How much is too much to pay for a sprint?
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The Nautica Malibu Tri opened for registration on March 3rd. It's a 1/2 mile swim, 18 mile ride, 4 mile run. Normal registration is around $125... steep, but it's pretty much <span style="text-decoration:underline;">the</span> race I've wanted to do for years. It's a challenging but doable course for me (supposing the break isn't as high as 2005). It should have been my first tri in 2006, but an ankle injury set my training back so I deferred to 2007. Ended up squeezing in my first spring before Nautica Malibu last year, and then injured my neck in heavy surf at the race site two weeks out, so I was only able to volunteer last year. Last year, it took three months to sell out, so I figured I could at least wait until the weekend to register. It sold out in four freaking days. I suspect in part because they created at least one new tier of 500 "Charity slots" going for an extra $150. $100 puts an extra $100 in the pockets of the charity it supports; $49 for a Nautica deck shirt (oh, boy!). I wouldn't be surprised if they roll out a higher (more expensive) tier of charity slots once these sell out.<br><br>
So now I have to decide rather quickly if I want to pay $275 for a sprint. I could probably scrape up the dough, but it seems kind of ridiculous to pay that much for a sprint. Maybe I'd be better off pulling a "Thor" and doing a do-it-yourself triathlon on the same course. Though I'm not sure if that would mean I'd get to wear the shirt and hat I got from last year's goodie bag.<br><br>
I'll figure it out on my own, but I'm curious, how much is the most you'd pay for a sprint? And a pretty local one, at that, so don't include how much you'd pay for travel, hotel, etc.<br><br>
And if I did a do-it-yourself version would I be able to wear the gear from last year's tri?
So now I have to decide rather quickly if I want to pay $275 for a sprint. I could probably scrape up the dough, but it seems kind of ridiculous to pay that much for a sprint. Maybe I'd be better off pulling a "Thor" and doing a do-it-yourself triathlon on the same course. Though I'm not sure if that would mean I'd get to wear the shirt and hat I got from last year's goodie bag.<br><br>
I'll figure it out on my own, but I'm curious, how much is the most you'd pay for a sprint? And a pretty local one, at that, so don't include how much you'd pay for travel, hotel, etc.<br><br>
And if I did a do-it-yourself version would I be able to wear the gear from last year's tri?
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Site's being screwy. I thought I quad posted.<br><br>
Anyway, as I was trying to say.<br><br>
On one hand, it's THE race so part of me says go for it.<br><br>
BUT $275 is extremely steep. <img alt="shock.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/shock.gif"><br><br>
I'd go for getting some buddies together for DIY. You'll cherish the memories more and will absolutely get to wear last year's gear.
Anyway, as I was trying to say.<br><br>
On one hand, it's THE race so part of me says go for it.<br><br>
BUT $275 is extremely steep. <img alt="shock.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/shock.gif"><br><br>
I'd go for getting some buddies together for DIY. You'll cherish the memories more and will absolutely get to wear last year's gear.
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If it's THE race, then it's worth whatever you deem.<br><br>
To me, it's not about the money it's about the experience. But then again $275 means different things to different people. I have a certain amount of money which I will utilize, as I please, to my own selfish enjoyment. Therefore, I can remove all external considerations that normally would apply.<br><br>
Does that help? Maybe not. so here's the short answer. If it was "the" race for me, I would not hesitate. Heck, I didn't blink paying $270 or whatever it was for Alcatraz. It could have been $700 I don't think it would have changed a thing. Was very excited about the venue, so to me, worth it.
To me, it's not about the money it's about the experience. But then again $275 means different things to different people. I have a certain amount of money which I will utilize, as I please, to my own selfish enjoyment. Therefore, I can remove all external considerations that normally would apply.<br><br>
Does that help? Maybe not. so here's the short answer. If it was "the" race for me, I would not hesitate. Heck, I didn't blink paying $270 or whatever it was for Alcatraz. It could have been $700 I don't think it would have changed a thing. Was very excited about the venue, so to me, worth it.
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If it was THE RACE you wanted to do, and you are alright with your budget, go for it. You only live once, and you've had this in mind for the longest while ... now go conquer it!<br><br>
Sally
Sally
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Heck, for that much money, I might find my way to Vegas in October. I really do think we should make that the first annual LIT get-together/race-together. I've even got another tab open trying to find info on the sprint and oly distances.<br><br>
Do you suppose there's a big enough vacation rental to hold us all? <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"><br><br>
As for Nautica Mailbu, I will definitely have to do the official race someday, but I might make do with a do-it-yourself version this year. Either something early or mid-season with a friend along for at least the swim. Or maybe even two weeks out from the tri. Last year Team Disney had a full lifeguard crew out there as their team did a "dry run" of the full triathlon.<br><br>
And if I don't target the $$ for something bigger like a LIT gathering in Vegas, I'd probably spread the money across more races. That should cover three or four around here.<br><br>
I totally see paying that much or more for something iconic like Alcatraz. That may be a course you only do once in your life. This is a course I can train on anytime, so, though I still want to do it sometime, and it would have been great if it would have been my first tri, at $275, I think I'd end feeling ripped off, and that's no way to approach a triathlon.
Do you suppose there's a big enough vacation rental to hold us all? <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"><br><br>
As for Nautica Mailbu, I will definitely have to do the official race someday, but I might make do with a do-it-yourself version this year. Either something early or mid-season with a friend along for at least the swim. Or maybe even two weeks out from the tri. Last year Team Disney had a full lifeguard crew out there as their team did a "dry run" of the full triathlon.<br><br>
And if I don't target the $$ for something bigger like a LIT gathering in Vegas, I'd probably spread the money across more races. That should cover three or four around here.<br><br>
I totally see paying that much or more for something iconic like Alcatraz. That may be a course you only do once in your life. This is a course I can train on anytime, so, though I still want to do it sometime, and it would have been great if it would have been my first tri, at $275, I think I'd end feeling ripped off, and that's no way to approach a triathlon.
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Actually, I was thinking we should aim for a good 10 or so of us. Heck, it's Vegas, so airfares may be reasonable, right? And some of us SoCal folks are within driving distance. Though I did find the hill profiles for the sprint and oly, and the 8% grade is making a nice Finish Line Catcher position sound pretty good right now.<br><br>
Do you think you could work three lifetimes in between now and next year? That'd be great! And I think you're right, $125 on day one next year is the way to go. Please give me a shout if you find a nice July - October Oly with a not-too-hilly bike. (Maybe Camp Pendleton? Hard to tell from the hill profile online... and since it's likely on the base, it may be impossible to pre-ride.)
Do you think you could work three lifetimes in between now and next year? That'd be great! And I think you're right, $125 on day one next year is the way to go. Please give me a shout if you find a nice July - October Oly with a not-too-hilly bike. (Maybe Camp Pendleton? Hard to tell from the hill profile online... and since it's likely on the base, it may be impossible to pre-ride.)
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Camp Pendleton International is a great race. The swim course is in a protected harbor, the bike course has only one small hill, about 150ft, and the run course is pretty flat. Plus, the Marines are very well organized.<br><br>
And yes, you can ride on the course. I do it almost every week! You just need to show ID at the gate when you enter the base. Other than the occasional tank, there isn't much traffic on the roads at all. It's a popular ride with triathletes. I've had both Norm Stadler and Michelle Jones fly past me on that route. <img alt="notworthy.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/notworthy.gif">
And yes, you can ride on the course. I do it almost every week! You just need to show ID at the gate when you enter the base. Other than the occasional tank, there isn't much traffic on the roads at all. It's a popular ride with triathletes. I've had both Norm Stadler and Michelle Jones fly past me on that route. <img alt="notworthy.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/notworthy.gif">
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I didn't sign up for the tour, think I can still add it? I totally want to do it - but didn't know if it was going to me, me + dw, or me + dw + ds x 2<br><br>
and I bought the chip <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">
and I bought the chip <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">
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If you really want to do it, do it.<br><br>
I could no way stomach that for a sprint, but I'm quite a scrooge in most regards.
I could no way stomach that for a sprint, but I'm quite a scrooge in most regards.
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Stu -<br><br>
Thanks for the hill profile... it's much better than the one on the website. It's also great to hear that civilians can pre-ride the course. I did ride through there on a trip down to the border, but I'd thought they still had higher security restrictions in force post-911. I'll have to check out the course before the race sells out. Who knows, maybe I'll bring my bike along for the weekend of IMCA 70.3. <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">
Thanks for the hill profile... it's much better than the one on the website. It's also great to hear that civilians can pre-ride the course. I did ride through there on a trip down to the border, but I'd thought they still had higher security restrictions in force post-911. I'll have to check out the course before the race sells out. Who knows, maybe I'll bring my bike along for the weekend of IMCA 70.3. <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">
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