YMCA Sprint Triathlon - Wakefield, Lake Quannapowitt (Page 3)

That's great to hear that you two had a positive experience! Congrats on great finishes!

Our goal was to bring everyone a fun and safe race venue but our team of planners found areas where we can make the race go smoother next time. Please feel free to post here or email the Race Director with any comments good and bad. This is a learning experience for the whole team and a first for us all. We would like to do a better job the next time around until it's perfect!

We hear you loud and clear on the chip timing!

Give it to us:

Was the pre-race announcement helpful? Were you around to hear it?
Swim Course - what did you like/dislike about it? Depth, vegetation, sun glare, buoy sighting?
Bike Course - Primarily, did you feel safe? any problems with congestion?
Run Course - Too crowded with lake walkers? Do you think if the race started :30 earlier it would matter?
Were the entries/exits for the bike and run confusing out of the transition area?
What could the volunteers have done to make it a better experience for you?

First, let me say thank you to May and the rest of the voulenteers that came out at O dark hundred this morning. I had a great time, and love the fact that such a large body of water is finaly avalable to play in

Ok under the constructive response catigory:

Was the pre-race announcement helpful? -Kind of heard it, but was too close to the water, and not paying enough attention to it.

Swim Course - what did you like/dislike about it? Depth, vegetation, sun glare, buoy sighting? -Was shocked at how slow the lake gained depth. I think I would have prefered a more out and back course to get deeper quicker. I understand that boats use the lake too, and this along with safety may have been issues. Was just taken aback a little by the number of people running past me as I started to swim. The sun was an issue, going the other direction should take care of this issue. Other than murkey, I had no problems with the water conditions (I do swim at weed lake, I mean silver lake)

Bike Course - Primarily, did you feel safe? any problems with congestion? I was actualy surprised the bike was not more congested. I was in the first wave, and expected the corners to be possible pile ups. The number of voulenteers was AWSOME! I think this made the course one of the safest in an urban area I have ever raced at.

Run Course - Too crowded with lake walkers? Do you think if the race started :30 earlier it would matter? Somehow, by the time I got to the run, the walkers seemed to get the idea we were comming through. Mind you, I do not run much faster than a lot of walkers, so it makes it easier to get thier attention from behind.

Were the entries/exits for the bike and run confusing out of the transition area? Bike out seemed decent, was a little confused on the mount/dismount line. A set of cones seperating those comming in to T2 versus those going around again would have helped there. Could not find a run exit from transition sign, but the voulenteers handled it no problems.

What could the volunteers have done to make it a better experience for you? Nothing, the ROCKED!!!

 This race was quite imprressive in my book. A lot of little details like bag pipes and PA systems that RD's who have been established for years do not do. I also loved the designated racking spots. HUGE in my book. The only thing I would add would be a trash barrel placed about 20 yards from the water tents. Helps keep the cups from getting away.

Thank you again for a great day!!

Joe

I have to second the run course confusion. I did see a runner comming from around the comverse building. If it were not for the voulenters, I would have run throught the bike entrance to get out on the course.

Thanks guys for the insight from both the athlete and spectator point of view -- you have no idea how invaluable it really is.

Always still looking for feedback for anyone who wants to chime in!

We hope to see everyone again next year and more!

Here's the link for pictures http://mozell.printroom.com/

You may have to pick through all of them to locate yourself, unknown if they will categorize them.

Hi there! As far as I know, there aren't any established rules about where and when people can swim in the lake, but you won't get yanked out by the police if you decide to swim. I don't live in the town so I don't get the buzz on the latest, but maybe you can check the billboards around the lake to see if they eventually establish some rules since it's only been very recent that people have resumed swimming in it.

Since there's no designated roped-off area for swimming and no lifeguards, beware of the sailboats and wind surfers while you're out!