Bearathlon - Triathlon

Swim went good. I got a slow start because everyone created a mass of humanity going to the first marker so that slowed me down.. I had a little trouble going straight against the current. Volunteers help you out.

Not much

Good transition I guess

More bidyglide

Well, I was last in my age group because I did an extra 1.2-1.4 miles on a very bad road. I also spent my last lap wondering if I should cut the course when I hit 12 miles, I could have turned down, or suck it up and do the extra one. I ended up sucking it up.

Triple check what the loops were supposed to be.

I thought I was very smart having my transition spot right at the "entrance" to transition. Well, they put us it in the back so I had extra running.

The person next to me racked his bike the "opposite" way than we had them and he did it in my spot. I had to move his bike to rack mine and then I got my spokes caught his pedals. I also know his bike didn't pass mine and he started after me. I wonder if I was not the only person that was sent the wrong way on the bike path.

I had trouble putting my socks on. The race website said "no towels". However, that was only for the draft legal course.

Nothing

Since I still didn't see my family, they never made due to traffic, my mind was distracted and I was off the pace of 7:30/mile that I planned. Also, since I essentially gave up on the bike course, I decided not to push myself too hard.

Run harder

Spent 30 minutes trying to figure out where my family was.


The volunteer sending me down a poorly paved road for an extra 1.2-1.4 miles which messed with me mentally. I did the math later with garman and it cost me 4 min (in part due to going slow on the bad road)


The location of the course is beautiful. Swim in the Marina (I think there is a view of SF but I didn't really look), then bike and run with views of San Francisco. The breeze was light for the course so it should have been a perfect day. The volunteers were numerous and very energetic.. It was also nice to see the enthusiasm of the college teams.

However, the organization left something to be desired. I had issues with transition opening 45-50 minutes late, lack of clarity on the website, not being able to warm up, and not being sure what the course was for the bike ride. This combined with lack of real announcements before the race (such as, do 3 bike loops this way and 2 run loops this way). Lastly, Berkeley apparently messed up and didn't do traffic warnings or anything.

I exchanged emails with the race director, who is a volunteer. The delays were apparently caused by USTA wanting things done different for the draft legal race and that had a snowball effect on timing. The race website was designed the first year where there was only a draft legal race and in year 2 the open race was small. Therefore, they were unaware of the websites shortcomings and they promised to update/make it more clear. Aside from lack of directions for the bike or run course, the rules were only for draft legal which set up confusion in transition. They said they took my comments to heart and would pass on the need to make changes for the people in charge next year.

Apparently I didn't hear the announcements about race starting. That too I think was because the race was larger. It seemed that messages were spread to the teams but that left individual racers like myself in the lurch.