Post by MarkD on Sept 10, 2012 20:28:47 GMT -5
Finally having the opportunity to participate at Rev3 Cedar Point, I was truly pleased to have such a great race experience at longer distances so close to home. I hope this event is a main-stay for a long time. While IronFanning all night, I had random thoughts about the race experience. Luckily, I remember them today!
What I liked:
- The swim: One of the best swim courses out there. I didn't realize how well protected that area is due to the Cedar Point peninsula. Real open water with some tidal action, but not unpredictable like Mentor Headlands. Awesome swim course.
- The check-in experience: Easy. Helpful. Good swag. Very athlete friendly. Loved the free goggles!
- The tattoos: Sooooooooo much better than sharpie markers. They look better. They save a step on race morning. They make ya feel more "official"... even more so than a WTC event. They're easier to see to, especially from the patio at Daly's pub ;-)
- Personalized: Everything from the bike rack tags to the run bibs to the video board display - everything makes the athlete feel like more than a number.
- How they do the video board: Taking each athletes pic when they register and then displaying it as they cross. Very cool when we were IronFanning late at night to see what people looked like before spandex and salt-stains!
- The run course design: If there were actually people out in Sandusky (other than the aid stations, a few bums, Team Z, and CTC's watering hole), it would be an incredible run experience. All the out/backs really offer and opportunity to see a lot of fellow competitors. Plus, the last 3 miles of the run, with Cedar Point in the back drop is awesome.
- Milan: Biking through town is fun - they should take us all the way around the square... would add so much more to it.
- Listening to athletes: They've made tweeks over the past few years due to athletes comments (such as keeping transition open until 7:30 for the half racers this year - THANK YOU FOR THAT!).
- Catering to the club: They've been very generous with us to date - I hope that continues.
- The price: If you're willing to commit early, the price/value ratio is the best in the business.
- Daly's Irish Pub: 'Nuf sed.
What could be improved:
- Racking bikes the day before: If the race were bigger, I could see this - maybe. But, really... no need to rack the bikes the day before. Hell, Chicago has 8,000 racers and you can rack that morning! One of these years the wind is gonna reek havoc on this and damage the bikes - no need to risk that.
- Not letting athletes into Cedar Point for free on Sunday: We're tired, sore, and most of us have no ambition to go into the park. And if we do (those of us doing the half) we'll only ride a few rides. But more families would likely pay to go into the park if they'd let the athletes in at no cost on Sunday. Also... give better discounts - $6 is pretty lame. I told my fam to stay home - not worth the drive out for them...
- The finish chute: Everything was great until I walked out. Got a muscle milk, then, I assumed it was over. Later that night, I was told that they actually had a food tent - I had no idea. Would have been nice to have some solid food in the finisher chute - even if its just a PBJ sammy.
- A bag drop for the half athletes: Let's face it, its September and chilly in the morning. It would be nice to have a bag check at the swim start.
What I liked:
- The swim: One of the best swim courses out there. I didn't realize how well protected that area is due to the Cedar Point peninsula. Real open water with some tidal action, but not unpredictable like Mentor Headlands. Awesome swim course.
- The check-in experience: Easy. Helpful. Good swag. Very athlete friendly. Loved the free goggles!
- The tattoos: Sooooooooo much better than sharpie markers. They look better. They save a step on race morning. They make ya feel more "official"... even more so than a WTC event. They're easier to see to, especially from the patio at Daly's pub ;-)
- Personalized: Everything from the bike rack tags to the run bibs to the video board display - everything makes the athlete feel like more than a number.
- How they do the video board: Taking each athletes pic when they register and then displaying it as they cross. Very cool when we were IronFanning late at night to see what people looked like before spandex and salt-stains!
- The run course design: If there were actually people out in Sandusky (other than the aid stations, a few bums, Team Z, and CTC's watering hole), it would be an incredible run experience. All the out/backs really offer and opportunity to see a lot of fellow competitors. Plus, the last 3 miles of the run, with Cedar Point in the back drop is awesome.
- Milan: Biking through town is fun - they should take us all the way around the square... would add so much more to it.
- Listening to athletes: They've made tweeks over the past few years due to athletes comments (such as keeping transition open until 7:30 for the half racers this year - THANK YOU FOR THAT!).
- Catering to the club: They've been very generous with us to date - I hope that continues.
- The price: If you're willing to commit early, the price/value ratio is the best in the business.
- Daly's Irish Pub: 'Nuf sed.
What could be improved:
- Racking bikes the day before: If the race were bigger, I could see this - maybe. But, really... no need to rack the bikes the day before. Hell, Chicago has 8,000 racers and you can rack that morning! One of these years the wind is gonna reek havoc on this and damage the bikes - no need to risk that.
- Not letting athletes into Cedar Point for free on Sunday: We're tired, sore, and most of us have no ambition to go into the park. And if we do (those of us doing the half) we'll only ride a few rides. But more families would likely pay to go into the park if they'd let the athletes in at no cost on Sunday. Also... give better discounts - $6 is pretty lame. I told my fam to stay home - not worth the drive out for them...
- The finish chute: Everything was great until I walked out. Got a muscle milk, then, I assumed it was over. Later that night, I was told that they actually had a food tent - I had no idea. Would have been nice to have some solid food in the finisher chute - even if its just a PBJ sammy.
- A bag drop for the half athletes: Let's face it, its September and chilly in the morning. It would be nice to have a bag check at the swim start.
