Pumpkinman Triathlon - Olympic Course : Official Thread

LOL!! Oh yeah!  I did Pumpkinman as my first Olympic last year. The hills were humbling. 

Not 100% if I'm going to do it this year because RTC Viva Bike Vegas is on the same day. What to do....

Just signed up for this tri!  I'm so excited.  I've only done 1 sprint tri (at the last second, did not train for it) back in June.  Had such a blast I wanted to do an Olympic.  After registering, I noticed there is a bit of climbing on the bike portion.  I'm SO EXCITED about this because the bike is the only event I'm good at.  How much climbing is there?  Also, this will be my first lake swim which I'm nervous about.  I'm a horrific swimmer.  Any advice would be helpful.  Should I wear a wet suit?  It seems to be such a pain to pull it off for the bike.  Is the run up hill too?  I sure hope not...I'm super excited!  Any advice welcome.  I'm pretty clueless.  

We are currently training for LOTOJA (206 mile cycling race) so my time has been spent on the bike.  I run a couple times a week, but only a couple miles each time.  I am swimming once a week for an hour.  How much should I up the running/swimming?  It's hard because we are spending so many hours on the bike per week.  I will have a month between LOTOJA and this though, which will be helpful.  Thanks.  

The first part isn't too bad, but the last 5 or 6 miles is pure climbing.  River Mountain trail with twist and turns to the Water Tower. If you're a strong climber, you'll have no problem.  I am not that strong of a climber. I normally average between 14-15mph (yes I'm slow, but working on it!!), and I avg'd 12.5 mph on this Olympic bike course. 

Wetsuit is easy to come off after it's been wet. If you practice a lot, you'll be fine.   My advice - go for OWS a few times before the Olympic.  Go to Boulder Beach and practice with the swimming. When I did the olympic, the water was COLD, so you'll be glad to have a wetsuit.  If you go on Saturdays, go around 6am ish, and you'll see quite a few people practicing for future triathlons. 

There are some rolling hills on the run, but it's not that bad. I'm not much of a runner, and it was fine. Nothing too crazy. Only one small, but short, hill to deal with from what I remember.   If you practice on it, it'll be better.   The more you practice on the course, the better you'll be, and your nerves will settle a bit better.

Have fun and good luck!!

up Up UP UP UP and then turn left toward the water tower and UP.  Did I mention it goes up?

I am opting for the RTC ride this year as I missed it last year and I have the State of Nevada Senior Olympic Swim meet for two days just before this.

I am new to this event.  Any tips on how early to arrive?  Would anyone share elevation and/or maps to the bike/run for the olympic?  I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you

I looked at a map online of the RMT.  Wish the Pumpkin website had some maps of the actual bike and run.  Driving up from Tucson, it would be nice to see some of that information.

Beyond that, I just read a race review that talked about a 4000' gain during the bike.  Serious?  I knew it wasn't an easy course but really?  This will be my first tri in 7 years and I bought my first road bike a month ago (super-six) and I'm really nervous about the bike.  I've been doing bricks of 30miles/5miles with some elevation change but not freakin' 4000'!!!

You, my friend, are a lifesaver.  I remember seeing those maps but never clicking on them then I forgot about them.  Thanks for posting the link.  Looks like the bike will be fine until mile 16 when it's all uphill from there.  The out and back run is a killer at the turn around point.  I'll make some notes and drive the course (what I can) on Fri a.m.  Sweet!!

Can't wait for my post race meal at L.A. Pastrami!  My brother wants to go to Hot and Juicy Crawfish.  We'll see who wins!

Thanks for calming my nerves!!

Hope everyone's training and taper is going well!  If y'all see some chump with a black Desoto long sleeve skin cooler top on, say hello.  I'll have the 40 age group/olympic marking on my calf with the whitest set of shaved legs you will have ever seen.

Tom