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[calvins]

Bring back the pancake breakfast on Fri am. even if the race has to support it.
open the registration earlier on Fri.
Find another person to design the t-shirt.  Aslo, Race packets show the value that a race director places on the people that support the race.  You should come see the race package the the River Cities Triathlon produces at a third of the cost of GST entry fee. GCT is the worst race packet I have received in 25 years of racing.
Have volunteers to strip the wet suits, like the ironman tri.
My biggest issue that needs to change is the placement of food and drink for purchase at the finish line.  I saw many if not most people walking or limping away from the finish line right in to the food/drink booth were you are required to pay for the a drink or food.  Sorry but i didnt see a single finisher carrying cash to pay for something that should have been included in the entry fee.

Solution, move the finisher drink and food to the finish line and the spectator food to another location away from the competitors to eliminate the confusion. even if you extend the finishing shoot all the way to the pravilion.

[imfl03]

[quote author=calvins link=topic=211.msg4995#msg4995 date=1179103980]
Bring back the pancake breakfast on Fri am. even if the race has to support it.
open the registration earlier on Fri.[/quote]

Waffle house?
[quote]Find another person to design the t-shirt. [/quote]

I htought the shirt was awesome this year. Fireworks, anniversary... Pretty cool.

[quote] Also, Race packets show the value that a race director places on the people that support the race.  You should come see the race package the the River Cities Triathlon produces at a third of the cost of GST entry fee. GCT is the worst race packet I have received in 25 years of racing.[/quote]

That could be improved, I agree.

[quote]Have volunteers to strip the wet suits, like the ironman tri.[/quote]

Any other halves have strippers?

[quote]My biggest issue that needs to change is the placement of food and drink for purchase at the finish line.  I saw many if not most people walking or limping away from the finish line right in to the food/drink booth were you are required to pay for the a drink or food.  Sorry but i didnt see a single finisher carrying cash to pay for something that should have been included in the entry fee.[/quote]

Big problem. I understand why they have it where it is, but you need to channle us inthat direction or have a vol pointing. The single bottle of water at the end forced me to visit the med tent. All I needed was to be cooled off. what happened to the water shower you had a few years ago?

I enjoyed the race. 5 time finisher and will be back for sure.

Sheldon

[bicyclebob]

How was the swim conditions?

How was the wind on the bike?

Thanks

[jwpicciotto]

Overall was a great event, just had a couple of opportunities for improvement.  Packet pickup on Friday was a wee bit slow and I am not a fan of standing in line.  Got to meet some nice people, but would have liked to have been in and out faster. 

The thing to that did seem like a big deal was the lack of water once you finished.  It would have been nice to have a volunteer hand me a bottle of water or a cool towel once I crossed the line given how hot it was.  At least have someone point the way to where the water was.  After the event I was not in the mood to walk around trying to figure out where to get a drink.

[pokesalad]

As a first timer at the half im distance my experience overall was great.  I finished in my goal time so I was happy about that.  Also, thanks to the volunteers on the race course did a great job taking care of our needs.
I agree about the finish line situation, I was totally confused & disoriented coming out of the chute especially when I grabbed some fluids at the food/drink booth only to have them ripped from my hand & told this wasn't meant for me.  By the time I figured out where to go & walked over to the pavillion I was disoriented & bad need of fluids.  No one in the chute informed us where to go for anything.  After the race, that seemed like the longest walk in the world.
The shirt was not the best design in my opinion but I understand the whole 25th anniversary deal.  What I really felt was lame was we had to buy a finisher's shirt if we wanted one.  The medal is cool and all, but who wears their medal after the finish.  Why not forget about a race shirt & give out finishers shirt instead?  Even if the shirt is not attractive at least it has some redeeming value to the finisher.
The race packed was kinda lame also, but it's hard to beat a River Cities Triathlon package, just ask anyone who has ever competed in it.  THE MAN could probabaly even testify to that.
As I said overall the race was a great experience, and again thanks to all the volunteers.

[bicyclebob]

How was the swim conditions?

How was the wind on the bike?

Thanks

[wmoore]

There was food and drink over at the pavilion for finishers?!??  News to me.  Someone handed me a bottle of lukewarm water right after I crossed the line and I thought that was all there was.

I enjoyed the race and am extremely thankful to all of the volunteers that make it possible, but I feel that communication in general is lacking from this event.  The website ... well ... other than showing when next year's registration is open, is it ever updated?  The swim map handed out even in the race packet didn't show the proper course.  Is that a big deal?  No, not really.  You just follow the buoys and keep on swimming, but I think it's indicative of the bigger problem.

I guess I should feel lucky that I didn't make much effort to get over to the pancake breakfast on Friday as the website still shows it as happening.  I would have been pretty pissed off if I had made the effort only to find out that it was cancelled and more poor communication had wasted my time.

I don't want this message to be entirely negative, as like I said above, I did enjoy the race.  It's just that I feel that I enjoyed it in spite of some of the management, not because of it.

Will Moore

[calvins]

The swim was one if not the best swim ever.  could not have been more perfect.

The bike was also great.  not sure if i like the short turn around thing at the start, use to just be an out and back, but i a##ume the traffic control and the ability to see more of the bikes at the starting line contributed to the decision to change.  The new four lane road out to the bridge is much better, but less shade than the old two lane one.  The section after the bridge always has it bad spots, which wouldnt we bad but the bottles used at the aid stations are not designed to stay in a cage on a pot marked road, thus the real danger is hitting the bottles in the middle of the road.  should just head straight up the ironman course and turn around if they cant fix the two lane road or use the old gatoraide bike water bottles to hand up.

[ScottH]

This was my 9th time to compete in the Gulf Coast - as always, the volunteers really make this event special - they are truly awesome!!!!

Have to agree with previous comments from CalvinS.  Quality of race has declined over past few years.  I thought shirt looked better this year than year's past, but don't think anyone would argue that race packet could be much more attractive.  Missed the pancake breakfast (also did away with Sunday morning breakfast that was done in year's past) and no race results available on Sunday morning as in the past.  Comments on finish line confusion are on target and food sales practice should be changed.  For those who did not know of food in pavillion, it appeared that only food/water available was for sale.  I saw finisher trying to get water bottle and have someone tell him he had to pay - needless to say, he wasn't very pleased.

We had 2 relay teams with our local group and the runner was only one who received metal - they inquired at post race party at Spinnaker's and were told to email race mgt.  Please mail 4 other finisher medals to 2 teams from Shreveport, LA. 

However, know putting on race like this is huge task and I always enjoy my annual trip to Panama City and look forward to 2008.


Scott

[ktri]

I had tons of fun...Volunteers were fantastic at water stops.... THANK YOU ALL!!!  I thought the transition area was well protected (THANK YOU) ..a good (yet HOT race) but I knew that was coming.... but I would have to agree about the food at the finish line and water.  I mean, it was 90 degrees...and I had been racing for 5:28 minutes and I needed probably more than one bottle of water...my mom snagged a second for me in the busyness... 

I would like to see the race packet improved upon a little, but I am grateful for the cool water bottles... small things make me happy...got to have that in life.  And a finisher's shirt or hat should be included... Standard... most marathons have that.

The food for spectators RIGHT by where we finished was really frustrating because I wanted some of that powerade so badly (and I hate powerade) but they told me mine was around the corner..I was okay with that, but if someone had snapped at me or yanked it out of my hand....he-- hath no fury like a tired woman..that was rude and the people who run that tent should be notified of the fact that if someone who has just raced anywhere from 4-8 hours wants water, SHUT UP AND GIVE IT TO THEM!!

Sorry.... I know that wasn't necessary GCT people, but that is just mean...My parents, husband, and I all enjoyed ourselves a lot... I would have been really sad though had I come to the pancake breakfast (I forgot about it, but was there to swim) and had no food.....  I understand stuff happens though..

[joeracer07]

My main concern was the lack of medical personel in the transition area. I had just gotten stitches taken out of my foot the day before the race and on the bike my wound had opened up a little. Needless to say, my foot was a bloody mess by the time I transitioned to the run. I waited 10 minutes for the med crew, which never came, and ended up taking what I could to bandage up my foot from some other athletes near me. I ended up having to stop twice at aid stations along the run and had to take some more gauze and tape to bandage up my foot. Just my two cents

[BeeHunter]

I've done this race the past 3 years and will be back again for a 4th, 5th, etc...  BUT - since this thread is "suggestions" for a better race, I will agree that the shirt was such a horrible design!  It looks like something a child would wear.  I was also a little upset to see that for the 2nd year in a row, the pancake breakfast was still on the schedule of events on the website.  I don't care if they don't have the breakfast anymore, just update the website so I don't look forward to it.  As far as the long lines for registration - there is only 1 reason that wait was as long as it was - the old bat that was checking USAT cards!!!  She looked at my card like it was the fakest ID she ever saw in her life.  She looked at the front of the card for 30 seconds, flipped it over and looked at the back for 30 seconds, and then look at the front again.  What was she looking for?  My suggestion is get someone who knows what the hell a USAT card looks like and can get people moving.  Or maybe add 2 or 3 additional old bats who don't know what a USAT card looks like.

[imfl03]

[quote author=BeeHunter link=topic=211.msg5009#msg5009 date=1179245184]
As far as the long lines for registration - there is only 1 reason that wait was as long as it was - the old bat that was checking USAT cards!!!  She looked at my card like it was the fakest ID she ever saw in her life.  She looked at the front of the card for 30 seconds, flipped it over and looked at the back for 30 seconds, and then look at the front again.  What was she looking for?  My suggestion is get someone who knows what the hell a USAT card looks like and can get people moving.  Or maybe add 2 or 3 additional old bats who don't know what a USAT card looks like.

[/quote]

Totally uncalled for. Bring a chair, sit on the ground, go the day before or later in the day. That "OLD BAT" volunteered her time to be there and without her, their is no race. You should thank her and kiss her on the cheek. She took a minute and a half looking at your card, OMFG. You stood for a half hour in line, she stood all daylooking at ungrateful peoples cards.

I can really seeing that ruining your race. 

Sheldon

[BeeHunter]

[quote author=imfl03 link=topic=211.msg5010#msg5010 date=1179331517]
[quote author=BeeHunter link=topic=211.msg5009#msg5009 date=1179245184]
As far as the long lines for registration - there is only 1 reason that wait was as long as it was - the old bat that was checking USAT cards!!!  She looked at my card like it was the fakest ID she ever saw in her life.  She looked at the front of the card for 30 seconds, flipped it over and looked at the back for 30 seconds, and then look at the front again.  What was she looking for?  My suggestion is get someone who knows what the hell a USAT card looks like and can get people moving.  Or maybe add 2 or 3 additional old bats who don't know what a USAT card looks like.

[/quote]

Totally uncalled for. Bring a chair, sit on the ground, go the day before or later in the day. That "OLD BAT" volunteered her time to be there and without her, their is no race. You should thank her and kiss her on the cheek. She took a minute and a half looking at your card, OMFG. You stood for a half hour in line, she stood all daylooking at ungrateful peoples cards.

I can really seeing that ruining your race. 

Sheldon




[/quote]

Stop acting so offended.  You act as though I shoved this lady to the ground and spit on her (after kicking her in the ribs).  I never said this "ruined my race" - you did.  The long line and wait did not bother me.  I was simply telling the others who posted that the line was long that SHE was the reason for the holdup.  And this is a suggestion thread - my suggestion is to get someone else or add more people to the USAT card check.  As far as the "old bat" comment is concerned - that was uncalled for - you are correct.  But I highly doubt she is spending her time right now reading up on the GCT forums.  And yes Sheldon - I DID thank her!  I thank every volunteer I come in contact with.  In every race.  You read way too deeply into my comment and made a few a##umptions of your own - like that I was ungrateful of the volunteers.  It's sad that I have to stop and re-read each post I make to be sure I don't upset sensitive people like you. 

[ktri]

BeeHunter...goodness you are pretty unforgiving...I hope you never make anyone mad or slow any one down... She was nice and she did check my card pretty good, but that should be the LEAST of your worries on race weekend...are you there for a fast packet pick up or a race.. 

THANK YOU to ALL the volunteers... I LOVE that there was so much support from the senior community down there... LOVE it...  They have so much to offer us younger folks in every aspect of life.  Learn to treat them with respect.  They are our living history...