SOR sprint......first timer

I haven't done the sprint, but it's pretty much the same as the 1/2, which I and several of us have done.

Swim - Lake Michigan is cold.  Plain and simple.  Have a wetsuit.  Sometimes it's foggy in the morning.  Sometimes some persons have "water-jogged" because the water was about chest-high for the swim course.  It could be wavey that day, too, so getting a rhythm may get tough.  To get to T1 after the swim, you run on some loose sand for about 100 yards or better, which is some tough work on the calves.

Bike - Put on race number/belt.  Walk bike out of T1, have helmet on.  Clip on at the designated mounting line outside of transition.  There's an immediate incline out of T1, which you should make sure that you have the bike's gear is set at an easy spinning gear.  Course is quite flat afterwards - out and back.  You will come back down the incline, so slow it down and dismount before the designated dismount line.  Unclip and walk bike back into T2, leave helmet on until you rack the bike.

Run - Take off helmet after racking bike. (hint to some other peeps out there ).  Get moving!   I believe the long incline is within the first 1/4 mile, and many people walk it.

Enjoy the race, and don't worry about it.  Have fun!

have fun!!!!

leave your goggles on when you hit the sandbar near the swim exit.

last year  hit the sandbar , stood up , removed the googles , cap , went for the wetsuit zipper and gulp, back down to 7ft or so for another 10-15ft.

Early arrival will get you a good rack spot, last year was first come, first set up , any row, any rack. 

Might bring a bottle of water to rinse the sand off, the trays into T1 were pretty sandy and slippery.

You walk out to the swim start, so if possible a sherpa to collect anything you are not taking with you on the swim.