PNW Tri Novices

I know there are a lot of you who are planning to do your first triathlon this year. I'm big into expanding the sport and I'd like to help you along. Soooo....

I am seriously thinking about "hosting" a tri weekend here in The Gorge. My thoughts are that we would do a swim and run workshops on Saturday including transitions and then join a group ride on Sunday. There is a really nice ride out here called "The Cherry of a Ride" and it's held on a Sunday, (April 20). It's a nice ride with multiple mileage options and would allow for many different skill levels.

http://www.stmarysacademythedalles.o...ng_events!.htm

So what I'm wondering is how many people would be interested in doing this. Saturday would cover the more technical aspects of triathlon. Sunday would just be the organized group ride for those who wanted to do it. I can accomodate a few guests at my house (about 4 with some creative sleeping arrangements) and there is an Inn in the town where I live that has hostel style accomodations for as low as $25 per night.

http://www.innofthewhitesalmon.com/

So let's hear what you think and see who might be able to make it.

It could also happen another weekend, we just wouldn't be able to take advantage of the organized ride. Though I'm sure I could find some ride leaders to help out with a training ride in the area.

Great Idea!!
I would love to come, but my work schedule is made 6 weeks in advance so I couldn't get off for it since the schedule is already made.

Could you make two different weekends? Or a later date?

hmmmm, how far is it from my house to your house....about 3000 miles? Anything over 2500 is just not practical for a w/e....

Did I miss communicate something that made Meg think I was in her area, or is that just her usual sarcasm (which I like BTW) coming out?

Seriously, can PNW be interpreted as something other than Pacific North West? I'm pretty fresh to the states and haven't learn all the geographic nuances.

ETA - Unless in "Nashville to Asheville" Meg means Ashville OR? And I may offer different weekends. I'm just floating this now to get feedback and figure it out.

RnR - You could easily cover that distance on your bike. I expect you to come and to do it as a bike commute. Hee Hee

I'd love to come but Kit and I have a motorcycle safety course that entire weekend. I wish I would have known which w/e the ride was on cuz I really liked doing that one last year. Just not the billy goat hill climbing part you did for the second half, Wahine. Although, it was fun to drive up that part and yell out our encouragement as we passed you. :p When you have another w/e planned, let us know. We aren't too far away. Besides, Kit needs to go back to the kayak shack. :D

Wahine, thank you SO much for offering this. I would love to do it. I might be able to muster up the whatever by April 20 but it would be hard for a variety of reasons. I wonder if you would be willing to try to plan it a little further out, far enough so that most people's calendars would be empty and they would have plenty of prep time? For me, either early/mid-May, early/mid-June, or mid-July weekends would be easiest to schedule. How does that kind of thinking fit with your own schedule? And the rest of the PNW Tri gang?

And we better start thinking NOW about how to thank Wahine. I think we should start pondering putting together a Pansy-Palmetto style outfit for her next Ironman...

Wahine: I think this sounds really great. I would be up for it. Have to work Sunday evening, so could not stay and do the ride, but would be great to come for Saturday. I've done one sprint tri, but with no "training" of any kind. Would be wonderful to do something with someone giving advice! This date or later... I'd try to make it.
Jes

Ooo...this sounds awesome. My participation in anything bike-related right now depends entirely on when I'll be able to obtain new wheels. (The sad part of this is that it's mostly my schedule that's keeping from getting new wheels...I can't seem to find the time to get to the shop owned by the person who I want to build the darn things.)

Well Yoda, I just bought a road bike, she is not even named yet. She is a hand me down from a friend that rode her about 6 times. A Cannondale. Nothing fancy, but now I have....1, 2, 3,4 ....Four Bikes! I could start out tomorrow and head west and I might even make it on time...

Oh BTW she is green...hmmmm, a green girl bike, she is a girl for sure, I know that. I am sure after I spend some time with her, the name will come to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by salsabike

Wahine, thank you SO much for offering this. I would love to do it. I might be able to muster up the whatever by April 20 but it would be hard for a variety of reasons. I wonder if you would be willing to try to plan it a little further out, far enough so that most people's calendars would be empty and they would have plenty of prep time? For me, either early/mid-May, early/mid-June, or mid-July weekends would be easiest to schedule. How does that kind of thinking fit with your own schedule? And the rest of the PNW Tri gang?

And we better start thinking NOW about how to thank Wahine. I think we should start pondering putting together a Pansy-Palmetto style outfit for her next Ironman...

---

I actually just got news today that could put the weekend of the 20th out of the running. I would definitely consider a date further out if it works better. The big bonus of a date further out is that we could actually practice an OWS. Mid July might work well because it will fall during my mid season break after Pacific Crest.

I'm not sure what a Pansy-Palmetto style outfit looks like, but you're making me nervous.

You'll love it, Wahine. Honest.

Guys? I think we should make good on this idea as a thank you gift. It has to be custom designed to suit Wahine, of course.

We will be back from our rock hunting trip on July 7. Would the weekend of July 19-20 be too late?

When's Pacific Crest?

Pacific Crest is the last weekend in June. I'll have about 2 weeks of light training after that to recover. But no matter, 3rd weekend in July will work out.

Something out in July would be spiffy, April might not be the easiest for me to manage.

I have a tent, and I love sleeping in my tent. Can I tent in your yard somewhere? Or is there a campground near you?

Tenting in the yard is totally doable. We actually have it landscaped in places with tenting in mind. :D:D We have a lot of degenerate windsurfing buddies that like to come visit in the middle of summer so you never know when you'll need a spot to put up a tent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wahine

But no matter, 3rd weekend in July will work out.

---

This might fall into my taper for Shasta, so might be good timing. (ETA...also will depend on work and Shasta travel schedule...might not be able to make it if timing is a little off...but sounds really great! Oops...edited again...if the 3rd weekend is the 19th, should be OK!) I can't run, yet, but I would like to learn about Tri's.

I can camp in my car if there is a campground or place to park a Honda Element.