HITS Triathlon Series: Ocala - Half Iron Course - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

Since the visibility is not great because it's still early I would have loved more buoys. But I will say that the swim is in a nice clear lake and it was very nice. The wet suit strippers were a good bonus.

I should have done a better warm up. I stopped and bobbed a bit just after the start to catch my breath.

The transition area is very nice. It is in a parking lot so running in bare feet is ... ouchie but not a big deal.

The roads were wet but I wish I had been more confident at the start. I won't do this race again because of the bike to be honest.

No issues with transition. It is pretty much their claim to fame and I will say it is nice.

Honestly I thought this run course was a bit of a mess. It's two loops which is fine but part of it is trail and you share part with the cyclists and the cars. There's no cheering except at the end. I dunno I just didn't like it.

I would have carried my own water.

I finished and went to get some food. When I finished it was really just water and chips and bagels. There was hot food but it wasn't going to be out till much later. That was a bummer.


I'm okay with my performance. I wish I had run faster. I was very hot on the run and I didn't have enough water.


I am only writing this review to be the contrary opinion. But I want to post this because I don't actually feel that safety on the bike course is a "frill." Every 70.3 I've done has been on roads open to traffic but this is the only one where I've had an issue and it's something that I feel the race director should address in future years. Also running out of water on a run course is something I can never understand - it just doesn't seem that complicated to make sure you have enough water (300 racers 2 cups at each stop = xx amount of cups/water/ice). I assume I was just a little unlucky in my timing at these water stops because otherwise it would be in other reviews. Which is okay it wasn't a disaster or anything. But, I will not do this race again - sorry. For those that choose this race be prepared to be very "on your own."