mr. TheyTri raced the half both years and I volunteered this year in transition. I can't say enough nice things about the volunteering bit...so much fun and great people to work with you should strongly consider signing up...makes for a fun day. Ok. on to tips:

General:

• Quassy is a great family venue. The amusement park will open during the morning so the kids will have a great time and you'll hear far fewer 'I'm boreds' at this race than nearly any other. 
• The park is open and therefore so are the food stands and bathrooms. This is great as you'll spend the bulk of your day on the Quassy property.
• While there is food, you can also consider bringing a cooler with food/drinks as the parking is very good right at the race venue and even if you have to make use of the satellite lot it's very nearby. 
• The bike and run courses are very windy and hilly. In 2009 it was not easy to get out on to course to watch people race as the bike in came down the huge hill in front of the park. In 2010 the course changed a bit allowing for exit by car from the top exit of the parking area without impediment to racers. If you have any intention of going out on to course and are unfamiliar with the Middlebury, CT are we strongly advise driving the course at least once before race morning. CT roads are not in any sort of systematic grid pattern!
• New England weather is ever-changing. Be prepared! In 2010 I got rained on, a sunburn and then nearly blown to Oz by crazy winds post-race (well, post race for Mr. TheyTri, some folks were still out on run). SUNBLOCK.
• Quassy is very conveniently located near I-84 which will speed you rapidly East to the larger town of Waterbury or West to the smaller, yet still very convenient, town of Southbury. In both places you can find most essentials. Additionally, at the junction of Rt. 64 and Rt. 6 (west of the venue), there is the small Middle Quarter Mall. Keep in mind, though, that this road is both bike and run course so getting down it will be a trick race day.
• Just in case: Waterbury Hospital is the largest hospital nearby. It is on Route 8 North off of I-84 EAST of the venue. 

Race Day:

• For on-site parking get there very early. Athletes and spectators can park in Quassy lot but it's first-come-first-served and I can assure you the athletes will get there darn early. If you cannot park in the Quassy lot, the satellite lot is under a mile away and there are shuttles. Don't fuss with the volunteers if they say the lot is full. No one wants an argument at 5 a.m. 
• Not all the food options will be open before swim start. Plan on eating before hand or bringing food. If you're coming from I-84 or the Crown Plaza hotel, there is a Mobile station where coffee can be had. There are not a ton of 24-hour options available near the race site so plan ahead. 
• The beach where swim goes off can get a bit crowded so stake out a good spot early. We'd suggest somewhere close to the chute to get a good pic of your athlete coming out of the water. Swim-start photos are fun but not very personal.
• For bike and run, if you choose to remain on site, a good spot is along the main road (rt. 64) to the right of the Quassy parking entrance. Both bike and run go this way and it's shaded. Stake out a spot and set up a chair. Just be mindful that you're not blocking the ambulance exit. If you choose to try and head out on course, please observe all posted signs and listen to officials and volunteers. (PS, speaking of signs, is that Body Marking sign not the most awesome sign ever? Stare at it a while. It'll come to you.)
• Enjoy the expo! They have a lot of nice booths set up
• Enjoy the park! Go ride a tilt-a-whirl! 
• After the race hang out for a bit and enjoy the cookout. Rev3's great attraction is that it feels like a big family cookout that just happens to have a triathlon going on. More than one friend of theytri.com has gone giddy because they were in line for the portaloo with Crowie or stood behind Matty Reed to get a hot dog. 
• Having said that, be respectful of the pros; they're there to race for a huge purse and race amazingly hard so they may not want to pose for snaps straight away after crossing line. In all fairness, in the 2 years we've been there we've never seen any of the pros being anything by amazingly gracious but courtesy is key! 
• Enjoy and have a fun time! We'll certainly be there in 2011 and we'll be at Cedar Point in Sept. 2010 and will file a report from there! 

IMLP 2010, part II

I lost my brain, as one loses luggage, somewhere along last weekend's epic journey. It was finally returned to me about 8 a.m. this morning so I'm finally ready to jot down a few thoughts about IMLP.

First off, I'm so proud of all our friends who raced and who did so well! From pro friends to first-timers, everyone fought through their personal barriers and crossed the line with a kind of joy that was heart-filling to witness and share.  Great job, everyone! 

Secondly, I'm equally proud of all the friends we had cheering on those racing. It's a long day and having so many great people around made it such a fun day for everyone. The community of people that have come into my life as a result of Mr. TheyTri's crazy foray into triathlon are a very special group. I'm grateful for them, no matter which side of the fence they're on. 

Last general thought is that this is the first race I've ever cheered at where Mr. TheyTri was not racing himself. It was a strange new experience to watch him watch others race. He looked like a kid. Giant grin on his face all day, his excitement both palpable and contagious. Nearly makes up for those 7-hour weekend bike rides. Nearly.

More specifically, a few more tips:

• Cell phone coverage in Lake Placid is complete and total crap. On AT&T I was on Edge network the entire time, making sending updates via text or tweet absolutely infuriating. BUT you can, from time to time, pick up wi-fi from outside some businesses (and homes, but you didn't hear that from us...be polite!). Other friends reported spotty service on both T-Mobile (though that was better than AT&T) and Verizon. 
• Downhill Grill that we mentioned last week is apparently not open at lunchtime on Sundays. However, Lisa G's, a few doors down IS open and IS great! Excellent place to grab a bite and still be near to course to watch for your athlete. Their back deck doesn't overlook racecourse but instead looks out to a really lovely waterfall. A little respite. 
• Dancing Bears on the west end of Main Street, just before the road bends toward Saranac Lake, is also good for a quick bite. 
• The distance around Mirror Lake is 2.7 miles. If you're game for a jog or walk, it's a lovely route. 
• The brunch buffet at the Northwoods Inn (official Ironman hotel) is overpriced and understocked. Breakfast the Monday after the race is a bit of a chore. Long lines abound. Be prepared.
• If you're a Starbucks addict, be prepared to stand in line morning, noon and night. There are a jillion other (good!) coffee places right on Main Street, however.

Ironman Lake Placid Guide

IMLP is one week away! Exciting stuff. Herewith some important tips to make your IMLP weekend experience fun.

GENERAL

• Prepare for any and all types of weather. Seriously...jackets, umbrellas, shorts, hats etc... In 2009 it pissed rain the entire swim and by the time the run came around it was baking hot. Be prepared!
• Scout a bit before race day. If you want to watch your athlete out on course on race day, drive the course first. The Lake Placid region can be tricky to navigate once roads are shut down so keep that in mind.
• Consider bringing one of those white pop-up shelters. Loads of people do it. Will give you shade/shelter and a place to store your stuff assuming you're in a group and someone can keep watch. Be prepared to set it up early if you do, unlikely to find space race day.
• How far are you staying from venue? Do you have to schlep all your stuff with you all day or are you close enough to run back to house/room if you need something? If the former, keep it simple. It's a long day and you don't want to be dragging a 60 lb bag around with you all day.
• There is a huge PriceChopper grocery store West of downtown on Rt. 86. It is a bit of a drive, maybe 5 miles, but the only real 'super' market. You'll also pass other essentials like drugstores, gas stations and banks on this drive out of town.
• Local Bike Shop: Placid Planet on the corner of 86 and Lakeview Street.
• The village of Lake Placid has a lot of nice shops and restaurants and you could happily spend a few days just there. But, if you have the time/inclination to explore a bit, drive around the bike course. The cute village of Keene Valley has some nice shops. Or hike at High Falls Gorge. Or check out summer activities at Whiteface Mountain. The Lake Placid/Ausabel region is also a mecca for fishing, should that be your thing.
• Just in case: Adirondack Medical Center is located on Church Street, which is just East of town and off rt. 26A (which, in turn, is between 73 and country highway 35/Old Military Road).

RACE DAY:

• Eat breakfast. It's gonna be a long day.
• You packed your umbrella, right? Camera? Batteries? Water? Cash? SUNBLOCK? Something to sit on? Cell phone? Cell phone charger? Good.
• Find basecamp. Sticking around Mirror Lake isn't a bad idea but you can also see 2 laps of bike and at least the first of the run if you head to the junction of Rt. 86 and Northwood Road. This is only recommended for mobile people (bike or swift walker) and we'd head back into town as soon as you see your athlete at the first run turn to assure also seeing them finish.
• SUNBLOCK and WATER (Seriously. I cannot stress this enough)
• Stewart's Shoppe, a convenience store, on Mirror Lake Drive/86, just a bit down the hill from transition, will be open before swim and has coffee. Blessed Coffee. They also have other sundries. Coffee can also be had in Expo area at their little cafe but be prepared for a line.
• Crossing streets anywhere near transtition/finish area is a giant headache. Plan ahead, listen to and obey volunteers and officials. Ignoring volunteers and officials is a HUGE pet peeve of Mrs. TheyTri. You may want to dash across the street to snap a pic of your athlete on their bike but doing so impedes and endangers other athletes. The volunteers and officials are there to protect ALL the athletes. Don't be an ass.
• TAKE A BREAK. Find a tree to rest under. Find a restaurant (Downhill Cafe a good spot...on both bike out route and run route). Go to hotel/house and take a short nap.
• Find a nice spot on the hill infront of the school to wait for the Finish. If you're in a group, put the fastest person at the corner of 86 and Lake Placid Club Drive (the road along Mirror Lake) as a spotter. When your athlete heads out on to the 1 mile out and back you'll have plenty of time to make it to chute. And please use good chute etiquitte when you get there! Courtesy goes a long way.
• Have a GREAT day best of luck to your athlete!

Please feel free to have a looksie at the google map I created to mark places of interest. And please make comments about your favorite IMLP viewing spots or Lake Placid area Restaurants, Hotels or Attractions!