Pokagon State Park Triathlon : Official Thread

Looking foward to this race. It's a special qualifer for the AG Nationals in Tuscaloosa this year and got good reviews in all the RR I've read here and elsewhere. Seems to be on the smaller side in terms of participants which is preferable to the Galena race held around the same time. Traveling from Northbrook, IL the night before, so glad to hear that there are a number of near-by hotels.

Disasterous experience the first year (not due to race organization) due to 1st OWS,1st wetsuit swim, 60 steps out of the water (cold concrete froze my already cold body), windy bike with weak bike fitness, and I had NEVER EVER run on a trail.

Last year was much better....and I improved my time.

I agree that it is a hard Olympic, but why would anyone desire an "easy" one???

AF

I'm pretty sure I'm going to pull the trigger and sign up for this one.  It will be my first Oly and my first wet suit swim.

Does anyone know if there are rental cabins available at the park?  Some friends and I are thinking about making a whole weekend of this but I'd much rather sleep in a cabin than a tent.

And it was 53 the week before....I remember because I was freaked out about it....62 was cold the year before (2007) and I was sure you can't swim in 53 degree water.

I lived. 

I'm a little worried because  I've never swam in a wetsuit.  I was thinking the sleeveless would be a little less to get used to.  Plus, I don't think I'll be doing any other races where it will be that cold or even cold enough for a wetsuit at all.  Decisions, decisions. 

I'm planning on getting the suit in the near future so hopefully I'll find somewhere to give it a go before race day.  There isn't really anywhere in Lafayette to get OWS practice.

I wore mine twice in the pool....yes, I probably looked "different", but I really don't care.  (Rinsed it out well afterwards).

For those of you that did this race last year - did you wear a long sleeve or pullover coat out of T1 due to the cold water and air temps?  The air is probably gonna be low 50s by the time we jump on the bike so I was thinking about it and wanted to run it by - any thoughts?

The pond in my backyard is 61 right now - think I am going to take a dip with the wetsuit to get acclimated - I am sure the frost advisory last night did not help things but not supposed to get below 50 at night the rest of the week.