endorfunsports.com

[keithjordan]

There's a good chance we'll have posters this year

[longspur]

cyclisto -

Most of us have no love lost for Active, so I'll grant you points for that one.

As for comparing costs of Moose and Timber with other half-irons, it's not quite as clear as your 20% number suggests. As the most egregious example, perhaps, is Moosey's direct competition that same weekend - Rev3 at Quassy. It starts out at $250 up through Dec. 1, then climbs to $265 until March 1, and tops out at $280 until May 1. By comparison, Mooseman 70.3 will be $225 until 12/31, then $250 until it closes.

But it gets even worse on the "undercard" for both events -- the olympic at Quassy and the international Moosey. Moosey is still well within acceptable limits for a race at the international distances, costing $100 until 12/31 and $125 until it fills. But Quassy! Sweet Mother of Mercy! It's $165 until 12/1, $180 until March 1, and $205 until May 1.

Yes, there are less expensive races out there than those in the 70.3 series. Without traveling too far from New England, you can enjoy a fabulous race at Musselman, and also relatively close are Tupper Lake, Half Vermont, and Pumpkinman.

But in general, the half-irons have tipped into the >$200 range, and for someone who is constrained by cost, that gets problematic. At least with Mooseman and Timberman, you KNOW that you will enjoy a first-class event, and that ultimately you will feel that the races are money well spent. (Well, not with my race-ending broken spoke at Mooseman '06!