Bassman Fall International Distance Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Much of the course was shallow enough to stand up, with the bottom being a mixture of sand, weed bed, and dead logs. The water was mostly clear and the bootom usually visible. This made it easier to swim straight but also allowed some swimmers to stop and stand up right in front of me. Also with many swim-walkers the weed beds got ripped up and the water, which was perfectly clear the day before had alot more floating vegitation.
Overall the swim was the typical OWS full contact swim.

Time incluses a run up the baech and around to the back side of transition. Overall time was not terrible but can still be improved.

Run to bike faster, learn to jump on bike at a run.

Overall a nnice course, although with some rough pavement. Shaded and flat. Headwind on the way outbut I think I did fairly well into the wind. On the return I backed off alittle letting the wind help and saving a little for the run. Only a handful of people passed me and I passed lots (the sole benifit of being a really slow swimmer) Many HIM racers returning as I was going out and going out for thier second loop as I was returning. Kept the course interesting exchanging waves/encouragement with fellow TeamZ'ers.

On the return passed a large peleton (~10 bikes) headed back out. They were obviously HIM racers but still upsetting to see such blatent cheating.

I felt I should have been faster on a course like this but can't really point to anything in particular that would have made me faster, ecept of course T.I.T.S.

First let me say that the racks were too close together. Now I into T2 and the guy who had the spot inboard of me but on the opposite side decided it would be faster for him to park his bike on my side. So this did two things. His bike lined up directly with the bike in the next rack leaving about 6 inches for me to get my bike through and his bike was park right over the top of my gear. I had to lift my bike over his to rack it, then twisted his bike out of the way to get to my gear. Apparently he must have been doing a relay because he was sitting at the side of transition sipping on a bottle while I was doing this. He then came over th move his bike while I was getting ready to run. I sure hope I didn't interfer too much with his rest and recovery with all my racing.

Still damn slow and I can't point to any one thing that eats up the time just need to get faster/more efficient

Got of the bike and started running at a good pace for me, but that pace kept getting slower and slower, finally getting to a pace I culd finish the race with although much slower than I'd hoped, it was what it was. Overall a good course, nicely shaded, and well marked, so i never really wondered which way to go even though the course crossed itself many times.

Run fitness still not where it should be, a winter a run centic training should help.

Walked around, relived the race with fellow TeamZ'ers and reydrated.


First the Negatives:
- Before the race two bike racks collapsed. During the race when a HIM racer put her bike on the rack (eighth and final bike on that rack) it to broke. Most of the rack sagged significantly with a full load of bikes on them.
- Although there were an adequate number of volunteers they were mostly inexperienced (most coming from a city teen organization) leading to some minor problems. For example, bike flagman standing in the line of the turn, aid stations not quite having the water/accelerade balance quite right.
- Not enough course marshalls, but one for a small tri seems to be typical.
- Transition Security: Altough they checked the bike when I entered, requiring that I put the number on the bike before I took it in, after the race there was noone checking when removing the bike.

The positives
- Swim: Better water clarity than most tris I've done. Large, easy to spot swim bouys.
- Bike: If you like flat and fast (I do) a nice course. Almost a straight out and back so not very tecnical.
- Run: Shaded with adequate support.