Dallas Triathlon - October 11

I've Volunteered for it and it seemed really good.. 
I know a couple of people that have done it have spoken highly of it,,, couple of places on the bike course the first year were a bit hairy, but I didn't hear anything about that the 2nd year..

I signed up for it,,, now I just need to start training 

It's a great race. Gary is right. The first year's bike course was not the best but last year they changed it and took care of all the issues.

There are more cops and traffic control and cones on this course that stretches a full 24 miles across DFW than I've seen in any other race.

It's super awesome to get to see the pro's leave the swim and start their bikes. But they're so fast, they're done by the time I make it to the run so I never see them again. Ha.

Never had an issue with the multiple transitions but it is a bit more work. You have to go to Joe Pool on Saturday and drop off your bike. No option on this. Then Sunday morning you go to AAC and setup T2, get on a bus and drive to Joe Pool. Your T1 bags are brought back to the finish area on a truck and you pick up everything after the race. Considering the logistics, everything runs really smoothly.

Spectators can't see you swim and start the bike too easily. They generally just hang out at T2 and the finish area. I'd rather my friends and family get to check out the pro's though than watch me start and finish a slow swim.

Oh yea, everyone gets kicked out of T1 before the pros start. Because of the large race, you can be sitting around for quite a while before you get to start. In October it can be chilly. Most people put their wetsuits on early to stay warm. I actually brought throw-away shoes and clothes to wear beforehand so I was comfortable right up until the start.

I'll be doing the race for the third year in a row this year. I wouldn't miss it.

Oh wow! Thanks for all that information. I wondered how quick the T2 would be with having to "find" your stuff. I am going to sign up.

OH... and after 7-31-09 the price goes UP! So sign up before then!!!!

I really wanted to FINALLY do this race... but I have a 16 mile run scheduled on that day. If I nix the marathon in December, I might do this race... otherwise, I'm doing a 16 mile run that day.

Or, I can scratch my bike ride on Saturday, and do the 16 miler then... and just the sprint on Sunday. Decisions. Decisions.

I am also scheduled for a 16 mile run that weekend, so might just do it the day before. Think of all the calories we would burn over those 2 days!

Hhhuuummm.... maybe we should keep in touch. We could do our 16 milers together on Sat. Good motivation!

That would be sweet!!! I'm also planning on the White Rock half on Nov. 1. Are you?

There are two complete transitions. T1 and T2. Racks for both. And individual spots have been numbered the previous 2 years so you have no choice on where to rack. Finding your rack in T2 is no different than finding your rack in any other T2. It just happens to be a different transition than T1.

Well after some more thought, it's probably pretty silly of me to 16 miles on Sat and a race on Sunday... with my HIM being two weeks out.

That was a consideration for Nov 1st, but I changed my 12 mile run to 16 miles... because I have a 20 miler on 11-8-09. Not really a great plan to do 16 mile the week before the 20, but on 10-25-09 I have the Longhorn HIM (13.1 miles). I can't go into that 20 miler with my longest run being 16 miles on 10-11-09.

There is a race being put on in Ft. Worth on 11-8-09 that offers a 20 mile distance and I'll be doing that one for sure!

*HA! That was a long, complicated answer... eh?*

Edited by KSH 2009-07-21 12:19 PM

Stop worrying about some stupid training plan. If you miss one 16 mile run it's not going to completely derail your marathon. An Olympic distance race is going to take you about the same time as your 16 mile run probably. Maybe longer. So you're still getting a good workout in. Probably even better since you'll be racing and going harder than on your 16 miler I'm sure.

Just go sign up for the d@mn race!!!!

x2
My 2nd Sprint last year, and I loved it; get to see the Pro's start the swim and complete T1; yeah you do have about 60-75 min standing around time before the swim.  Glad to hear the pro's comment that have the start leg of the bike be uphill into a headwind kicked their (as well as MINE).  Had the family wait at T2 to see me start/finish the run; easier to park; expo's going on to keep everyone entertained and they get to see the pro's; PLUS no hassles of getting in/out of Cedar Hill SP and around metroplex.  SOME of the S. Dallas streets weren't the best, but hey HTFU!!  All in all a GREAT/FUN race. 

It was a great race last year, the bike ride from Joe Pool to the AA centre was good.

For the spectators they actually had a shuttle bus that ran from the aa centre out to the lake and back so people were able to watch the entire swim, bike start and then catch the bus to see bike in/run out. The only catch was if the person you were watching was in one of the last waves you would miss the pros bike in/run out but you were still there in time to watch them finish.

Just my $0.02 but I would recommend the race

nuff said

Gary is right.

Tim... not so much. I don't think doing a weekend of a 16 mile run and then a Sprint Tri... two weeks out from my HIM is a smart idea. And I won't miss my 16 mile run because it will affect my marathon training. If I don't do that 16 mile run in October, my longest run will be 13.1 miles at my HIM.

I really want to do it but I don't know.  I have never done nor know where to practice an OWS and am pretty sure I would end up 100 yards off course.

Where do you live? If you are in Dallas (surrounding areas), there are a few tri clubs who do OWS's on a weekly basis.

This will be my third year to do the race as well. They do it up right and it is very well organized. I echo all the positive comments above.

I live in the Southlake area.  I have not found a tri club I am interested in that is not super far away.

The Dallas Sports University does open water swims Friday mornings out there near Grapevine Lake. It's right there by Southlake.

Maybe you can check them out?

Several of the clubs will let non-members come to their open water swims for a fee as well without having to pay the full cost of the club. Maybe an option for you if you aren't wanting to out-right join a club.

Always an option I suppose.  I will def look into it.  I would write more but I am def going to bed time for goat neck!

PRICE GOES UP 8-1-09!

If you want to sign up at the lower price... do so before Saturday!

I have decided that I'm doing the Oly! I am downgrading to the White Rock Half marathon, so I can do the Oly at the US Open now!

(My running is coming along so well, I feel like I should focus on shorter distances and ditch the distance stuff for now.)






Edited by KSH 2009-07-30 11:00 AM