Wildflower Dreams

[email hidden] (SGert97411) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Who would want to miss the pouring rain (2003), sizzling heat (2002 and 2001) or the unknown
challenge of 2004? Stan Gertler

Interesting marketing tactic.

Tom

[email hidden] (SGert97411) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Just a friendly reminder. Race sign ups begin Monday morning 9 AM eastern time. The races sell out
in a just a couple of days. Don't be left behind. Who would want to miss the pouring rain (2003),
sizzling heat (2002 and 2001) or the unknown challenge of 2004? Stan Gertler

You left out the no parking... the poor transportation of visitors to and from the race site to
camping area... no toilet paper ... no hot/warm water for showers... the over crowed and sometimes
loud camp grounds... etc.

Still, it is a well run race who has simply out grown it's facilities. Oh yea, and the road for the
bike race (in certain key hilly area's) keep getting more dangerous and broken up every year.

Wildflower is definately a fun "been there, done that" sorta race. As for me, I won't go back since
there are a few just a well run races with better facilities.

FWIW Joe M

"Seen that done that" is exactly my sentiment. The cost, crowds, showers, heat, rain, cold and I
hate camping stops me from going every year like I have in the past. Many many years ago it was a
lot more fun than it is now. I will never PR there so I would only go for the challenge. Now maybe
every three years or so I'll return. Maybe next year.

"jkmsg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (SGert97411) wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Just a friendly reminder. Race sign ups begin Monday morning 9 AM

eastern

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

time. The races sell out in a just a couple of days. Don't be left

behind.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Who would want to miss the pouring rain (2003), sizzling heat (2002 and

2001)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

or the unknown challenge of 2004? Stan Gertler

You left out the no parking... the poor transportation of visitors to and from the race site to
camping area... no toilet paper ... no hot/warm water for showers... the over crowed and sometimes
loud camp grounds... etc.

Still, it is a well run race who has simply out grown it's facilities. Oh yea, and the road for
the bike race (in certain key hilly area's) keep getting more dangerous and broken up every year.

Wildflower is definately a fun "been there, done that" sorta race. As for me, I won't go back
since there are a few just a well run races with better facilities.

FWIW Joe M

I have to say I did the long course last year and bought nine over from the UK; despite the rain(no
jokes about feeling at home) had a good time.

For me the biggest disappointment was arriving around 5.00pm on Wednesday to find no full hookups
for the rented RV; despite being told you couldn't make reservations, and despite a large number
still being empty when we got there they were all posted with reserved signs. We tried pulling into
one space and a welcoming party of shirtless bullies beer in hand arrived to tell us in no uncertian
terms the space were reserved by some US tri club or other... more tailgate party than triathlon.

Very welcoming... ++Mark.

Seems like everyone around here talks about how incredibly wonderful this event is but I looked at
the website and the camping part turned me off......although I've often camped during long laid-back
bike tours, competing for camping space the same weekend one is competing in a race didn't seem
appealing to me at all......

Susan in LA

"Mark Cathcart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have to say I did the long course last year and bought nine over from

the

Quoted message said:

UK; despite the rain(no jokes about feeling at home) had a good time.

For me the biggest disappointment was arriving around 5.00pm on Wednesday

to

Quoted message said:

find no full hookups for the rented RV; despite being told you couldn't

make

Quoted message said:

reservations, and despite a large number still being empty when we got

there

Quoted message said:

they were all posted with reserved signs. We tried pulling into one space and a welcoming party of
shirtless bullies beer in hand arrived to tell us in no uncertian terms the space were reserved by
some US tri club or other... more tailgate party than triathlon.

Very welcoming... ++Mark.

I was not trying to market, which clearly they don't need. I was trying to raise a little news group
interest. When I first started reading this news group the race seemed to generate a lot of
postings. Last year there were almost none. Tri Baby used to organize a RST get together at the race
that was fun. Stan

Unfortunately those days seem to be over.

"SGert97411" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was not trying to market, which clearly they don't need. I was trying

to

Quoted message said:

raise a little news group interest. When I first started reading this news group the race seemed
to generate a lot of postings. Last year there were almost none. Tri Baby used to organize a RST
get together at the race that

was

Quoted message said:

fun. Stan

[email hidden] (SGert97411) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I was not trying to market, which clearly they don't need. I was trying to raise a little news
group interest. When I first started reading this news group the race seemed to generate a lot of
postings. Last year there were almost none. Tri Baby used to organize a RST get together at the
race that was fun. Stan

I was kidding. I thought it was funny that you'd tell folks to hurry and sign up, then remind them
of how bad the conditions have been the last three years. Guess I shoulda put one of those smiley
emoticons in there somewhere.

Tom

Stan,

Tri Baby stopped with the gatherings years ago. I tried it a couple of times but I didn't bake
cookies so there wasn't much of a turn out. 2 years ago, the get together consisted of Chris Magnin
and me. I'll be there if anyone wants to try to muster the troops on the lawn. Otherwise come by and
visit the USAT campsite in the Lynch campground.

Larry

"SGert97411" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was not trying to market, which clearly they don't need. I was trying

to

Quoted message said:

raise a little news group interest. When I first started reading this news group the race seemed
to generate a lot of postings. Last year there were almost none. Tri Baby used to organize a RST
get together at the race that

was

Quoted message said:

fun. Stan

"Jay Japka" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately those days seem to be over.

Unfortunately is indeed the operative word. While this race generates more popularity than ever,
the gouging that takes place is down right shameful. The old timers still go because of the need
of tradition,,,,the newcomers, like me last year, come to see what it's all about. Everyone
else, like me now, is not going to bother. WF has become a "check this off your list race"
unless you're emotionally attached after years of trying to break PRs.

Rick Swanger

Quoted message said:

"SGert97411" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was not trying to market, which clearly they don't need. I was trying

to

Quoted message said:

raise a little news group interest. When I first started reading this

news

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

group the race seemed to generate a lot of postings. Last year there

were

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

almost none. Tri Baby used to organize a RST get together at the race

that

Quoted message said:

was

Quoted message said:

fun. Stan

In article <[email hidden]>, Tom Henderson

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (SGert97411) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I was not trying to market, which clearly they don't need. I was trying to raise a little news
group interest. When I first started reading this news group the race seemed to generate a lot
of postings. Last year there were almost none. Tri Baby used to organize a RST get together at
the race that was fun. Stan

I was kidding. I thought it was funny that you'd tell folks to hurry and sign up, then remind them
of how bad the conditions have been the last three years. Guess I shoulda put one of those smiley
emoticons in there somewhere.

Yeah, maybe, but FWIW I knew you were joking.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

"Swanger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Jay Japka" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately those days seem to be over.

Unfortunately is indeed the operative word. While this race generates more popularity than
ever, the gouging that takes place is down right shameful.

What kind of gouging are you referring to?

Looking at 3 largest 1/2 Ironman races in California, WF is the cheapest:

Wildflower - $150 Vineman - ($175 - $225) vares from early to late signup. Ralphs IMCA - ($160 -
$200) vares from early to late signup.

Quoted message said:

The old timers still go because of the need of tradition,,,,the newcomers, like me last year, come
to see what it's all about. Everyone else, like me now, is not going to bother.

I don't think that you are right there, the "everyone else" is a pretty small group. In a day and a
half they are 80% sold out.

Quoted message said:

WF has become a "check this off your list race"

There will be far more people sniveling because they couldn't get in than bashers who are happy
to miss it.

It's a high quality, well organized event. It is below IM North America but they are not charging
near the same amount.

What's your real gripe?

Steve W.

[email hidden] (Steve W.) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What kind of gouging are you referring to?

Looking at 3 largest 1/2 Ironman races in California, WF is the cheapest:

Actually, from what I've seen, the price of EVERYTHING in California is in the gouging range.

"Steve W." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Swanger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Jay Japka" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately those days seem to be over.

Unfortunately is indeed the operative word. While this race

generates

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

more popularity than ever, the gouging that takes place is down right shameful.

What kind of gouging are you referring to?

Looking at 3 largest 1/2 Ironman races in California, WF is the cheapest:

Wildflower - $150 Vineman - ($175 - $225) vares from early to late signup. Ralphs IMCA - ($160 -
$200) vares from early to late signup.

Quoted message said:

The old timers still go because of the need of tradition,,,,the newcomers, like me last year,
come to see what it's all about. Everyone else, like me now, is not going to bother.

I don't think that you are right there, the "everyone else" is a pretty

small

Quoted message said:

group. In a day and a half they are 80% sold out.

Quoted message said:

WF has become a "check this off your list race"

There will be far more people sniveling because they couldn't get in than bashers who are happy to
miss it.

It's a high quality, well organized event. It is below IM North America but they are not charging
near the same amount.

What's your real gripe?

The hills just kill me.

Tom Henderson said:

[email hidden] (Steve W.) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What kind of gouging are you referring to?

Looking at 3 largest 1/2 Ironman races in California, WF is the cheapest:

Actually, from what I've seen, the price of EVERYTHING in California is in the gouging range.

Yes, we do that in order to keep the riff-raff from coming in to eat all of our fruits and nuts.

gwydion <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 00:43:31 GMT, Tom Henderson <TomH_

[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Steve W.) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What kind of gouging are you referring to?

Looking at 3 largest 1/2 Ironman races in California, WF is the cheapest:

Actually, from what I've seen, the price of EVERYTHING in California

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the gouging range.

Yes, we do that in order to keep the riff-raff from coming in to eat

all

Quoted message said:

of our fruits and nuts.

Is that a reference to produce, or people?

Tom Henderson said:

gwydion <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 00:43:31 GMT, Tom Henderson <TomH_

[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Steve W.) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

> What kind of gouging are you referring to?
>
> Looking at 3 largest 1/2 Ironman races in California, WF is the cheapest:
>

Actually, from what I've seen, the price of EVERYTHING in California

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in the gouging range.

Yes, we do that in order to keep the riff-raff from coming in to eat

all

Quoted message said:

of our fruits and nuts.

Is that a reference to produce, or people?

Yes.