Why no love for IM St. George

[Nathan]

As my schedule for 2010 winds down, I am debating whether or not to sign up for the St. George race next year. It is the closest IM race to drive to from where I currently reside in California (just under 10 hours). So I could skip the flight, rental car and most importantly - the cost (fees and manual labor to take apart and re-assemble) to get my bike to the race site.

I have grown weary of the airline fees for bike shipping and the ever-increasing price of Tri Bike Transport (fees used to be $250 but you could always get a discount to drop it down to $225 - now fees start at $290 and if you live far enough away from the race venue the fee jumps to $340). The TBT fee now typically costs more than my own plane ticket.

So I am asking for everyone's help - why do you believe St. George is still open to registration almost 4 months after the 2010 race concluded?

AND

Should I sign up for it for 2011?

Would your opinion change if this was my first crack at the IM distance?

As a side bar - if anyone has an opinion about the Silverman Half, I would greatly appreciate that as well.

[robreddy]

StG open - cuz its hard and the timing for a good part of the country is difficult - if you live in the Northeast or North trainig for a may 1 IM is very hard (having done an April 9th IM i know) -

holy sh it - $340 to ship your bike? i did use Tribike many years ago when it was like $200 and it was a nice service - but that is getting way too expensive - i just took my bike to Colorado via airling (Continental) and round trip it only cost me $200.

i realize many might say they are worried about breaking down and re-setting up their bike - but coming from a guy who is very non-mechanical - i have learned how to take my bike apart, box it up properly and then re-assemble it - it is not hard to do at all. actually i'm glad i know how to do this as i can make some very minor adjustments to my bike now - gives me confidence that i could probably fix a small mechanical break down if one occurred during a ride or race - and that is a great skill set we all need to learn

as for bike boxes - i know a bunch of people in the club have them and lend them out - mine has even been to Europe a few times even though i have not!!!

nathan do StG - get into the double digit IM finishes already!!!!

r

[Tiffany]

I'm in for IMSG I worked at the race this year - the first race. We (my team) worked an aid station on the run.

I think it's still open because:

1) It's a new race
2) The elevation is a factor that scares people off
3) The HILLS of this course are intimidating
4) The dreaded split transition
5) The lake is COLD in early May

That being said, I believe in time this race will become more popular and sell out. I've heard people talking that said that this venue was the most difficult IM course they've done ... just heresay, but heard non-the same!

Sign up! Join me
Tiffany

[Eric]

Nathan, I watched my wife Aimee and club member Ray Gurnic complete IM St. George this year and it was awesome. This was their first IM and there were many other people who were first timers.

I do not know why the race is still open. Several people we met at the race this year have signed up to go at it again in 2011. We followed peoples prep at iamtri.com and got to know the group creator quite well. The link for the 2011 group is below.

iamtri.com/group/ironmanstgeorge2011

If you want to do a IM race and it fits with the logistics I say go for it. All aspects of the course were beautiful. However the course is quite challenging. Prepare for hills. Weather can definitely play a factor. Water temp this year was 59 degrees. The town supports the race at the same level at Lake Placid. For a first year race it was very well organized and I heard little complaints. Oh yeah...prepare for hills on the bike and run.

FYI...we saw a lot of cars from California during race week.

If you want more information just let me know.

[gvale]

Nathan just sign up! I think you run a compact crank and should be fine.

Silverman Half? Are you serious? I think they offer a full distance one as well

[Nathan]

Very appreciative of the responses. Thanks Eric for providing the iamtri link. I signed up for this site a while ago but forgot it was still around. Lots of interesting comments about St. George here.

I read the comments on iamtri and a few other sites and one of the recurring themes when asked the question "would you do this race again" a great deal of the responses were "no." I could not find one "no" that was given because of the monetary cost (which is the only reason I have given for never going back to Lake Placid).

Bottom line I suppose is this: I'm struggling to find a convincing reason to sign up for this race - my 10th and my wife's first. With the exception of considering the monetary costs, the decision should not be difficult - which is likely a decision in and of itself.

Thanks again, everyone, for your comments.

[Eric]

Nathan, my wife Aimee says that all of those people saying no are just a bunch of puXXies who forget that IM is supposed to be hard. Living in Cali you should be able to train for the race with no problem. This race was attended by veterans and first timers.

We say go for it. If anything you will love the scenery.

[Tiffany]

Nathan, check out the editorial "Disappointed" in the Sept. issue of Triathlete magazine, pg. 34

This venue is TOUGH. Scary tough! I'm all in ... and scared to death! But, I'll tackle it, like Aimee Millward, and 1300 others did, and plan to be successful in completing it. Join me!!

[Eric]

There was also a cry baby letter in Lava magazine talking about IMSTG.

Don't worry Tiffany....you will do just fine.