Shawnee Mission Triathlon - Long Course : Official Thread

I'll be tri'ing... ha, what a blatent play on words.  Always ran the KCCC tri but can't this year so I'll probably run the SMP tri.

I shall be there!!!

I'll be there for either the short or the long if I'm still living in Kansas City!  SMP is my home turf!

Open Swim Hours at Shawnee Mission Park Beach
Tuesday & Thursday - June 1 to August 5 - 6:00 PM to 07:30 PM
JCPRD will have open water swimming Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY at Shawnee Mission Beach. Triathletes and others interested in getting open water swim practice are welcome to do so. Swimmers are asked to wear a swimsuit. This is a great way to prepare for events such at the Shawnee Mission Triathlon on July 11. Open water swimming fees do apply for Johnson County and non-residents. For details please call (913) 236-1231

http://www.jcprd.com/parks_facilities/shawnee_mission.cfm

For folks who have done this in years past, what is the deal?  Is it laps at a swim beach and if so how long are the laps, what is the charge?  I suppose someone swam there naked in the past based upon the "swimmers should wear swimming suits" information?  I am pretty excited about swimming at SMP in preparation for the Topeka Tinman.

Dave.

I went today, they set up 3 buoys in a triangle formation (obtuse isosceles) out past the beach.  They had a couple kayakers and a lifeguard for support.  I'm not sure on distance, but I'd guess 200-250 yards/lap.  The water was rather warm.

$4 fee.

They also had a sign saying Kill Creek has an OWS on Monday's 6-7:30? I think


Edited by ionlylooklazy 2010-06-02 12:29 AM

Here's the info on the Kill Creek open water swim.  Last year they had a 500m course with lifeguards on site.  This is the location for the Olathe Medical Center Women's Triathlon, so last year it was mainly women out there practicing.  I have a feeling a lot of people just don't know about it.  Very convenient for those of us that live in Lawrence.  Plus, quite a few people would also bike on the county roads around the park after swimming.

Open Water Swimming at Kill Creek Beach
Mondays - June 7 to September 6 - 6:00 PM to 07:30 PM
JCPRD will have open water swimming Monday's ONLY at Kill Creek Beach. Triathletes and others interested in getting open water swim practice are welcome to do so. Swimmers are asked to wear a swimsuit. This is a great way to prepare for events such at the Olathe Medical Center Women's Triathlon on September 11. Open water swimming fees do apply for Johnson County and non-residents.

Time: 06:00 PM To 07:30 PM
Address: Kill Creek Beach, 11670 Homestead Lane, Olathe, Kansas
Phone Number: (913) 312-8847

Edited by swikle 2010-06-03 1:06 PM

Aw man they make you wear swimsuits there too!  What's the deal....  =)

What's the vote on using the following bike for the SMP long course with all of the hills and lots of biking traffic:

Tri Bike
Road Bike with Aero Bars
Road bike with no Aero Bars

???

I'm no expert, but I'm using my cross bike (with Easton EC90 tubulars) instead of a Jamis T1.

see you all out there.  I'll be the winded guy in the Colavita/Parisi Coffee team kit.  say hi when you blow past me...

well that sucked. 

Sucked Big Time... they closed the course just as I came in from my last bike lap... I think 3 or 4 lucky stiffs made it onto the run course before it got closed.

I made it onto the run and finish, but it was cancelled by the time we got back.

I checked onlineraceresults.com and they have the event listed but no results... surely they at least have some of the data from our splits we did get to finish...???

As a side note those Tri Tats were pretty cool I thought.

Is it normal to have that many body markings?  I thought that there was a chance of shark attacks, and they wanted to be able to match up limbs with torsos or something?!?!

Usually they put the bib number on both legs... but ya, both arms, both legs, race group on the back of your leg... the number on the bike is half and half of races requiring it and the number on the helmet few races require that.

I even wrote mine on my swim cap, just to be safe.

I think the only wild life to worry about at SMP is rabid ducks and geese.  Oh, and the skunk that scurried across the access road as I walked down to transition.

And deer.

Sorry about the weather guys. That blows.
 

Last year I tried to sign up but race was full (at least two weeks before race day)
This year the same thing happened (three weeks before race day)

Both were rained out.

Maybe next year if I sign up EARLY registration it won't get rained out.

Does anyone have their favorite of the day and their "I wish they would improve this..." item from the race (besides the weather).

I'm writing an Examiner report article and I was looking for some other participant reactions the event.  Could be ranging from the pavement needing work, more port-a-potties, good event organization, liked the tri tats... etc.

Thanks

A couple of more port-a-potties would have been nice.  Otherwise I really liked everything else.