Races

Back to all races
Race Details Ratings 23 Reports 25

Race Reports for Black Bear Triathlon - Olympic Course

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I was VERY impressed with CGI's hosting and organization of this race! I have not done a race with them in a while and wasn't sure about them since they had to let the Northeast Tri go to Piranha Sports. So, I was quite pleased with nearly every aspect of the race and would give this more of a 4.5 race if I could rate it any higher. The things I liked about CGI's handling of the event was the concern for beginners/newbies during the swim and having a practice swim area for those that needed it. The bike course was marked appropriately with areas to pay attention to and there were plenty of volunteers. Good parking at the race site and lake was a pleasure to swim in. The finishing & AG medals were HUGE! I would've preferred a practical AG Award, though. And door prizes are always a nice touch. Post race food was decent too! One thing I really dislike is boxed cheap pizza right after an event and fortunately, post race food did not consist of that. I will say that for beginners,
read full report
[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: CGI racing challenged us to "dare the bear". And, what a challenge they threw out to us racers - challenging hills, descents with technical turns and a tough mudder type of run. The race wasn't easy but it definitely made any finisher smile to know they successfully completed the bear's dare. Aside from the weather being less than ideal, here is my list of things to improve on and things I loved. THINGS TO IMPROVE ON - Needed more buoys and lifeguards on the return portion of the swim -Main food at post-race was a small pasta salad tub. I was really hoping for pizza or a sandwich (something of substance) - Provide more seating for finishers - Better explain the run course ( I think many were surprised by the rugged terrain) THINGS I LOVED - THe volunteers. Especially the gentleman in T1 and T2 hollering for us to get a move on. i will never forget him. - The course - yes, it was hard. But, definitely prepared me for my harder races. -The medal and shirt - The scenery/views -
read full report
[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The post race food was frankly pretty weak, compared with other races. Maybe it's that I've done more HIM length races, so there's more food for longer distances, but the setup was for a single-pass (they mark your wristband). A small container of pasta salad, one cookie, and one mini muffin. I think there was some fruit also, and water. There was also some kind of yogurt parfait. Understanding they can't predict weather, but something hot would have been nice also. There was also some issue with timing, a lot of run splits were AFU, but the overall times seemed to be OK. I thought I had trophied for a bit, coming in 4th in my AG, however 1 and 2 in AG were 2 and 3 overall, so that would have moved me up to 2nd in AG. At least for a little while. Then the results updated, and my AG winner dropped to 6 or 7. Guess I need to train harder, this was a fast field! Overall, it was about what I figured I could do, given my training level and the conditions. And not crashing on
read full report
[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
read full report
[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Still love this race. CGI racing puts on a top notch event
read full report
[6]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: Great race, but very challenging, especially so early in the year. It wasn't really too hard, but I couldn't have done the half.
read full report
[7]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?No

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: This was my first triathlon. I was told that I picked a big one for my first, but I would not do it any other way. The volunteers were amazing. I think that I only finished because of them. Though I do not know why my chip did not record all of my splits.
read full report
[8]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is a good event, and I like that the organizers go out of their way to warn beginners of the dangers of open water swimming. The event is well organized, and everything runs on time. If I have any criticism, it's just that the expo really isn't one. For the way the rest of the event is run, it would be nice to have more than 1 vendor.
read full report
[9]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: 2 minutes faster PR achieved by gaining over 5 minutes in the swim, despite being off course, and better transitions offset by 1 extra minute on bike and 4 extra minutes in the run. Small, intimate race with stiff competition. The hills keep the less committed away. Very well run and a lot of fun.
read full report
[10]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Good race, challenging bike and great swimming venue as it's the nicest place to swim for any Tri. The post race activities and food were not as good this year compared to others. The food in general was limited which seems to be a problem with most Tri's.
read full report
[11]
Reported by:
Race rating (2)
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race is ok, but I've participated in nicer events. The expo consisted of only about 2 or 3 vendors. Post-race food wasn't great. In spite of the above, I'll probably do this race again next year, if only so I can make up for my weak performance this year, and also because Central PA TNT does this event.
read full report
[12]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Nice job by CGI as always in my opinion. I'll do this again and even pass up a race near my house for this one.
read full report
[13]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great event but I was surprised there was fan support anywhere on the bike course. With all these crazy hills and 3 intense climbs you would think there would be some locals cheering you on. Zero. I would do this again. Very challenging and rewarding event.
read full report
[14]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was my first CGI race. I had heard good things and they were all true. Every turn on the bike was clearly marked with multiple volunteers stopping traffic and directing the cyclists. The pre-race meeting the day before was to-the-point with course info. I was feeling a little ill afterwards, but what I had of the boxed lunch was very good. A bit disappointed there was no massage - really my only complaint - and I didn't stick around for the awards ceremony, so I can't comment on it. The tech t-shirt and medal rock! Both are some of the coolest I've seen. Tough course, but I think it will prep me well for the rest of the season, and I would definitely do this or another CGI event in the future.
read full report
[15]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was my first TRI. It was a mental challenge throughout staying on top of how much energy to use in each event. The swim takes effort to stay focused and in control more than the transition, bike and run.
read full report
[16]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: CGI Puts on Great Events! However, I was expecting a post race BBQ, instead we got a "hogie" with blogna and fatty italian meats. I ate it of course, but it wasn't good.
read full report
[17]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I gave my self a high mental effort just because I kept going. Wanted to pack it in after the bike just because of frustration and legs were exhausted
read full report
[18]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was a really good race, and I'm sorry I wasn't able to enjoy it more. With the problems I had, and then the fact that my son was miserable, and we needed to drive 10 hours home, it took something away from the experience. Maybe next year :)
read full report
[19]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: All subs were meat and pork based? I don't eat pork and there are plenty of vegitarians out there so this was a really crappy thing to do in my opinion... Otherwise great. Bike course was very well marked with signs and volunteers, especially at dangerous sections and curves, that was a definite plus.
read full report
[20]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: CGI puts on great races!
read full report
[21]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: We got a shirt, water bottle and finishers medal (I got a second medal and $25 gift cert to TriSports.com for winning the Athena category). The food was okay. It was a sub with a LOT of meat on it-which would have been fabulous if I wasn't a vegetarian. Got a package of Oreos and a granola bar and chocolate pudding. I was really surprised that there was no fruit there. I loooooved this course. It was GREAT! The organization was superb, the volunteers were fabulous! I just think the race was pricey. It was $120. Ouch. I would do the race again if it wasn't so damn expensive. Glad I did it, though!
read full report
[22]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great organization..CGI. For a crappy weather weekend, great race in my opinion.
read full report
[23]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: will def be back next year. feel I left way too much time on the bike out on the course.
read full report
Show Per page
 
 
of 1