Salem Witch City

I as well am doing the witch city tri! I have been on the bike route threw Marblehead neck (around the neck 3 times) It can be pretty windy! And about a month ago I swam a local event( 1/2 mile) at forest river where the swim is (calm inlet of water). Good Luck! Hope the weather holds out! -B

I can't wait to hear what people say, because I really want to do it next year when I'm ready. 

 Can you watch these events?  I'd love to go and watch some of it.

Absolutely. Better yet, you can volunteer to do something, be a part of the race.

 Hmm, interesting, I will have to see if I am able to do it.

I'm doing the race this weekend, and I haven't read anything about course changes.  I'm sure Bill or Wendy Fiske would have mentioned something by now if that where the case.  As far as hills are concerned, there's a total elevation change of about 70' on the bike and 40' on the run.  Not bad, compare to some other courses I've done recently.

 The weather forecast is great, it should be a great day for a race!

Good luck on Sunday! 

Oh....Never mind!

I ran the course yesterday.  About 4 miles.  It is the Leadmills trail  near train tracks off of Layfette St.  Inclines are doable, though the puddles and rain on the trail kind of make it slippery.  

It is not the accomplishment, but the struggle.

Title this race:  "Murphy's Law", if anything can go wrong, it will (it did).

 Let's begin with the swim, did anyone else think that the swim was longer than one half mile?  Sure seemed like it.  The swim went pretty well for me until I got into the transition area.  Before this season I bought a new Promotion full wet suit.  I really like it.  It has zippers at the bottom near the ankles.  When I tried to take them off in transition, I neglected to remember this.  Needless to say it didn't come off.  So after farting around with it for a while the dim light bulb went off over my head and I unzipped it (the legs where already inside out).  I thought to myself, self we can recover from this.  So it was off to the bike.

I really felt strong on the bike, I was passing people and keeping up a good pace.  Somewhere towards the end of the third loop around Marblehead I started looking for the turn off back to Salem.  Unfortunately I turned one street too soon.  There was a traffic cop at the intersection, but he didn't seem too interested in the fact the two riders where going the wrong way.  I finally figured out that I was off course after about a mile.  Turned around and got back on course and back into transition.

T2 was uneventful, got my shoes, race belt, hat and off I went.  As has already been mentioned in this thread, they changed the run course this year.  No problem, went out towards the neck on Marblehead and then turned on to the gravel bike course.  It wasn't a bad surface, just a little too narrow for 400 runners.  I've never been much of a trial runner, so I managed to pick out a rock or stump, kick it with my toe and do a triple lindy (Rodney Dangerfield, "Back to School" obscure reference), and scuff up both hands, elbows, and a knee.

So I managed to fudge up all three phases of the race.  The trifecta!   

As I said, the race venue is fantastic, the weather was great and the support was decent.  There was ample support in Salem (course marshalls, cops) but there where only traffic cops in Marblehead.  These guys are busy directing traffic, I know they can't be expected to direct cyclist as well.  Additionally, it sounds to me like the run course might have been a little better last year.  I'm not crazy about out and back courses.  Plus it's kind of cool to run on city streets.  I'd do it again next year, know that I'm familiar with the course.   

I'd recommend it for anyone considering this race in the future.

So I checked it out the other day, as I wanted to get an idea of what these events were like.  DIdnt get to volunteer, as I had personal things that kept me from being there too long.

 First off, Kudos to everyone who competes.  I wasnt even competing, and I was a bit intimidated.  Maybe after I ran a couple, that will go away, but for yesterday, it was a lot to take in.

 I walked around, probably looking sketchy, and I will say one thing: Lots of hot women.  Makes me want to do one of these even more.

 Second, it felt good that I saw some people who werent in rock hard shape.  Makes me think I really can do it.

 Third, it looked really hectic.  Is that a common theme before these?  Just wondering.

I could go on, butI'll stop there.

So....I can now say that I am a triathlete! Finished witch city 1:34 and have been bitten by the bug REALLY hard!  Looking for the next tri and setting new goals.  I hope I did not sound like a debby downer in my last few replies...but since I knew about the change in run I felt it needed to be said.  I personally did not like the trail run (threw the puddles and around a cone 1/2 mile into woods). It would have been nice to  go right threw the trail onto a connecting road to Lafyette and back to FR.   It also would have had a better flow, and less dodging of bikers coming back, runners coming back and runners going out.  About the swim I found it to be true to 1/2 mile.  I had a great time and would recommend the witch city tri to all!     

Well then jump on board the Title 9 bus! Check out our forum if you want to meet some cool chicks  The swim is only 1/4 mile so maybe that won't be challenging enough (just kidding!)

It'll be my first Tri September 7th in Hopkinton - it's run by MaxPerformance and everyone raves about them!!