Lake St. Louis

Hey everyone!

Ok, so I just realized I have to miss one of the OWS swim sessions at LSL. So, I am making an effort to create my own. I'm thinking a training day that includes swimming and running at either St. Francios State Park or St. Joe State park. Both are between 45-60 mins away. Leave STL around 8, swim around 9... run after that and eat lunch. Then head home to be back in the Lou maybe around 1:30-2. Would you be up for it? If so, pick Sat vs. Sun... weekend of July 22 or Aug 12.

 -Sarah

This race is sneaking up on us very quickly! 

Anybody have plans for the open water practice days at LSL?

how is everybody feeling about it?  i know there's 58 peeps in my swim wave, so it's not going to be like an Ironman style washing machine, but you can bet I'm still pretty nervous!  i think it will be very exciting to actually get to race head-to-head against the competition, instead of in staggered starts all throughout the morning like most local races.  I mean, if a dude in my age group is in front of me, he's beating me! no need to guess when he started, etc.

~B

Yup, I'm heading to the practice swim on the 27th. I'm also pondering doing the bike course, but I don't want to p*ss off residents. If I do bike it, it'll be VERY EARLY as to avoid traffic.

I am scared to death of this race, and I don't know why.

(edit: since when is p*ss censored?)

Don't they do it by age group?  If that's the case, I'm racing 23 people.

Soozy, you are going to ride the couse? Is your friend Chris doing this race too?  Did you see that the latest email said not to think about the hills?  Ugh, I'm not ready for hills. Ballas and I will be good friends the next two weeks. I might be slow, but at least I can get more comfortable getting up the hills!

Kids, we should make a plan for the practice!

haha! Well, now I see that I've graced you all with a blank response. Well done, Getsome!!

what i was trying to say was that there's an email out there from Dave Reynolds (RD) that has our swim wave times and sizes. I can pass it along if you can't find it or don't have it.

But yes, i'd love to make use of the OWS practice on the 27th. Probably ride the course a time or two as well. let's do it!

~B

Ok....OWS practice is from 7-10am. Lord help me if it takes me 3 hours to swim 1500 meters. Should only take 30 minutes...tops.

Have you seen all the emails/messages about the locals getting PO'd at those out there training?  For me, I'll definitely be out there riding the course early to avoid any PO'd peeps. Serioulsy...I mean early. Like 7. Then swim. Maybe twice. But, I can be convinced to do something different. Any takers?

 Brandon, how much different is the short course from the long? 

I'm up for it.  and i'll ride either course, whichever you want.

the Long Course bike leg is 2x as long. 24 miles. the good news is that for those who just did Alligator's creek, they already are familiar with half the course. lots of overlap!  we can handle these hills kids!

 ~B

Here's a look-see at the short course elevation changes on both the bike and run segments.  I would expect that the long course will be pretty much exactly the same... just longer

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/Super_Suby/LSLshortcourserunelevation.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/Super_Suby/LSLshortcoursebikelegelevation.jpg

enjoy,

~B

alright, who's getting excited?

  it's just a few days away!!  i can barely sit still.

~B

So B, you making plans for peeps to meet up?  I best hear LOUD CHEERING as I go into T1 and finish! (How nutty is that? You start after me and still will get done before me!)

i love that video. i just sent it to my friends and asked them all if they would enjoy watching that happen to me. hopefully it will entice them to come out and cheer for me on saturday. we'll see!

okay, let's vote on where i should line up for the swim. i keep agonizing over it.

A) front and center - charge out like a mad man and swim my @ss off to avoid the washing machine that would, in theory, be behind me, even if just for a little while.

B) back of the pack - take it easy and avoid the carnage. it would probably cost some serious time, but would be a safer bet.

c) outside on the right near the front - still take it out hard, but allow faster swimmers to go crazy in the middle and get out ahead.  this may or may not allow me to avoid the thrashing.

 we should also think about a meeting place. maybe just pick a specific time to be under the results billboard or something?

~B 

Stupid question of the day:

What time does the first wave go off?  I can't find this info ANYWHERE but I'm assuming 7am.

-Sarah

ask, and you shall receive:

http://www.lakesaintlouis.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={B4728EAF-2BAE-46FC-9C37-13E29D7907B3}&DE={4C1A4080-666C-4511-B427-D53BEE1A3DD9}

7:30 i believe is your answer.

Awesome Kerri!  If you find me or the wife, we can point Sarah out to you, so you can cheer for her too. 

Looking forward to it!

~B

oh, and thanks for the vote on option C.  I think that's what I'll do!