Hi rsquared,
Thanks for your comments. I'm sure it is more difficult to get volunteers
in a small town setting than in a big city, but I think we can do it. I've
been a race director for other local races and we've managed to get the help
we needed.
Of course safety is most important. And being a racer, I know how important
it is to have corners on the bike course clear of gravel. The race, if it
happens will have paramedics at the transition, US Coast Guard on the swim
course, and HAM radio operators on both the run and bike courses. I'm
planning on aid at three places on the bike route and about every mile on
the run.
A remote location offers some plusses, too. For one, there is the
opportunity to race in an incredibly beautiful setting. And there isn't
very much traffic on the bike course, and nearly zero traffic on the run
course.
I don't like laps either. So this course wouldn't have laps. There are
sections of the bike and run that are out-and-back, so athletes would have
the opportunity to see there competition occasionally.
Bob
"rsquared" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:"Bob Haase" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:Hello group!
I'm conducting a survey of triathletes. Do you prefer easier, flat
courses
or more difficult hilly courses? The reason I'm asking is that I'm
thinking
of staging a half Ironman distance event in a remote location (I don't
want
to say where until I commit to actually going through with this). We
have
beautiful scenery and to make the most of it, I'd like the half marathon
run
to encompass a very substantial climb (700 feet over 2 1/2 miles).
Eighty
percent of the run would be on forest roads. Do you think this would
attract people because of the challenge, or frighten them away?
--
Robert A. Haase
Sr. Research Scientist
Signature Research, Inc.
(906)337-3360
[email hidden]
I think your course "toughness" preferences will vary. I don't really
care, either way. Another recurring theme is safety.
Safety would seem to be a bigger challenge in a remote location. It seems
more difficult to account for medical emergencies, adequate staffing of
volunteers and aid stations, sweeping debris from key portions of the bike
course, etc.
rsquared
