I just booked the Plaza Motel for $65/night. Looks close to the race start and other hotel. Mostly good reviews on TripAdvisor. If I survive this swim I could probably sleep face down on the ground anyway,,,:)
I have a reservation at Guest House but may move if it is sold out. I don't hear very well but I really don't want to have to worry about a drunken wedding party, convention or kids sports team making noise all night before the swim.
Rumor has it that LBJ takes all of the ice as well.
I can't get in to the Guest house! Have tried a few times over the last couple of months...will try some others..
It's probably the Australian accent - they likely think you're a terrorist.
The Plaza Motel is actually a tiny bit closer than the Guest hotel to the start (an easy walk or kangaroo hop) and there were several people in the race last year who said they stayed there and had no problem. Of course, none of them were terrorists, either, so your mileage may vary.
I haven't booked yet. I couldn't organize a 3 house paper route and usually end up doing everything last minute.
And yes, all the ice is MINE, MINE, MINE!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
It looks from the event site thar like we've each been assigned crew, which is lovely. I'm assuming I won't be able to squeeze 12 hours of feeds onto a regular kayak so am thinking if getting one of those orange ISHOF inflatable things to tow behind the kayak with extra stuff in it. Anyone tried one of these?
It looks from the event site thar like we've each been assigned crew, which is lovely. I'm assuming I won't be able to squeeze 12 hours of feeds onto a regular kayak so am thinking if getting one of those orange ISHOF inflatable things to tow behind the kayak with extra stuff in it. Anyone tried one of these?
I don't think you need to do that. Last year they had a resupply point at about 14 (?) miles and took stuff up to that place for you. I had about 6 or so hours worth in the kayak and then picked up the rest at the resupply point. Since you are driving (I think), bring a cooler for the resupply point - I had to go out and buy one at the last minute.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
@ChickenOSea, @timsroot, @IronMike, et al -
Call me a punk, but I've had to cancel my END-WET participation. I'm having some stomach bleeding like that which almost (literally) killed me 2 weeks after END-WET last year. I decided that it would be both selfish and irresponsible of me to try this and, if I had another serious bleed during the race, endanger someone's else life in dragging me out. I also had to cancel out of 8 Bridges for that reason. Sorry to be the Judas Goat and lead you into this and then duck, but... Hope to meet you all some other time, like at the 3C swim in September if I heal enough.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Leonard, sorry to hear about your stomach. I've had stomach issues of my own over the last few years, but thankfully nothing that bad. Hope it heals up soon enough.
My ride had something come up, so they won't be able to make it until a bit later now. My flight is scheduled to fly into Grand Forks and land just before 11PM. I have a room booked at the Guesthouse. Will anyone there have vehicular accomodations who can help cart me around, at least back from the airport and to the start line on Saturday? Thanks.
@Leonard_Jansen, I totally signed up for this because of you. I'll curse you every mile. But, still wish you a speedy recovery and am sorry for your stomach woes. Can't you come watch and host a post-party or something? @timsroot- if you don't get an airport escort lined up, hang tight and we'll be there at midnight to pick you up.
Good luck to everyone that I suckered..errr.... convinced to do this. You WILL have a good time, you WILL make it and you WILL feel like the biggest studette/stud after you do!
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
I signed up of my own accord...packed and ready to drive up tomorrow. Looking forward to it, except unhappy that Leonard and IronMike won't be there. I'll be swimming with a disposable waterproof camera. I think.
@Leonard_Jansen you didn't tell me that there was mini golf in the lobby here at the guest house!?!? That is critical information i should have known about
Good swim. I wouldn't call it easy at all, but putting the river near flood stage makes it as easy as possible. The winner and second place were somewhere just under 7 hours, the top 10, I think, were all under 8 hours. Our push was somewhere around 2 mph, which helped a lot.
Near the end of my race, I had the luxury of following the canoe being paddled by Martin Strel. I'm pretty sure I got faster at that point. My paddler did a good job, but I'd have preferred my wife had enough vacation to come paddle for me. Oh well.
I loved this swim! I finished in lucky 13th place with 8:01. If I'd had a watch I would have pushed it a little harder to break 8 hours, but no regrets. This is a fantastic event with wonderful people. Swimming with a current is where it's at :-) Grand Forks is a great little college town with warm, friendly people. The race organizers and volunteers put on a fantastic weekend of fun. I especially enjoyed our meet-n-greet reception at the Harvest Bakery and watching the documentary on Martin Strel in the Firehouse theater. And, it was so nice to catch up with marathon swimmer friends and make new ones. This is a must-do event for people who want to see how long their shoulders will last.
Congrats to everyone, especially the ones foolish enough to listen to me and enter. Job well done!
Now I can say it: "Neener, neener, neener - told ya so!"
-LBJ
P.S. @timsroot - Sorry about not mentioning the indoor mini-golf. I wanted to leave something as a surprise. Also, did you get one of the bakery's semi-sweet, sea salt chocolate chip cookies? I thought that might be a good surprise too, even though I suspect they lace those things with crack - God, they are GOOD.
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
P.S. @timsroot - Sorry about not mentioning the indoor mini-golf. I wanted to leave something as a surprise. Also, did you get one of the bakery's semi-sweet, sea salt chocolate chip cookies? I thought that might be a good surprise too, even though I suspect they lace those things with crack - God, they are GOOD.
I'm not a really big chocolate chip cookie guy, but the snicker doodles were really good.
Also, did you get one of the bakery's semi-sweet, sea salt chocolate chip cookies? I thought that might be a good surprise too, even though I suspect they lace those things with crack - God, they are GOOD.
Oh.My.Goodness those cookies were the best I've ever had! Must be made by Angels because they are so heavenly!
Comments
Rumor has it that LBJ takes all of the ice as well.
It's probably the Australian accent - they likely think you're a terrorist.
The Plaza Motel is actually a tiny bit closer than the Guest hotel to the start (an easy walk or kangaroo hop) and there were several people in the race last year who said they stayed there and had no problem. Of course, none of them were terrorists, either, so your mileage may vary.
I haven't booked yet. I couldn't organize a 3 house paper route and usually end up doing everything last minute.
And yes, all the ice is MINE, MINE, MINE!!!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Damn. That's a lot less than I paid. But at least I'm getting to go.
I'd enjoy the drive, I think, but I don't have enough vacation for two days up plus two days back
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
It looks from the event site thar like we've each been assigned crew, which is lovely. I'm assuming I won't be able to squeeze 12 hours of feeds onto a regular kayak so am thinking if getting one of those orange ISHOF inflatable things to tow behind the kayak with extra stuff in it. Anyone tried one of these?
I don't think you need to do that. Last year they had a resupply point at about 14 (?) miles and took stuff up to that place for you. I had about 6 or so hours worth in the kayak and then picked up the rest at the resupply point. Since you are driving (I think), bring a cooler for the resupply point - I had to go out and buy one at the last minute.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
I have one of those orange ISHOF thingies if you want to borrow it. When do you leave? Coming out to lake to swim before?
Call me a punk, but I've had to cancel my END-WET participation. I'm having some stomach bleeding like that which almost (literally) killed me 2 weeks after END-WET last year. I decided that it would be both selfish and irresponsible of me to try this and, if I had another serious bleed during the race, endanger someone's else life in dragging me out. I also had to cancel out of 8 Bridges for that reason. Sorry to be the Judas Goat and lead you into this and then duck, but... Hope to meet you all some other time, like at the 3C swim in September if I heal enough.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
http://www.shoreswim.com/
A 15 mile swim around Cape May, NJ on 14 September. It's put on by Jason Malick of this forum.
Thanks all for the good thoughts.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
My ride had something come up, so they won't be able to make it until a bit later now. My flight is scheduled to fly into Grand Forks and land just before 11PM. I have a room booked at the Guesthouse. Will anyone there have vehicular accomodations who can help cart me around, at least back from the airport and to the start line on Saturday? Thanks.
My flight gets in Thursday night. I should have specified. Sorry.
@timsroot- if you don't get an airport escort lined up, hang tight and we'll be there at midnight to pick you up.
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
We'll see how or turns out.
http://notdrowningswimming.com - open water adventures of a very ordinary swimmer
Near the end of my race, I had the luxury of following the canoe being paddled by Martin Strel. I'm pretty sure I got faster at that point. My paddler did a good job, but I'd have preferred my wife had enough vacation to come paddle for me. Oh well.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
100% over two years is pretty impressive for this swim especially considering there was no qualifying requirement other than signing up.
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
Now I can say it: "Neener, neener, neener - told ya so!"
-LBJ
P.S. @timsroot - Sorry about not mentioning the indoor mini-golf. I wanted to leave something as a surprise. Also, did you get one of the bakery's semi-sweet, sea salt chocolate chip cookies? I thought that might be a good surprise too, even though I suspect they lace those things with crack - God, they are GOOD.
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
I'm not a really big chocolate chip cookie guy, but the snicker doodles were really good.
I don't think they've put official results up yet. Karen Zemlin won in 6:58, with Jen Schumacher 3 seconds behind. All starters finished.
Oh.My.Goodness those cookies were the best I've ever had! Must be made by Angels because they are so heavenly!
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2013/07/an-adventure-like-no-other-in-mighty.html?m=1
http://www.endracing.com/node/119
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jV9pS5r5oFv5xiYn5KoGZqQ-7-dabN6l03yyJ0SOS3Q/mobilebasic?pli=1