Angels Race VA : Official Thread

Transition Clinics Sundays at 3:00pm.

http://bikesunlimited.com/about/transition-clinics-pg273.htm

I just signed up for this race yesterday.  I would be interested in doing the bike course as we get closer.  I am in Staunton so it would be great to come down on a warmer Saturday and do the course if you are still willing.  It looks like it should be a good event.

as  posted on www.bikesunlimited.com 

Pool swims are kind of tedious that way if you're not an above average swimmer (fast ones go first, but you'll know your start time in advance - still have to set up with everyone else though).  The good news is that b/c someone starts every 10 or 15 seconds, there is much more separation on the bike, so you won't feel crowded when you do the course which I think lowers the anxiety levels a bit.  Because Lynchburg is on a hill, after about .5 mile on the bike (take note of one area of bricks in the road btw) you'll go down a fairly steep hill to the main part of the course.  Getting down that (and back up at the end) is the challenging part of the course.  Same with the run - 1 very steep hill to navigate.  So, just take your time in those parts and you'll be golden.  It's a wonderful race, though, with a great vibe and good support from the city.  Lots of beginners and relays, so you won't feel overwhelmed :-)  Parking isn't too bad - along with the parking garage, lots of spaces on the roads around the Y.  Have a great time and hope to see you there!!

Stu

Thanks guys.  We are going for a long ride tomorrow, if it's not raining to bad, to see if this will really be possible for us in just a few weeks.  As I said, most our training has been inside, so just not sure if we are ready.  But really my goal is just to finish.  We are both overweight and this has been a pretty lofty goal.  We are REALLY slow for everything lol and part of the reason I was asking about start times was also to know whether the 2.5 hours started after the slowest people (probably us) or the fastest.  If the slow people started first I'd have more time to finish lol. 

    Anyway, Another friend here is doing the bike part of a relay and he said he might be interested in coming down on a Sunday so I'll let you know if he/we can do it. 

I'm pretty sure you'll have the full amount of time to finish (that is, if you start 1 hr after the first person you'd have 1 hour + cutoff time to finish).  You will not be alone in this race as there are a fair number of people who are just giving it a shot for the first time.  Just take your time, walk if you need to, but don't get discouraged :-)  You'll learn a whole bunch about the race and yourself and you'll probably be very motivated for the next one (after you recover!).  Have fun and hope to meet you there!

Stu

Thanks for the motivation Stu.  I just saw you're in Charlottesville.  We are in Ruckersville.  Are you in the Tri Club?  I've been hearing some things about it lately and figured, after the race, if we decide to keep doing Tri races (which I think we will), that we'll look into the club.  See you in Lynchburg in 14 days!

Actually out in Afton :-)  Due to my inability to schedule much of anything, I've avoided most group stuff, but I've heard some good things about the Tri Club.  Unfortunately, most of my training is done when I sense a free hour coming.  Maybe not the best for preparation, but I do what I can!  btw, since you're up north of town, look into the Culpeper sprint in Aug.  That's a really challenging (but fun) sprint course.

How's training?  Are you ready?  I had a miserable week last week, but back on track this week just in time to taper... hahaha!  See you in a week+.  I'll be the tall (6'4") old guy with blue bike and helmet (and you can see my pic).  Say hi!

Stu

I've had mostly good weather for races, so I guess I'm due this year (totally got dumped on in a half marathon in March).  So, I think the key place to be careful is heading out of Lynchburg on the bike descent, otherwise I think the roads should be okay.  Though that does remind me that as you come out of T1 on one of the main streets before descending, there are some pavers / cobblestones that would be smart to avoid whether wet or dry. 

btw, I always just go down the morning of the race.  Well organized and always have had plenty of time to do everything that morning.

Two more days of "hard" training and then will start "tapering".  I've got a jumbled week coming up, and can't afford two light weeks in a row :-)

See y'all Sunday!

Stu

There is still time for it to turn into sunny and 65!

For those of you who have done this before, how long does the pool start take?  I think I signed myself up for the 7-8 minute swim group as I am a slow swimmer.  Of course, I don't mean to imply that I am fast at any of the other events.  ;-)

Mike

Swim start times will be posted on the set-up events site on Friday.  Start times are every 15 seconds starting with the fastest pace (though as I recall, they do put in some relays or slower folks sprinkled along the way with a 2 min. break in between - kind of funky, actually)

I'm okay with cloudy and 65 :-) But we sure do need the rain in Central VA.

Stu

Jen, note that at 8:34, there is a break in the action... so, what I believe they are doing is having the starts in several "clumps", where within each clump it goes from fast to slow and then a break and start at fast again.  This is nice for slower folks so they have an "equal" chance at finishing at a reasonable time.  I start at 8:44, so I'll look for you guys - and maybe see you on the bike or run too!

And yes, the Culpeper one can be HOT and it is fairly challenging for a sprint (especially the hill run coming off the bike).  There's also one in Warrenton (which I haven't done) in Sept and one out at Lake Anna in Oct (I've done the Olympic length but also a sprint).  Lots of possibilities!

Hoping for no rain, but starting to try to prepare for it :-)

Stu

Where are the times posted on the website?  I am missing them somehow.

Thanks,

Mike