Pinehurst tri

It looks like they got the directions messed up. If you go to the "Course Maps" tab it will give you a better idea of the location.

You may want to send them a note about that, as the packet pickup will not be at InsideOut but at the race site. I've been pleasantly surprised at how quickly they respond when stuff like this is brought to your attention.

The race is just outside Southern Pines, NC. If you do a mapquest search for Lake Pinehurst along with Southern Pines you should be able to find it ok.

Not sure if this will come through, but here goes anyway.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Southern+Pines&state=NC&cat=lake+...

OMG - I get lost every freakin' year on my way to this race. Google maps always sends me the wrong way, and the race site does not have good directions. I'd love it if someone could post the way.

Ah, good, so I was right to be confused and not just a dufus. Thanks for the input. I'll shoot SetupEvents an email.

This will be my first olympic distance tri ... any tips/pointers about this course?

It's hilly. Practice hills. And then practice hills some more.

That's for the bike and run. The swim course is flat.

Actually it is a fun race. It is the end of the season and a lot of the people are pretty laid back as they are finishing out the year. There are a few that are trying for NCTS points and they are pushing hard.

The two years I've done it they had a local group that provides servings of red beans and rice post race. Man, that stuff hits the spot!

This is my favorite race venue. It's such a pretty lake, very clean water. The swim is a beach start, so you have to run from the beach into the water. One of the few races like that. I think it's fun. Never much of a chop at this race. Wetsuit legal (the past two years anyway).

The bike is rolling hills, nothing worse than I have around here in Chapel Hill. I see you did Triangle. It'll be maybe just a tiny a bit hillier than that, but nothing to worry about. Not much traffic on race day.

The run is gentle rolling hills, no bad hills, just gentle rollers. I love this run because it's all around the lake, nice and shady, all blacktop (no cement - easier on joints). And it's just one lap. I don't like two lap runs, mentally they seem more difficult.

This is a big race, 800 race cap. So, the lines for packet pickup and chip, body marking, etc, will be long. So, get there early. If you can find the place!

The past two years, I'd planned to get there as early as possible, and followed the google maps directions to the marina (which are bad). Both years, I ended up driving around until I find a car with a bike on it, and then follow them, hoping that they are going to the right place! I did find it and arrived plenty early both years. It's easier going home, because I just follow cars back to the main hiway. I never was smart enough to note how they went, tho. Or maybe just too tired to think of that after a race.

Also, because of the size of this race, the transition area is BIG. So, make sure you can find your bike in T1 and T2. I had a bright orange marker on my rack, but still had trouble finding it last year! So, I learned to also make note of which general lane I am in.

I don't recall the bike course being too crowded, even with the larger race size. I don't like crowded bike courses, as that slows me down!!!

Well, that's all I can think of.

Edit: I see two other people just posted about the hills on this course. I guess I am lucky to train in Chapel Hill. Most races are less hilly than I train on. Except, Duke 1/2. That bike course is about as hilly, and that run course is hellier (not a typo)!!!

Edited by keyone 2008-07-29 9:10 PM

Directions to the marina:

Approaching Pinehurst/Southern Pines on Hwy 1.

Take the Midland Road Exit heading West.

You will reach a roundabout. The first 'exit' is 15/501 North, the next is 211 and the next is 2 to Pinehurst. Take this 3rd exit/right turn. You are still on Midland.

2/Midland is a windy road. It becomes Palmetto then Azalea then Cherokee Road as it winds around. It ends at 5/Beulah Hill Road.

Turn left onto 5/Beulah Hill Road. Follow 5 for about 2 miles. You'll see a watertower, Food Lion then a Hess gas station on your right - these are your landmarks to let you know you are approaching Linden Road. Linden Road is poorly marked - it is the first right after the Hess station. There is a white building at this corner (right side of street) called CaddyShack Antiques. Turn right on Linden Road.

Follow Linden Road for about 2 miles. You will see nothing but woods on the left and  houses on the right. You'll see the marina to your right. Turn right on Burning Tree Road. At the stop sign, turn right again (on Diamond Head Drive). The marina is about 50 yards up the road on your left.

 

Edited by Renee 2008-07-29 10:00 PM

Thank You!!! I look forward to not getting lost this year!

Any reason not to go thru Carthage instead of thru Vass and Southern Pines? Google maps shows I should take 15-501 thru Carthage, which would take me to the traffic circle you talk about, then I could follow your directions from there. Thanks!