Tri the Parks - John Tanner State Park

Tri the parks is a great 1st race! I did not do this particular race, but my first tri was indian springs last year and it was a fantastic first experience. My advice is to do a dry run on the course- it really helps ease the race day jitters. This will be a well organized and fun race.

I like John Tanner.  I did it last year and it was early in the season (I think April?).  Looking back it was a great race to start the season off.  The swim is ok...the lanes to swim in are fairily narrow as I remember and there is a steep grassy hill to run up to get to the transition.  The bike was pretty easy as I remember and the run was a combination of trails (meaning golf cart type trails) and dirt road.   Some hills as you are nearing the turn around, but nothing stands out too much in my memory.  It is a pretty fast race!  It would make a great first race!  Go for it! (I have pictures of last year in my album)

 Kelly

Thanks...I did sign up for the Novice Men's group...when did this group start?

Looking forward to it!

Good Luck, LHablas!  My first Tri was the 2006 Mistletoe State Park sprint.  It was tough, but fun. I have the same comments about the lake.  It was icky.  Warm and icky.  Although, for whatever reason, the lake water tasted better then what was being passed out on the run!

I signed up as a novice for my first triathlon.  They (tribluesky) put the novices in the back as the last wave to start.  I have been banged around by many novices - if you can swim fast, I would re-think the novice thing. 

Kelly

Hah...I'm not a fast swimmer - right now I might as well be a Pet Rock...

Perhaps in a few months I'll be faster.  For now, I'll plan to bring my boxing gloves too...

Thanks for the feedback.

Do a "Search Forums" search for John Tanner in Race Reports. They are loaded with info. It is a good first race, but there was a bottleneck at the start of the swim last year that created a swimming brawl right out of the start. It might be a good idea to hang back a bit if you aren't used to full contact swimming.

Thanks...did that and read all of them...good stuff...just wanted to glean any other insight that might be out there...as I'll be in the cheap seats (aka Novice division) for this race, I may bring some popcorn and a beer while watching the other waves start.  Thanks again!

This will be my first tri.  I'm psyched, can't wait to see if all this training will pay off.

 I'm also concerned about the water temp.  I had assumed it would warm up enough by then but this recent cold weather has me concerned that the water will be frigid.  I don't own a wetsuit and don't plan to get one between now and then.  hmmm, oh well.