| Picking the right accommodations for your race can | | | | accommodations with contact information etc. The |
| have a positive impact on your Ironman experience. | | | | best method I ever came up with personally was to |
| Here are five important tips to consider when | | | | phone the chamber of commerce of the particular |
| choosing that all important place to stay. | | | | city(pretty well every town or city has one). You'll |
| (1) Be sure to book early. The longer you wait to | | | | get a real live person who actually lives in the area |
| book the less options you leave yourself. Often | | | | and you can tell them exactly what you're looking |
| rooms are booked a year ahead of time. Athletes | | | | for. They will also have all the phone numbers for |
| who know there is a good chance they may return | | | | you. |
| to the same race the next year, will re-reserve a | | | | (4) Find a motel with full kitchen facilities. Avoid hotel |
| room before they leave town. Even if you're not | | | | rooms unless its your only option. |
| entirely positive you'll be ready to race the following | | | | A fully equipped kitchenette will have a stove, fridge |
| year, book anyway. Even if a deposit is required its | | | | and all the dishes, pots and pans and utensils. Its |
| normally 100% refundable if you give them fair | | | | absolutely the best way to go for an Ironman |
| notice. Its not usually a problem at an Ironman | | | | competition. Also, the are often less expensive than |
| venue, because they know there will always be | | | | the fancy hotels. With a kitchenette unit, you can |
| someone else to take the room. | | | | just go shopping at the nearest supermarket when |
| (2) Location, location, location. This is very important. | | | | you arrive and basically be able to stay with the diet |
| You want to try and get just the right distance | | | | you are used to. Personally, I think its a far better |
| away from the race start/transition area. Often there | | | | and safer option than eating restaurant food three |
| will be a hotel listed as the race headquarters. Most | | | | times a day. You just never know for sure what |
| likely that's where registration will take place and at | | | | you're eating. Also, you have a refrigerator to keep |
| most IM races, this hotel will be right beside the race | | | | your drinks cool and in between meal snacks fresh. It |
| start area. You definitely should try avoid staying at | | | | really is the very best option. |
| that location for a few reasons. First of all, it will be | | | | (5) Try and make sure you are not right on the |
| very, very expensive. It will also be very, very busy. | | | | Ironman course. This can make it difficult to return to |
| Its simply too close to the action and hype. | | | | your lodging after the race. For the most part the |
| By the same token, don't book so late that you end | | | | roads will be closed until the last few entrants have |
| up staying outside of town. Its just not convenient | | | | reached the finish. try and be at least 2 or 3 blocks |
| for registering, the expo, and carbo and awards | | | | either side of the main course. When you arrive at |
| dinners. Also, you don't want a drive so far, that you | | | | your choice of lodging, be sure to take practice |
| have to worry about car problems causing you to be | | | | drives (if you have a car there) down to the main |
| late getting to the race start. Don't leave anything to | | | | transition area. Decide ahead of time where you plan |
| chance. I would say the perfect distance would be | | | | to park on race morning. Once again, stay away |
| about a 15-20 minute walk. That would make it about | | | | from the main course as you may find that you can't |
| an 8 minute bike ride or around 5 minutes by car if | | | | get out after the race. Leave for the check-in and |
| you're driving. That way you're close to everything, | | | | numbering on race morning as early as possible. The |
| but still have a bit of buffer zone from all the hype. | | | | prime parking spots will be gone very early. If you're |
| (3) Remember that by going to the host IM website | | | | in short walking distance, (15-20 minutes) you have |
| for accommodation information, you will most likely | | | | nothing to worry about. Try and avoid walking to |
| only be given a few options. Often they will give you | | | | much further than that, as you will have your bike |
| a list of expensive hotels and if at all possible you | | | | and all your gear to haul after the race. It would be |
| should try and avoid staying in a hotel room. A better | | | | ideal if you had someone to help you out after the |
| option is to key the the name of the race venue into | | | | race. |
| Google. For instance "Penticton accommodations" if | | | | Ultimately, planning ahead will make your Ironman |
| you're going to Ironman Canada. Or "Kona | | | | experience all that much better. Make the choices |
| accommodations" if you're going to Hawaii. This | | | | that will make your stay stress free and enable you |
| should bring up a better variety of available | | | | to concentrate on the race itself. |