Thanks
so much for putting on an amazing race!!
I have IM Cd'A coming up in a month, and
I will definitely be reaping the fitness
gains I got from the challenging course
in Auburn. Awesome swim venue this year,
one of my favourite bike courses I've done
to date, and one of the most picturesque
run courses in the world. After this race,
I'm confident I'll achieve my goals at IM
Cd'A.
Thanks again,
Kevin Buchholz
Thank
you for putting on such an excellent event
last weekend. The scenery was spectacular,
the trails were great, the volunteers were
awesome - the vibe was just super low-key,
have fun, enjoy the day, suffer the hills,
feel strong and keep moving. It was a perfect
first event for the year - a great tune-up
in a mellow environment. It felt like the
way triathlons used to be. I'll definitely
be back next year and do what I can to spread
the word about what a great event it is.
Both
the reg shirts and the finisher's shirts
rocked. The finisher shirt in particular
- black with centered type on front and
a nod to the old name "Toughest Half"
- was brilliant. Unique, simple, perfect.
Kudos!
Thanks
again,
Samantha Pinney, San Francisco
With it’s wonderfully excessive climbing,
AI has put a nice big ol’ deposit
into my training account for both the Terrible
Two (double-century in Sonoma County) as
well as the Vineman Triathlons at summer’s
end. I hope to see you again next year,
same time, same place. Thanks and congrats
on a truly special and spectacular event.
Long live “World's Toughest!”
Bob Shebest, Santa Rosa, CA
(10th overall 2006)
Great race! Hopefully you can use the same
course in the future because I think it
was great. The swim location was awesome,
the bike course was very low traffic, challenging
because of the hills and technically, and
well-marked, and the run course was beautiful
and extremely challenging. Having COLD drinks
at the aid stations was perfect, as well
as sponges in ice water on the run. It was
probably the best race I've done in terms
of race management. Good job!
Mike Ellis, Citrus Heights, CA
The bike course was wonderful; I was scared
all this time for no reason. The climbing
really was gentle or short, so compared
to what I have around here, it was comfortable,
though not something I really raced, more
a good ride. I especially liked all the
parts after getting out of Auburn –
the smell of the pines, going down to the
river, the tree lined roads, going by bodies
of water – it was a real pleasure.
Though the course was marked very well,
I really appreciated having volunteers at
the turns, because it meant not having to
slow down and worry about which way to go
(since markings are close-ish to corners).
I find a large number of volunteers (like
you had) very comforting, because I know
if there’s any problem, there are
people all over to help. It’s especially
comforting when I don’t know where
the hell I am and don’t know anyone
nearby – like in a non-local race.
I tried always to thank the volunteers as
I went by, because I truly am grateful that
they were there, but I’m sure you
can do a better job and make sure they know
they were appreciated.
On the other hand, the run course was way
harder than I anticipated. I didn’t
look carefully at the elevation changes
on the website, because I run “hills”
and wasn’t worried. Think again, Catherine!
Ouch. (Not a complaint; I don’t mind
hard. I just was surprised.) I loved running
on the trails. I don’t do that around
here. It was a pleasure – fun even.
And the end along the aquaduct/canal was
like a reward – beautiful.
Having COLD water on the run was worth the
price of admission. I learned that holding
a water bottle with really cold water was
an added benefit – a great radiator.
And it went down very well too. I’m
not picky about food; I just need gel, and
you had it. So that was fine.
I liked how low key the transition areas
were. I forgot to put something at my run
transition, and I knew my friend Kathy would
be able to put it with my stuff. At Wildflower,
it would take a subpoena from Washington
DC to get someone to let anyone in the transition
area after the race started.
Your website with all the info and directions
was the best I’ve EVER seen. It was
so well done, so clear, that if I had gotten
lost or confused, it would’ve been
my own damn fault. It was pretty much impossible
to mess up with your extraordinarily thorough
instructions and suggestions on everything,
like restaurants and hotels. Thank you so
much for that. You clearly put a bunch of
work into it.
Catherine
Fisse, Los Altos, CA
Thanks for putting on the AIT last weekend.
My trip to Auburn from Portland was well
worth it. I had a great time. This was only
my second Tri, so I'm still a Tri newbie.
With that in mind, I thought the Sprint
course was a great course. It was short,
but tough. I especially liked not having
to deal with traffic and intersections on
the bike and the run. From a participant's
perspective, it was clear that you put on
a well planned event that made everything
seamless.
This was also my first time seeing a 1/2
Iron Man event or witnessing Elite athletes
do what they do. That, alone, was very inspirational.
I have raised my personal goals and expectations
now that I have seen what these great athletes
can do.
Thanks again,
Bill Blackwell, Portland, OR
Your race needs to be recalled the World's
Toughest Half since clearly, it is. All
other Half IM races I have done have basically
flat bike and run courses. Well, your race
is just the opposite. The bike never has
a dull flat section and it forces one to
be in great shape for biking in the hills
and altitude. The new route was perfect
with very few cars and nice wide scenic
roads. And then after this effort, you again
do it on the run. It was by far the most
difficult, challenging run I have every
done, and again, very scenic. This race
is what it should all be about, the most
difficult test of one skills minute by minute.
There is no place to slack off!
Dave
Campbell, Auburn, CA
Hey
Brad, I wanted to thank you for an awesome
race. The setting was fantastic, and we
really lucked out with the weather, but
the rest (under your control) was top-notch.
Best race I've done. The kids volunteering
on the bike course did a fantastic job--and
you had enough to cover every turn!! Wow.
Big props to those guys.
The
aid stations on the run were great too,
especially the first (on the long course)
and, dare I say it, the UCD one. Thanks
so much for giving us incentive to come
in compete. That got way more of us UCD
kids up there than would have otherwise.
I hope you were pleased with our turnout
- we certainly were with the race. Thanks
again, and I look forward to competing again
next year!
Juan Lang, UC Davis Tri Team
Once
again I want to thank you for organizing
the Auburn Triathlon. This is the second
year that I have done the race and I think
it's one of the best around. The race is
challenging, beautiful and extremely well
organized. Your volunteers are fantastic
so a big THANK YOU to them as well. (Especially
the folks with the cold sponges). Oh yeah
and the water bottles at the bottom of "the
pit" were really a life saver. The
Folsom lake swim was the bomb, I loved it!
Oh and I wanted to mention that all the
details that you provide on your website
regarding the course, Auburn Info etc are
very much appreciated.
Thanks
again!
Sue Beatty (Carpinteria, CA)
What an amazing, life changing event. I'm
so amazed at your teams effectiveness in
managing every part of the event - from
the perfect swim location to the traffic
control on the bike (I felt like a pro flying
through those intersections that were stopped
just for me!), to the aid stations on the
run. Ah...the run...what a kick in the teeth
that was.
We
bay area kids need to come train up with
your ruffians more often - those hills actually
made me laugh (as I slowly walked up them
:0). I'd like to thank your medical staff
for amazing attention as well. As soon as
I came across the finish line I was escorted
by a really nice guy to the medical tent
where the docs cleaned me right up, made
me laugh, and sent me on my way. What a
great service. My sweaty hat off to you,
Brad, for the BEST race I've ever FINISHED
(woo hoo!). And to think...I was going to
bail on it. Thanks for the push and for
being so supportive. Now I'm going back
to bed :-).
Naomi
Gutierrez-Cook, San Mateo, CA
Auburn
is THE race to attend if you enjoy hills,
amazing scenery and grass roots racing at
its best! If you want the ultimate challenge,
this race should not be missed...it makes
Wildflower feel like a walk in the park!
Thanks
again!
Dr. Diana Hassell, Ft Collins CO
(2003 Hawaii Ironman World Age Group Champion
I
want to “Thank You” for a great
time at the AIT Sprint!!!! It was a BLAST!!!!!!
And very well organized! I realize the work
involved …you did AWESOME!!!! Look
forward to next year --- maybe I’ll
step it up to the longer course. Ryan Rivera,
Auburn
I
can’t say enough good things about
the Auburn Triathlon – it’s
my new favorite race, which says a lot,
because the course is unbelievably hard.
I encourage everyone to do this race next
year; it’s fantastic. There’s
a great low-key feel to everything surrounding
the race, but they take the race itself
very seriously: it’s well-marked,
and well-supported by tonnes of well-stocked
volunteers. Brad Kearns runs a good race.
Vikki Appel, Pasadena Tri Club and
UCLA Tri Team
Sensational.
This was the best race of any kind that
I have ever entered. Many, many thanks.
Bill Keros, Dallas, TX
P.S. Could you change the name back to "World's
Toughest Half"? I think most of us
competitors consider that name a badge of
honor. It also allows us to better explain
our times. (The answer is YES! –
B.K.)
I just wanted to drop you a note to say
thanks for putting this race on. This was
the hardest and best ½ IM I have
ever done. The course was great but your
volunteers made it even better. I will forget
there is even a race called Wildflower and
be back to Auburn every year. Thank you,
Dave
Hinds, Livermore, Ca
I
just wanted to thank you for putting on
what ended up being the most challenging,
exciting and scenic Tri I have ever done.
Although, I am very much a novice to the
sport, this race reaffirmed why I do triathons
and it will give me future inspiration to
race. The race was so well supported and
everyone I encountered was supercool, I
guess misery loves company. Thanks again
for putting on a very memorable and very
fun event.
Sincerely,
Brian Cook #86 2006 Auburn Triathlon
