Stonebridge Ranch Tri ??

I'll just be out there cheering this year, but I've done it a couple of times.  I liked it.

• It's nice to have a race on our side of town (don't have to get up as early.)
• The hills in the terrain (both bike and run) are nice compared to so many of the flatter courses.
• The swim is open-water, so even the Sprint swim is a solid 700-800m.
• The lake is fairly sheltered b.c of the hills, so no chop/waves.  A good first open-water race.
• Getting to transition requires run, including a big downhill section.  Last time I did it, transition was set so that everyone ran the same distance through it.  However, it made for a pretty confusing moment when you had to run around the back of transition, then back to the outside of the racks before actually entering transition.  make sure you listen to the pre-race briefing.
• I did prefer the old bike course (it was 'plus'-shaped and went up to near 380 on Stonebridge Ranch).  Really let you see a lot more people on the course; though this also made it a bit more crowded.  New course isn't as technical -- a big square.
• Decent playground at the race site is useful to entertain the younger spectators a bit.  (As is the McDonalds right down the street to get breakfast.)
• Know the course.  A lot of running race happen in that area, and the ground may be marked for other races.  Don't just follow any arrows on the ground or you may end up running longer/shorter for your race.

Really? I never thought so.  Like most lakes in this area, there is no real visibility beyond your own arm.  However, it never seemed dirty or had algea, etc. that I noticed.

Make sure you wear tinted goggles. Heading back to shore is directly into the sun.

I'm in for the Oly--4th year for me too!  Hmmmmm

 Hey Jeepfleeb...what is up with that?

Me 'n Kevin will be officiating.........so be on your best behavior.

G

Unfortunately, you can't OWS in this lake anytime prior to the race.  It's a private, community lake (read: trespassing), plus there is limited access to good entry/exit points.

Doesn't mean there aren't other OWS opportunities around.  I swim fromRockledge Park at Grapevine occasionally.

For those doing the race, good news if you have a wetsuit. Got an email from Staci, water temp yesterday was a wetsuit legal 78.

Looking at the 10 day forecast of highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 50s, I can only assume that it's going to get cooler by race day.

Of course it will be wetsuit legal that's because I don't have one. Well I guess I just have to swim faster in order to stay warm.  

Another one here without a wetsuit. I actually had one and sold it this Spring

I rode 2 loops on the bike course yesterday and it certainly felt fast. There is one sizable hill that is immediately following a turn, so you really can't carry any momentum into it. Other than that, it seemed real fast. I didn't have my Garmin, so I used my watch for time and the BT route tracker for distance. It maps about 1/4 mi short per loop.

I'm really getting pumped for this race!

I don't know the exact distance, but it's not very much. Remember that before the hill on Ridge you are going uphill on Virginia too. So other than the small stretch on the driveway to get on the road, you are uphill from the start.