Swim
Comments: I'm glad that I remembered that after getting under the bridge, the water temperature drops very noticeably -- like take your breath away noticeably! I was pleased with this swim. I passed some people in the waves in front of me. This swim was about 15 minutes faster than when I did this same event in 2010. What would you do differently?: Continue training Transition 1
Comments: 5th of 15 in my age group for the transition. I felt like I may have wasted some time getting the wetsuit off, getting some of the grass off my feet and getting my shoes on but overall this was OK. Bike
Comments: I was glad that I previewed the course on Friday. The first and last two miles have the most grade to them but the entire section from the lake to the stoplight at 276 is rough and the flat sections here are really false flats. I waited until crossing 276 just after mile 6 to take on much water. I also had a Honey Stinger Waffle about there. This segment went well for me. I a lot of people on the bike and the only two people who passed me, well, I passed them back ;-) In terms of remembering the course for next time, hilly until the first stop light at 276. Ride hard until the second stop light. There are several turns through Canton and a road with two speed bumps. The road is less smooth as we head back south on 215. Ride hard until the school. Shortly after the school there are a few turns and we are on 276 for a block or so. Then the road is more narrow, more rough and more uphill. When you see the Sunburst Trout sign, you are at the last and steepest uphill section. Then there is a short downhill where you can catch your breathe a bit before transition. What would you do differently?: Continue riding! Transition 2
Comments: I thought that this went well but I was 8th of 15 in my age group for this transition. What would you do differently?: I didn't feel that I wasted any time here. Clearly other people were faster though. Run
Comments: I like this run course a lot! It goes from the Lake Logan property, part of a Clean Water Management Trust Fund conservation easement, and into the Shining Rock Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest. On the way out, I heard gunshots! I could not think of anything that was in season but still, gunshots on the run course is a bit disconcerting. Then I passed a shooting range and realized it was fine. The turnaround on the run is by the Sunburst campground and picnic area in Pisgah (named for the sunburst trout in the area). I want to hire the volunteer that was there, the one that we were supposed to run around. She was jumping up and down for every single runner and yelling, "Aren't you happy?! It's all downhill from here!" And I was happy. And it was downhill. Nice negative split! What would you do differently?: Pick up the pace more in the last two miles? Post race
Warm down: Kevin and Emma met me at the finish line. They had water at the finish lines. Water, sodas, subs, chips, pita, humus and cookies were there for participants and there were lots of picnic tables. It was a nice atmosphere with a lot of camaraderie. Fun! Event comments: I'll definitely do this race again when it fits into the schedule! Last updated: 2013-03-18 12:00 AM
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United States
Set Up Events
64F / 18C
Overcast
Overall Rank = 166/282
Age Group = F 45-49
Age Group Rank = 4/15
We drove up to the race site on Friday. When we got to the Asheville area, we decided to head to the event site. I wanted to refresh my memory of the course and the layout of the area so off to Lake Logan we went. After checking out the swim and transition areas, we drove the bike course, went to check in and then headed to the hotel in Waynesville.
Pre-event meal at the Tipping Point Tavern. I can now say for certain that I've lived in the Raleigh area for too long. I had a pulled pork sandwich and it never even occurred to me that it would not be eastern North Carolina style.
I got up at 4:45 to leave for the site at 5:15. The RD wanted us on site at 5:45. I got up, dressed and had a bagel with peanut butter along with a banana and a water bottle. We fed and pottied Emma and we were off to the site.
It was 64 and overcast at the start and 74 and sunny at the end of the race.
After hauling the equipment to the transition area, setting up, getting body marked, picking up my chip, and waiting in the porta pot line, I went for a short run. Pretty soon after that, it was time to pull on my wetsuit walk across the bridge to the dock for swim start. I did this race once before and this time I was prepared with old swim sandals for the walk. When we got to the dock, I handed the sandals to Kevin. They RD talked to us a bit and we had a chance to get into the very brisk water (67 degree) for a few minutes before the first wave went off at 7:00. Naturally I was in wave 6 -- yes, the last one!