Comments: This is IM's first event in Oregon to my knowledge and the course did a great job of showcasing what makes our area of the state awesome--the river, the wine country and valley farmlands with mountains visible in the distance on both sides, quiet riverside trails winding through woods and meadows. I like that much of the run was on dirt/gravel roads. That being said, there are a few logistics that need cleaning up!
The river swim was fun and fast, but the start logistics were a mess. With that size of field, and possibly pandemic concerns, they need to change the set-up. We were crowded together, some people for over two hours, on a narrow bike path, going down a ramp two by two like a really poorly managed Noah's ark boarding. Having to cross and then re-cross the river and pass through a very shallow area of rapids (about 6 inches deep) frightened and confused a lot of OWS novices. As I was swimming toward buoy #1, I saw it was moving. Thought it was current at first and then realized
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