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END-WET 2013
Leonard_Jansen
Charter Member
Registration for this year's END-WET swim (26.7 miles in North Dakota), is now open.
Register here: http://www.endracing.com/end-wet
-LBJ
Register here: http://www.endracing.com/end-wet
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
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It is very reasonably priced at only $250, and well run by a great staff of passionate endurance athletes. The people of Grand Forks, ND and Oslo, MN are very kind - I promise you will not be disappointed. If I did not plan to be out of the country at the swim date, there is no doubt I would be back in North Dakota again!
www.darren-miller.com
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Also, this swim is the perfect opportunity for someone who wants to "stretch" their abilities in terms of distance/time. I say this because:
1) The water temperature is reasonable without lots of cold training. (You CAN wear a wetsuit if you really need to do so.)
2) The river is clean, gentle and there is a slight current.
3) Safety issues are addressed very well.
4) Race management, support people and participants were very supportive and fun - a mellow group and a happy camaraderie.
5) It seemed to go by very quickly. There was something almost hypnotic about the river/scenery and in the last mile I actually found myself wishing that it was another 10-15 miles in length.
6) Good community support.
7) Insanely-reasonably priced entry fee and staying there is relatively inexpensive.
In addition:
1) Last year they had a paddleboard clinic on the day after the race for anyone who wanted to try it. I discovered that I had NO aptitude whatsoever for paddleboarding.
2) I saw bald eagles during both the race and paddleboard clinic. ( I love to watch birds of prey.)
3) You get to meet me because I signed up for the 2013 race!!! (OK, most people would consider that a reason to avoid the race, but I promise to behave. Trust me.)
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Not really. More a question of money and vacation time. I'm excited to get married, but it's using up a lot of my vacation for the year, and in the first month of the year.
Unfortunately, she has even less vacation than I do. She's paddling for me the week before that in Vermont, though, and paddled for me in my 25k last year.
Based on Leonard's review of the swim last year, I'm still bouncing around the idea.
If you are a gambler, you COULD do it with as little as 1 vacation day off. Last year, I flew in on Thursday and left on Monday. I flew in on Thursday because I sometimes get motion sick when flying and wanted a day to recover if I did (I didn't, thank God.) I left on Monday because they push the race back to Sunday if there is bad weather on Saturday. However, you could fly in on Friday (I think Darren did this) and leave on Sunday if you are feeling lucky.
I'm just sayin' - not trying to cause a divorce here...
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
www.darren-miller.com
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
No divorce yet, the marraige doesn't start until a week from tomorrow...
If I went, I'd have the organization provide a kayaker for me. I had pretty good luck in the last 10k I swam, even though that guy hadn't paddled for anyone before that swim.
I haven't thoroughly researched flights, but the only way to get to Grand Forks with only one connection is to drive down to New Orleans (only an hour, not bad), but flights are still looking fairly expensive. Ideally, I could avoid a rental car, but I'm not sure how feasible that would be. I also am not sure how difficult it would be to get a hotel room. I doubt Oslo days draws a huge crowd, but that isn't a big town, so I don't know how much space they'd have anyway.
Still thinking the idea through, probably won't make a final decision until after I get back from the honeymoon.
"Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to spend their life in an institution?"
- Groucho Marx
Yes, a kayaker comes with the entry fee and I heard absolutely no complaints about anyone's kayaker.
The airport is a little ways out of town, but they may have a bus or shuttle - I don't know because I rented a car. At worst, if we could coordinate our schedules, I'd come get you - it's not really that far to the airport. Getting a hotel in Grand Forks is no problem. There are 2 good hotels (price approx $60-75/night) within a trivial walk to the starting line. If you decide to go, I can point them out to you. Forget about staying in Oslo - Grand Forks looks like New York City compared to Oslo. Besides, the race organizers provide transport back to GF from Oslo.
Good luck next weekend. Mazel Tov!
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Thanks. I'm excited for the weekend and the marraige. Some of my friends who are coming in, I haven't seen for a while. And I found an awesome woman that I feel very lucky to have.
Looked again at Expedia, and travel isn't too much worse than what I'll end up paying to go to Kingdom Swim the week before (probably a bit less, since Amanda can't come with me to North Dakota).
It's tempting. I'll see how I feel about it after the honeymoon.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
What about those of us who aren't on Facebook?
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
e*n**d*rac***i*n**g**a*t******g*m***a**i********l**d*o****t**c***o*m*****
zap the *'s
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Thanks, Leonard. The more I think about it, the more I want to do it. Do you know what they cap the field at? I don't remember hearing that they had to do that last year.
Last year the field was capped at 15 and they had 12 soloists and a few teams, if I remember right. In speaking with the race director last year, he said that he was thinking of a cap of 30 this year, but I have no idea if that is still his intention. It would be best to email him and ask in case he decided something else.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
I'd say Mandai is spot on in his analysis and it is likely that the current will be a bit stronger this year given the severity of the drought last year. Of course, who really knows. However, I'd be willing to stake money on you being able to finish in the time limit given the "right" mental approach. (The "right" mental approach is that immediately before the race, we shine a flashlight in one ear and if we can see it out the other ear, you're ready.) Worst that happens is that you swim much farther than you ever have before, bag it a bit early and come back next year with rage in your heart and crush the thing.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
I hope the weather cooperates this winter. I know it's the other side of the Laurentian Divide, but I know that the Mississippi in St. Louis is below their nominal 0 stage, and dropping. I think that the river is closed to commercial traffic, at least partially.
I'm thinking I'm going to end up signing up for this swim. Your review is a big part of the reason for that.
Likewise, if I sign up, it'll be because of his review. So I can blame @Leonard_Jansen if I hate it.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
How about we all stay in the same hotel so we can have a Forum Party night of?
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
JOIN US!
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
I'm in, too. I could be persuaded to do something like that. I've booked a flight, but not a car or hotel room yet.
Amanda -
You are REQUIRED to attend this race. There WILL be a quiz after it and it will count for 50% of your open water grade for 2013.
Besides, a new FINA rule says that no open water race will be recognized unless there is at least one Australian in it and other than Rondi, that means you.
If you need money, just sell the kid you like least for medical experiments.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
The two closest motels to the start and pre/post race activities are:
GuestHouse Inn
710 1st Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
(701) 746-5411
and
Plaza Motel
309 Demers Ave, East Grand Forks, MN
(218) 773-1179
I stayed at GuestHouse Inn (about $70/night) and it was fine. They have an indoor area around a small pool for hanging out, free wifi, etc. As an added bonus they didn't yell at me when I totally depleted the ice machines twice. Not sure about the Plaza Motel, but I heard it was reasonable as well.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Looking forward to the swim.
Molly Nance, Lincoln, Nebraska
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams