9/21/08 Triathlon @ Lake Compounce

I did this race last year, so if you go into my race list you can find a report for it.  I think there are three other people who also did this race and wrote reports, and there will be a link from my report to see others who completed this race.

Anyway, if someone asked me what the best first timer race in the area was, this would be my suggestion.  A lot of people were first timers or casual (on hybrid bikes) but there were also some more serious types there.  The first timers got their own swim wave, and I would guess the swim was short, but I can't be sure.  The bike course is decent, and fairly flat.  I think the run course only had one serious hill that you did twice (in opposite directions).

That's pretty much all I can think of off the top of my head, but if you have specific questions you can ask here or in my blog and I will try to answer them for you.

..this looks like a good time..I'm doing Pat Griskus in July as my first & I'm excited about it...I'll have to check this one out though!

Hello all, i am a newbie to this sport and site, but i just signed up for this race today and it will be my first Triatlon!!!  Whoo hoo i am so excited!!! I bike pretty well and swim well, but i hate running, but it seems short so i figured i would give it a shot!!  hope to meet some of you all there!!!

Rudy

Good race, some timing issues, which I'm not sure are being fixed.  Other than the drafting, I enjoyed myself.  I believe Christris is the USAT official for the race this year, so hopefully he'll look out for it.

Where is the OLY that day??

I just figured I'd inject my .02 here.  I raced this race last year and it was a good race.  Well organized and a pretty easy course.  The swim is .3 miles from transtion but it's swept pavement and I didn't need shoes. 

The timing was a fairly big dissatisfier but if you rely on garmin, timex polar etc.... that will cover it.  Last year they had people standing around looking at the clock and asking your number rather than chips.  It wasn't as accurate as it could have been but such is life. 

As far as drafting goes... that was an issue because it was so blatant (peleton) on a looped course and it was FOP.  So everyone got to watch the pack fly by.  If you aren't 4th then it probably doesn't matter much what they are doing.  Unfortunately I just found out that I won't be officiating because they are not planning on using officials this year.  Regardless I imagine that things will go fine.

It's a good local race.  I hope you have as great a time as we did last year. 

Did they decide not to use officials because the individuals who received the drafting penalties are the RDs this year? 

 Is this race going to be a fiasco?  It is the culmination of my first year of tris and it would be a shame if this race is not fun.  Since I don't plan on coming in 4th I am not sure drafting matters to me but why would they even be allowed to have a "sanctioned race" if they have no officials? 

from the USAT Officials manual:  

n Regional, National Championships and USAT Grand Prix events must have referees.

n Referees are optional at all other races.

I doubt that they decided against officials because of their penalties.  They only got one a piece and none of them made any difference on the standings.  I wouldn't even speculate on they why's as there are a bunch of good reasons.  I doubt that it will be a "fiasco" as there are many races without officials and they go just fine.  Lake T is probably comparable (some weeks) and that's not an issue (no refs).  Frankly not having officials means you won't break a rule you didn't know about.  There is basically no way to avoid having fun with this race.  I am sure there will be plenty of BT'ers there and that usually makes for a good time.  Focus on the fun and this will fly by.    

Thanks.  I just wanted to make sure the race is not filled with head cases. (My experience with bikers riding in packs is that they think they are alot tougher than they are and try to run people down.  Which is fine by me since they will just hurt themselves and their 10,000 bike if they hit me.)  I did the WT series this year, which is obvious not sanctioned and that was great.

i am up for that, let me know, i can always use more run and swim time, hopefully my calf will be all healed up by that race, if not i will be walking the 5k, like i will be this weekend in Westport.

Anyone meeting for this?? I am looking forward to meeting a couple more of you guys!!