Discussion: Event hotel and Sprints

Hi all, some updates before they are published for those eager for action. Why isn't there official information? (1) We were badly burned this year for "advertising without a final permit", and don't want that to happen again. (2) Sprint venues were in flux, but have converged; one more decision to make.

Update 1: Event hotel: Clarion Hotel Concord. Go ahead and book. OUSA rate is $59.50 plus tax, refundable. There is a cheaper nonrefundable rate of $56. Although these may seem low, this is a higher-class place, this particular property typically discounts heavily in the spring. The pool is a heated outdoor pool; I will check if it'll be open that weekend. There is no restaurant in the hotel, but there are places two blocks away in the Willows Shopping Center, same center as the Road Runner Sports. There are conference rooms and we will book some of them. The BART station is 3.5 km away (no connecting bus, sorry).

Update 2: Sprints: Backstreet Boy has found a fantastic new venue and the only remaining question is whether both Sunday Sprints will be at this venue, or just the "regular" Sprint and the Sprint Relay will still be as planned at the other new venue. (The other new venue is too small for two Sprints.) Both are in Oakland. The complicating factor is Oakland Marathon on the same day, so the 8 km or so between venues may be faster walked than driven (BART is somewhat of an option).

We were badly burned this year for "advertising without a final permit", and don't want that to happen again.

Didn't that only involve one landowner -- whose lands will not be used for any RBD races?

There is now a similar policy on the books for East Bay Regional Parks District, on the properties of which two of the events are based.

Doh! I think you just blew it!

Proposed events.

Let's hope this idiotic policy doesn't spread beyond the Bay Area..

Should we keep the sprint venue secret !?

I wrote them into the sanctioning app... I believe we're supposed to at least name the venue(s), so will reveal it/them once the webpage goes live.

Vladimir, people are starting to ask me about timing, and when they should plan to arrive and leave, particularly so we can coordinate rides. I'm probably going to suggest Friday morning arrival at the latest and Sunday flying out of Oakland or SFO at 2:30pm or later - is that too early?

There are two sprints on Sunday; only one will be used for JWOC selection races; can that be the first one so people can leave right after if necessary, to get back home in time for sleep Sunday night & school on Monday?

Yes to all.

Sounds like 2:30pm is not too early...

What I intended to say is that 2:30 pm is too early. Starts for the two Sprints will be something like 9:30 and noon, perhaps 11:30. We are always in this conundrum on the West Coast of people wanting to be on the East Coast before business starts on Monday. We want to advise right away not to plan on this. You may be able to catch the 3 pm nonstops, I see now that there is a 4:00 pm JFK nonstop, but if you have a connection, please do not plan on anything other than a redeye. There was too much pain five years ago in a similar situation to advise anyone to be able to catch the last non-redeye connecting flight.

Thanks!

I have made reservations for Will and me to take the red-eye to EWR out of SFO, departing SFO at 9:20 pm on Sunday night. If any juniors need a ride to SFO, they or their parents should feel free to contact me by e-mail.

Also, all three airports are within perfectly happy public transit reach from the Sunday venues, Oakland is the closest.

The marathon course is open 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Are the sprint venues inside or outside the marathon loop? I'm thinking more about difficulty getting to rather than from the sprint venues.

Rex here. I am planning on trials / out-of-towners start times to be 9:00 am to 10:00 am Sunday for the sprint, and 11:00 to 12:00 for the one-person-relay. Locals who are not trailing will get later starts if necessary. Does this work? Should I adjust it?

The sprint venue, Mills College, is outside the marathon loop. No problems there.

How do I book the Hotel to get the OUSA rate?

This page might help:

http://orienteeringusa.org/discounts

The link to the hotel with "Special Rate ID 00228560" in on the event website under "Travel and Accommodation".

Thank you guys

Vlad, the website says that Day1 registration and packet pickup will be at Road Runner sports in Concord from 10:30-1:30. First starts at 2 PM. Will I be able to register and get my packet at the meet site instead of the store in Concord (and still make my start)?

The objective is to give the store some business. If you show up at the start before stopping at the store, you will just start without your packet, or perhaps with the packet if the packet person gets there before you start. The only material thing in the packet is the race number (Ed is planning on printing personalized ones). It's perfectly fine to run through Black Diamond un-identified, but it's nicer with "EDDIE" :)