Kinetic Half : Official Thread (Page 3)

Thanks Skippy!  You know, I had even thought about how long this puppy might take to finish until I read your post.  I'm thinking that anything under 7 hours will be a win for me.  It's my first HIM and I really have no clue.  Heck, I haven't biked over 45 miles in one day since I was 24 which is more than half a lifetime away for me.

Meeting up before makes alot of sense.  I'm also going solo, so won't have a set-up.  Just me and my gear.  I'm thinking about camping the night before.  One benefit would be the opportunity to see the course on Friday and do a trial run with my new wetsuit (just ordered... good sale at Xterra... hope they are good).  There's also something to be said for sleeping in your own bed.  It may be decided on what happens at work on Friday and the weather.

Definitely looking forward to meeting everyone.  Appreciated being able to read your race report from last year Skippy... damn... you're speedy!

-Stu

Stu---I have an Xterra and they make a good wetsuit (especially for the price!!) BUT I definitely recommend even a quick swim before the race (even if in the pool) just to see how it fits---or wear it might rub...

Well I'll be driving down the morning of the race so I'll be there early (have to do packet pick-up also...) so we could just pick a time and meet on the corner of the beach near the water---right where you come out of the water at the end of the swim/near where you enter transition from the swim... 

And the 12:30 finish for everyone was just some positive thoughts (I guess I should have said 11:30 so that everyone understood that I meant we would all be in the mix for an overall win)!!!!  I just hope everyone enjoys the day and is happy with their results...

I'll be happy if the weather is nice and I can finish strong. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

After last year I'll be happy to finish without blood running down my arm and leg and without ruining my trisuit!!!!  (last year I took a little fall---ok so it was a slide at about 26mph--fun to look at my Garmin data after the race----from 26+mph to 0 in 1 second!!-- turning back into the park on the bike...).  Oh yeah here's a little bit of advice-----the turn back into the park (happens once at the end of the second bike loop) is a little sharper then you think with the speed you CAN be going---probably a good idea to at least be NEAR the brakes...........................just saying.

<taking notes>
... practice in wetsuit (there's the rub)
... avoid blood
... stay near the brakes
... watch the last turn into the park
... have fun

Heck I'd just like to be able to ride at 26 mph Hope to practice cold water swims this weekend in the JAmes. I've never had to swim in water that is that cold.

Question for those of you who have done the race before:

How is that first hill coming out of the beach/transition area?

I went down to check out the site yesterday.  Most of the run course looks great, but that first hill looks tough.

Do the running and biking courses share that first hill coming up out of the beach area on the main road within the park?

I have found a post on a bass fishing blog that the water temperature is at 67F.  Not sure if that is up or down lake.  This temp is definitely out of both the "scary cold" and "damn cold" ranges.  Almost right up there in "brisk, but pleasant." 

Well, the family will be heading down next Thursday to hang out at a B&B and relax.  It will be my daughters first experience with racing.  If you see an 8mo old cute kid ringing a cow-bell at her daddy, that is her.  At least I hope to source a small cowbell by the race for her.  I do have some other last minute details to clear up before the race.  We bought a new car and I need to buy and install a hitch so as to attach the hitch-mounted bike rack.  While I have almost all my gear ready I do need to check the wet suit, and build my rear wheel (well, add a cassette, tire and tube, not build it, precisely.) 

Training this year has gotten me in much better shape for this early in the spring than any other spring; however, I have had difficulty keeping my schedule.  I am confident that I will be finishing the race, as my long runs and long rides have been constant, easy and over the race distance, but dont think my finishing times will be as stellar as I had been shooting for at the start of the season as I haven't done enough shorter, more intense workouts. 

I hope everyone else is getting a nervous as I am!  See you there.

Was hoping the water was warming up, glad to see it!! I'm a bit nervous about the cold water.  So nervous that I plan to brave the colder water of the JAmes River this week. I'm getting really nervous because my training has not been steller. This was something to keep me motivated over the winter.  It did the job!

Sorry guess I missed the question about the hill out of transition and the cold water talk!!

The easy part first---that sounds like the water temp from last year and I was worried about it because of all the talk---I got in expecting the worst and well with a wetsuit it felt fine/great---during the race I didn't even notice any temp!!!  Don't worry about it...

The hill out of transition---for the bike the most important part is to remember to set your bike up in an easy gear as the mount/dismount line is right at the bottom of the hill (just onto the road outside of the gravel lot/area)...you climb right away and you don't want to be in a huge gear!!  Yes, you "share" the road for the bike/run---that being said we have the whole park so you ride up the hill on the bike and obviously there are no runners then---now as you finish the bike you come down the road on the right side and unless you are in first OA there will be runners on the other side---it's truly a NON-issue since you won't be crossing the middle line of the road and the runners will be going up the other side of the road...YES that hill is the "beginning" of each of the three run laps (last year there was a quick little "loop" out of transition to the dock area to get the .1)---you actually run along the sidewalk near the concession area and then near the main parking lot and up that little hill and make the right onto the main hill/road....I won't say it's fun/easy but just keep moving forward!!! 

I just checked the lake temperature nearby the state park on the cooler side of the lake and its is 64 deg up from 62 last week.  The forecast is for hot weather this weekend so temp at race day should be at least 66 deg.  Nice for wetsuits. I plan to do a prerace swim at Lake Anna this weekend.

Hope to see the BT crowd at the race.  I'll be wearing my Endorphin Fitness uniform (Red and black with big EF on it).  Its my first HIM and I've been training since 12/1/2009 for it.

Edited by Jacklcm 2010-04-28 3:29 AM

Good. Anything above about 58 is fine with me. That's what it was in the coldest one I did last year and that wasn't bad with a full sleeved at all. 70ish and it starts getting a little warm, though.

Yes, it will be the same course.  I was at the park yesterday and did the bicycling loop (once) followed by the running loop (once).  I wasn't planning to swim, but after the run the water looked so inviting that I jumped in and found it amazingly warm. 
Next Saturday is predicted to be sunny with high of 77 - great day for a race, I hope!

I heading to do the same today.  I heard the rangers wouldn't let you swim(no life guards).  Thanks for the update.

I saw the weather and it looked as if it was calling for rain.  I sure hope not!! Going to try the rental wetsuit out tomorrow.

Hey all, I'm late to this thread but secured one of the last 30 or so spots in this race a few weeks ago.  Finalizing my plans and have a quick question --

For my wife, who is not thrilled about 5+ hours of sitting around waiting for me to zoom by a few times...

I've noticed a bunch of you mentioning the "concession area" in your posts.  Can you describe more of the concessions that are available?  Will she be able to get a soda/pretzel/hotdog/candy if she feels like it?

Also - any other bike/run pacing advice for someone who will not be previewing the course beforehand?

Be careful on Rout 208

Josh---the concessions area is for the state park---it wasn't open last year---as a concessions area...but they used it for the post race food and I do think that you could buy a plate...Italian food.....

Im in the same situation with my girlfriend...on her birthday weekend.  Shes real excited to be waking up at 3am so she can sit around by herself for the day.  There should be a specific area for extremely bored/slightly annoyed significant others.

My wife will be the one making runs to a black pathfinder to get snacks out of the cooler I will now be packing.  Please tell your girlfriend to come over and say hi and have a handful of birthday pringles and some mikes hard lemonade

sorry to be dense - but what should I be careful of?  Cars?  Bad pavement?  Sharp turns?  Hills that will trash my legs if I'm not conservative?  Beautiful women spectating that will see my sexy tanlines and try to rip me off my bike to have their way with me?

Ill try and get my girlfriend to wear around a birthday hat.  Even though it probably wont last long if its HUMID.

Edited by vibratingp00 2010-05-05 8:05 AM

Dude - it's too far out to be believing the weather forecast.  No mention of that.

Actually the weather forecast seems to be shaping up nicely, but still too early to get too excited about it.

Ummmm I'm seeing some wind....let's hope that passes...