General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Patriot's Half Rss Feed  
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2008-08-20 7:56 AM

Regular
105
100
Maryland
Subject: Patriot's Half

Hey everyone, we're less than 3 weeks away from the big race!!  It'll be my first Half-Iron distance and I'm excited to experience it!  From what I've heard this course is nice and flat!  Good luck to everyone.  Let me know if anyone has done this race before and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Dan



2008-08-20 8:50 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Champion
14571
50005000200020005002525
the alamo city, Texas
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
i have no advice but i promise to cheer for you.  i'll be volunteering at registration and wherever they need me throughout the day.
2008-08-20 9:54 AM
in reply to: #1615569

Member
29
25
Arlington, TN
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
Good Luck!

I was registered for the half, but work, tough pregnancy by my wife, and now new baby got in the way of my training Was getting plenty of run time, was so so on the swim, but just not the seat time on my bike I needed.

So, I downgraded to the Sunday Oly....

Have a great race! I was really excited too (still am) It would have been my first tri ever - let alone at the HIM distance.

Oh well!

Good luck, have a great day out there! Hopefully we have a good weekend of weather to race in.
2008-08-20 10:18 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Regular
91
252525
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
I'm doing it as my first HIM and am looking forward to the race.  A tri friend did it last year and really enjoyed it despite the incredibly hot day (she's racing it again this year!).  I don't know much about the course other than what I read in race reports from last year.  Wanted to do the pre-ride, but we had plans that weekend.  I read they eliminated the one hill (if you could call it that) on the bike course this year.  Good luck with your final couple of weeks of training!  Here's hoping for unseasonably cool weather on raceday!

Edited by jgz_tarheel 2008-08-20 10:19 AM
2008-08-20 10:26 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Science Nerd
28760
50005000500050005000200010005001001002525
Redwood City, California
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
I rode the Olympic course last week, which is the first part of the HIM course on route 5.  It's really flat.  There are a few small rollers, but none are bad.  The worst part is going over a draw bridge around mile 8 that has some metal grating.  I don't know about the rest of the course, but I've ridden in the area a few times.  I don't think there are many big hills.  I know they took out the worst hill from last year.
2008-08-20 1:42 PM
in reply to: #1615569

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Veteran
205
100100
Fayetteville, NC
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
This will be my first HIM distance race also.  I don't know anything about the course, but I am excited about the race.   I have talked to a couple of people that told me that it is a really good race.  They only "bad" things they had to say about the race last year is the long run back to transition from the swim and how hot the run was (the parts without shade).  Hopefully it will be a bit cooler this year.


2008-08-20 4:13 PM
in reply to: #1615569

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Master
1551
10005002525
Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
The bike course is much flatter and faster than last year. There is a very small, slightly steep hill maybe around mile 18 to 20; really nothing to worry about, mostly a some easy rollers in the middle part of the course, beginning and end of the course is very flat. The worst part is 2 times over the steel grated bridge. I think they were hoping for the new bridge to be ready, but it is not. I think they changed the swim direction this year so the run up to transition will be a bit shorter than last year. Best of luck to all who are racing. I was hoping to have this as a good end of season race for me, but 3 weeks of bronchitis has kept me away from too much training.
2008-08-20 7:48 PM
in reply to: #1615569

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Master
3546
2000100050025
Millersville, MD
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half

I'll be doing the half this year.  I have one 70.3 under my belt from last year (savageman), but it couldn't have been a more different race.  I'm really looking forward to racing, as opposed to surviving the climbs.  I'm not that heat tolerant, so hoping this unseasonably cool August sticks around into September.

Good luck to everyone at the race.  Hopefully a few of us can meet up either at the pre-race dinner (I'm assuming there is one, right?) or some other event.

And thanks in advance to those who are volunteering.

2008-08-21 9:56 AM
in reply to: #1615569

Veteran
164
1002525
Newmarket, Suffolk
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
I did this race last year, and like everyone is saying, the bike course is MUCH easier, and flatter, and the pavement is nicer.  But you do have to cross the bridge twice.  Just a tip/info (and yes, I realize this isn't USAT legal, but it is a bit safer) when you're going over the bridge, there is a strip of basically concrete in the middle of the bridge that makes it easier to deal with.  Also, just something to be aware of, there is very little shade on the run course, so be prepared for the heat and the sun :-) But overall, great course and a great race!
2008-08-21 10:47 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Expert
663
5001002525
Williamsburg, VA
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
Good luck to everyone doing the half.  I will be out vol  at packet pick up and then with my daughters girl scout troop, probably on the run this year.  We vol for the bike course last year.
2008-08-21 2:10 PM
in reply to: #1615569

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Regular
91
252525
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half

If they do the swim in the direction shown on the course map, it seems the tide will be with us on the .6 mi. stretch.  Since the swim leg is my weakest, I am hoping they don't switch the direction as was suggested!

Thanks to all of you who are volunteering - I'll try to thank you on the course, but who knows what condition I will be in  . . .



2008-09-01 5:03 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half

Keep your eye on Tropical Storm Hanna...


2008-09-01 9:57 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Master
3546
2000100050025
Millersville, MD
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
Meh.  I for one would prefer some rain to HOT/HUMID.
2008-09-01 11:11 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Extreme Veteran
346
10010010025
Honolulu,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
Amen to some rain. As long as its cool ill be good.
2008-09-01 11:24 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half

Rain is fine... Kinetic up here was in the pouring rain and it was a lot of fun... makes one feel all hardcore going 40 MPH downhill in the aero position, in the pouring rain.

I was more referring to wind. Not such a huge fan of wind here. I don't know if I'd rather have humid, or wind. Guess it depends how intense.

2008-09-01 9:21 PM
in reply to: #1615569

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Extreme Veteran
346
10010010025
Honolulu,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
As of right now we have 30mph max winds forecast for Sat. Should be interesting.


2008-09-02 12:51 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Veteran
240
10010025
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
Patriot's will be my first HIM.  Hannah is just trying to make it interesting.  30mph winds, eh?  Sheesh...  hot, humid and 30mph winds.  We're gonna have some fun, I think.
2008-09-02 9:45 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
I wonder if they will still have the "misting tents" on the run.  Heh. 
2008-09-02 9:49 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Regular
91
252525
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
Yeah, the thought of the "misting tents" crossed my mind yesterday, too!  What I think will be really interesting is the swim.  I did the Yorktown Sprint last year as my first tri.  The wind was against the current and caused 3 ft. swells.  I survived that swim, but it was quite an adventure.  I can only imagine what 35+ MPH winds will do to the water this weekend!
2008-09-02 10:16 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
Although the latest track now has the center of the storm on the NC-VA border at 8 AM Saturday, and since the race starts at 7, hopefully many, if not almost all of us will be out of the water by the time the strongest winds get there.  We'll see... am sure the track will change much more over the next couple of days, accompanied by lots of anxious posts, many of them from yours truly.
2008-09-02 11:49 AM
in reply to: #1615569

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Veteran
185
100252525
Grass Valley
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
I'm going to stick it out and give the Half a shot... my training the last few months has been terrible, but I still think I can pull it off if I pace myself.

Did someone downgrade to the OLY?  I read that you couldn’t do that….

 

 



2008-09-02 12:37 PM
in reply to: #1615569

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Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
From Setup...
 
Patriots Race Weekend - Hurricane Hannah Update
Dear Tim
This is just an update to let you know that we are aware that Tropical Storm Hannah is approaching the Southeaster United States. We have contingency plans in place and will know more in the next 2 days as the path of the storm becomes clear. We currently are not planning on cancelling the event due to the current 60% chance of rain on Saturday. Should a modification of the swim become necessary, we will let you know. We will make use of email and the VTS homepage to keep you informed.
We will be sending out the event details and standard pre-event email tomorrow.
We will be updating the water temperature on Thursday afternoon.
Again, once we get a clearer picture of what is happening with the weather, we will make changes and adapt as necessary. Your safety is our utmost concern and we want everyone who starts the event to finish it and to have a heck of a great time doing it!
2008-09-02 12:41 PM
in reply to: #1615569

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Regular
91
252525
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half
I got the same e-mail - must have gone out to all of us neurotic people who sent worried inquiries to Set-Up . . .
2008-09-02 1:06 PM
in reply to: #1643576

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Elite
3770
200010005001001002525
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half

Oh boy. The joy of Sept races.  This is why i do no beach races!!  did you hear they chopped Diamondman from 56 to 39 miles?  crazy...

 

I'm praying for you guys.  I know its lots of folks' first half... 

2008-09-02 1:09 PM
in reply to: #1643587

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Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Patriot's Half

jgz_tarheel - 2008-09-02 1:41 PM I got the same e-mail - must have gone out to all of us neurotic people who sent worried inquiries to Set-Up . . .

I think they just sent it to everyone on their list... I didn't send them any inquiry. 

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