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2009-07-27 9:47 AM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
The run wasn't hot it was ROASTING! Love those cold towels


2009-07-27 10:43 AM
in reply to: #2237166


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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

They gotta change things up on this race. The 2 loops in the college just doesn't work. The 2nd time through it's so crowded and hard to navigate. I was focused on the crowd, not the road, hit a pothole and flatted. Didnt bring a tube (some good Samaritan tossed me one) but still no pump, etc. had the guys from knaps fix it for me, but lost 35 mins. Which is a good bridge to my 2nd thought, they need to start earlier. You cant start a 10k at 10:30-11:00 am in late July. I've never seen more people walking in an Oly race.

All in though, I still love the race!!
2009-07-27 1:45 PM
in reply to: #2310032

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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

jdevito20 - 2009-07-27 11:43 AM They gotta change things up on this race. The 2 loops in the college just doesn't work. The 2nd time through it's so crowded and hard to navigate. I was focused on the crowd, not the road, hit a pothole and flatted. Didnt bring a tube (some good Samaritan tossed me one) but still no pump, etc. had the guys from knaps fix it for me, but lost 35 mins. Which is a good bridge to my 2nd thought, they need to start earlier. You cant start a 10k at 10:30-11:00 am in late July. I've never seen more people walking in an Oly race. All in though, I still love the race!!

Your flatting was the RDs fault, nor was it their fault you didn't bring another tube or pump.  The college can be crowded but I'm not sure what other options they have to get the distance to Oly-level without requiring the closure/monitoring of other roads/intersections.  I'm sure closing the college roads is much easier for them and the local communities.

2009-07-27 2:33 PM
in reply to: #2310592


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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
kcav - 2009-07-27 1:45 PM

jdevito20 - 2009-07-27 11:43 AM They gotta change things up on this race. The 2 loops in the college just doesn't work. The 2nd time through it's so crowded and hard to navigate. I was focused on the crowd, not the road, hit a pothole and flatted. Didnt bring a tube (some good Samaritan tossed me one) but still no pump, etc. had the guys from knaps fix it for me, but lost 35 mins. Which is a good bridge to my 2nd thought, they need to start earlier. You cant start a 10k at 10:30-11:00 am in late July. I've never seen more people walking in an Oly race. All in though, I still love the race!!

Your flatting was the RDs fault, nor was it their fault you didn't bring another tube or pump.  The college can be crowded but I'm not sure what other options they have to get the distance to Oly-level without requiring the closure/monitoring of other roads/intersections.  I'm sure closing the college roads is much easier for them and the local communities.



Right, I flatted because I stupidly hit a pothole. And I knew that not taking a tube/CO2 was a calculated risk. And yes, I obviously understand that it's easier to close the MCCC roads than others within the township (especially since I grew up there). I've done this race every year since inception, one of my faves, I'd just be a better event overall if they changed the course, and started earlier.

Edited by jdevito20 2009-07-27 2:41 PM
2009-07-27 3:06 PM
in reply to: #2237166

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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
I guess there is always room for improvement, right? BUT, you have to admit, NOT MUCH. I was absolutely amazed as to how well organied that race was, and how much support they get from the park, county and local area. Did you see how many cones they had set up everywhere? We had our own entire lanes at times...few other races get that type of cooperation. And those cops / volunteers were stuck out there for hours in hot sun just directing a ton of traffic. It would be much easier for them to not do the college loop, and just leave everyone to dangers of traffic, etc. You have got to say, its not MUCH of an inconvenience given the number of athletes and scope of operation.
2009-07-27 3:56 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

jdevito-- I think I saw you.  Were you sitting on the grass just AFTER the loop?   On the left as you enter the loop, on the right just after you leave?   You poor thing... that must have been maddening. 



2009-07-27 5:41 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
sharse - 2009-07-27 3:56 PM

jdevito-- I think I saw you.  Were you sitting on the grass just AFTER the loop?   On the left as you enter the loop, on the right just after you leave?   You poor thing... that must have been maddening. 



Ha, yes, that was me "pouting" on the grass. From there I walked back to Old Trenton road where the Knapps guys helped me out.

2009-07-27 6:20 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
I never understand the "no tube/CO2" decision. I know people wrestle with it, but I just dont see the benefits. I take my full kit. The downsides are so much greater than the upsides IMHO. How much weight are you really saving at that point? I bet you wont wrestle with it any further
2009-07-28 8:38 AM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
JohnAgs3 - 2009-07-27 6:20 PM

I never understand the "no tube/CO2" decision. I know people wrestle with it, but I just dont see the benefits. I take my full kit. The downsides are so much greater than the upsides IMHO. How much weight are you really saving at that point? I bet you wont wrestle with it any further


Well, in my mind if I flat on a Sprint or Olympic my time is shot anyway so I thought "why bother?" And the answer is it's a long walk back to transition!!! Like I said before, I'll learn to change a tire with some proficiency now, prob carry a kit.
2009-07-28 8:59 AM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
JohnAgs3 - 2009-07-27 4:06 PM I guess there is always room for improvement, right? BUT, you have to admit, NOT MUCH. I was absolutely amazed as to how well organied that race was, and how much support they get from the park, county and local area. Did you see how many cones they had set up everywhere? We had our own entire lanes at times...few other races get that type of cooperation. And those cops / volunteers were stuck out there for hours in hot sun just directing a ton of traffic. It would be much easier for them to not do the college loop, and just leave everyone to dangers of traffic, etc. You have got to say, its not MUCH of an inconvenience given the number of athletes and scope of operation.


There was great support on the course! Cops clapping and cheering? How often do you see that?
2009-07-28 9:59 AM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

jdevito20 - 2009-07-28 9:38 AM
JohnAgs3 - 2009-07-27 6:20 PM I never understand the "no tube/CO2" decision. I know people wrestle with it, but I just dont see the benefits. I take my full kit. The downsides are so much greater than the upsides IMHO. How much weight are you really saving at that point? I bet you wont wrestle with it any further
Well, in my mind if I flat on a Sprint or Olympic my time is shot anyway so I thought "why bother?" And the answer is it's a long walk back to transition!!! Like I said before, I'll learn to change a tire with some proficiency now, prob carry a kit.

I feel the same (although, I just had a bad race in general on Sunday), but I don't want to get stuck out there. I take off my saddle bag, but do race with a bento box. I just put a tube, two tire levers, one CO2 (instead of two) and a few gels in the bento box. It's fine, and aerodynamic. If that one CO2 doesn't work, then I'm out of luck. For longer races, I carry two CO2s.



2009-07-28 5:42 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
jdevito

That was me that threw you the tube... we racked next to one another....  hope you got to finish anyway...  It was fun and I was happy about the wetsuit legal part!!!!!    good luck the rest of the year!!!! 

I got into to Ironman Lake Placid on Monday so that made my weekend complete!!!! 
2009-07-28 8:33 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
I didn't have the best race either. Got a blister and it killed my run (like it isn't bad enough to start with!). I feel your pain...
2009-07-31 1:00 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
Whew.  I'm finally home and catching up.

I didn't think it was all that hot...at least not compared to Florida.  I actually thought it was quite pleasant.   And I was one of the last ones out there being in the second to last wave.

Definitely did NOT like the bike course.  Some of those roads were too narrow to NOT be closed to vehicle traffic.  I got buzzed at least once or twice by cars.  And then there was one right turn where you literally had to cross over to the yellow because right as you made the right turn you ran into a big line of cars taking up the entire lane.  This was also at a point where the course was two way...so you were pretty much forced to head right into oncoming bike traffic.  I got lucky the first time, but I know I as I was headed out I had at least one bike coming the other way that was trying to pass somebody in the middle of the turn and we were on a collision course for several seconds.

I didn't mind the part in the college and never felt that the bike course was too crowded.  But I did feel like several areas were NOT well marked.  At least twice I had that "am I still on course?" feeling.

Does anyone else think the swim was long?  Just based off top 5 in my AG (25:50 to 28:57) and the fact that my 28:47 swim time put me at #211/744 overall....and I'm usually faster than that at the Oly distance...I think it was long.  And yes, I wore my wetsuit.

My last complaint = Total disorganization at race start for where spectators could walk.  I got told TWICE in two minutes to go walk this one specific way and when I got there I got yelled at for walking there.  Seriously...they couldn't anticipate that people needed a way to walk from the parking lot to the start?????

Okay, I lied.  That was second to last complaint.  Mile markers would have been nice.  I'm pretty observant and I only saw Mile 1 and Mile 3.

I didn't realize you would only be able to hear the start announcements from right next to the starting line.  Did anyone ever get the answer to the song question?  What song did they play at the start?  I'm dying of curiosity.
2009-07-31 1:10 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

they played come on eileen. My 2nd loop on the bike course through the college was greeted by a stack of cars...very sketchy as you had to cross the yellow, into oncoming bike traffic in order to avoid the cars.  They marked mile 4 and 1 mile to go on the course as well. 

great race though...my 2nd year doing it and i'm looking forward to next year.

2009-07-31 3:21 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
My swim was 3 minutes longer than last year. I did not wear a wetsuit and figured it was because I was cold at times. Hadn't considered it was longer! Thanks!

I was in the same wave (I think #20), how was your overall time?

Lani


2009-08-03 2:15 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

wwlani - 2009-07-31 4:21 PM My swim was 3 minutes longer than last year. I did not wear a wetsuit and figured it was because I was cold at times. Hadn't considered it was longer! Thanks! I was in the same wave (I think #20), how was your overall time? Lani

My swim was 4ish mins slower than my usual for this distance. This was my first time not wearing a wetsuit for an Oly...I figured the wetsuit would only have accounted for like 2 mins. It seemed long to me.

2009-08-03 2:17 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

Jen, I agree with you about the bike. There were times when I couldn't pass riders because there was traffic right next to us and so there was no room. That right-hand turn into the start of the college loop was treacherous. They should not have allowed parking in that shoulder -- it made an already-narrow road even more dangerous.

2009-08-05 3:21 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
lost 4 maybe 5 good minutes when I got stuck behind a Ford F250 right after the right turn onto Old Trenton Road. I was really moving good at about 24 or 25 mph and once the cars in front of me slowed down because of the bikers in front - I was all the way down to about 14 or 15 mph. OUCH!!! It was like that for just about 2 miles - It really cost me on my final time.
2009-08-05 4:09 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread

My swim was kinda slowish even w/ a wetsuit. Sometimes I wind up way far away from the bouys but I did mostly a good job sighting. Perhaps it was a little long...

2009-12-10 2:19 PM
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Subject: RE: New Jersey State Triathlon - Olympic Distance : Official Thread
Good news is they paved most of Hughes drive when you come out of the park. Bad news is they didn't pave the last 1/4 mile or so that's pretty tore up.


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