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2009-09-04 6:54 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
How does one NOT draft with 6000 other people on a 24 mile course?

Also, are the waves done alphabetically?  I don't want my WHOLE AG to pass me on the swim

Edited by pga_mike 2009-09-04 6:55 AM


2009-09-04 7:17 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
hip82 - 2009-09-04 7:24 AM I noticed this on the site as well:


Is that unusual to wait to give out chips on the morning of the race? Seems to make things even more complicated.



Most races I attend give you the  race chip the morning of the race.  My guess is you show your wruist band and then get the chip...some races you have to carry around your race bib. Less chance of misplacing it over night...
2009-09-04 8:41 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
This race is going to be a complete cluster****.  I heard that it was crowded last year with 3,000, and they've doubled it?  Given that the swim start is spread over 90 minutes and that the average rider will take about 90 minutes (but considering that the leaders are faster and some swimmers are slower which will spread things out a little bit, figure about 4000 riders spread over 25 miles at any given time during the race.  That's 160 riders per mile, or 33 feet per rider.  The drafting zone is about 22 feet long.  There will be no way to avoid drafting at times unless everyone is perfectly spread out (which won't happen). 
2009-09-04 9:05 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
piperfl - 2009-09-04 7:17 AM
hip82 - 2009-09-04 7:24 AM I noticed this on the site as well:


Is that unusual to wait to give out chips on the morning of the race? Seems to make things even more complicated.



Most races I attend give you the  race chip the morning of the race.  My guess is you show your wruist band and then get the chip...some races you have to carry around your race bib. Less chance of misplacing it over night...


Funny, most that I've done give it out the day before.  It's much simpler.  I've only seen one that I can remember that did it morning off...St. A's in 2006.
2009-09-04 9:12 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
kcb203 - 2009-09-04 8:41 AM This race is going to be a complete cluster****.  I heard that it was crowded last year with 3,000, and they've doubled it?  Given that the swim start is spread over 90 minutes and that the average rider will take about 90 minutes (but considering that the leaders are faster and some swimmers are slower which will spread things out a little bit, figure about 4000 riders spread over 25 miles at any given time during the race.  That's 160 riders per mile, or 33 feet per rider.  The drafting zone is about 22 feet long.  There will be no way to avoid drafting at times unless everyone is perfectly spread out (which won't happen). 


First.  Average time for an Oly is more like 1:15 on the bike.

And it won't be as hard to avoid drafting as you think.  It will be hard to stay out of the "draft zone" but if you are in the draft zone just make sure you are actively passing and it won't be a problem.

I've done some crowded races.  It takes a little more patience and your overall time might be 30" slower than you wanted it to be, but it's not that bad.

I'm more concerned about the number of people on the course that won't know the rules or understand the concept of "blocking".  I see that as a MUCH bigger concern than drafting.
2009-09-04 9:44 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
I was wondering how acurate the course lengths are?  Like is the bike pretty much a 40K and the run a 10K..only reason i ask is because i was looking at last years results for my AG, and they were a bit slower than I would expect for a flat course. 


2009-09-04 9:58 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
I believe it was hot last year and the bike has a lot of turns.
2009-09-04 10:10 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
Well my bike time will be closer to 2 hours.  I hope for safety's sake people at least call "on your left" when they fly by me.  If the speed demons don't do that with 6000 people out there it will be very dangerous.  I'm looking forward to this race less and less.  I just need to come home in 1 piece.
2009-09-04 10:20 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
drcherrybomb21 - 2009-09-04 10:10 AM Well my bike time will be closer to 2 hours.  I hope for safety's sake people at least call "on your left" when they fly by me.  If the speed demons don't do that with 6000 people out there it will be very dangerous.  I'm looking forward to this race less and less.  I just need to come home in 1 piece.


In retrospect, I wish I'd signed up for the Patriot's Olympic in Williamsburg instead.  We'll see how this goes, but I'm predicting a lot of angry customers.
2009-09-04 4:47 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
drcherrybomb21 - 2009-09-04 10:10 AM Well my bike time will be closer to 2 hours.  I hope for safety's sake people at least call "on your left" when they fly by me.  If the speed demons don't do that with 6000 people out there it will be very dangerous.  I'm looking forward to this race less and less.  I just need to come home in 1 piece.


I might grunt "left" but at some points in the race, I plan on pushing so hard that I am just trying not to regurgitate my gels and water.  Opening my mouth to say something could be dangerous.

I think that it could be awesome to be a part of something so big.  But all of the races that I have done thus far have been <250 racers.
2009-09-04 4:48 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
Daremo - 2009-09-04 9:58 AM I believe it was hot last year and the bike has had a lot of turns.


According to the race organizers, this year's course removes several of the u-turns.

Edited by pga_mike 2009-09-04 4:49 PM


2009-09-04 4:54 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
Last year's times were slow because of the heat, somewhere in the mid 90's. The worst thing about that is my drinks sat around in the heat until I got on the bike around 8:15. Accelerade is hard to stomach at that temperature. I started in the next to last wave and didn't find the course that crowded. The roads are closed for this event. This year it will be crowded.
2009-09-04 6:02 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
well, I guess if it is hot again this year, I have a slight advantage being from South Florida and pretty much training in 90+ degree weather most of the year   Bring it on!  Just had my last major brick and it felt great...best splits ever!
2009-09-05 6:21 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
ropkins - 2009-09-04 5:54 PM Last year's times were slow because of the heat, somewhere in the mid 90's. The worst thing about that is my drinks sat around in the heat until I got on the bike around 8:15. Accelerade is hard to stomach at that temperature. I started in the next to last wave and didn't find the course that crowded. The roads are closed for this event. This year it will be crowded.


That is why you don't put your bottles on the bike until race day!

And its an oly ...... you only need one bottle at most.
2009-09-05 11:07 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
Daremo - 2009-09-05 6:21 AM

ropkins - 2009-09-04 5:54 PM Last year's times were slow because of the heat, somewhere in the mid 90's. The worst thing about that is my drinks sat around in the heat until I got on the bike around 8:15. Accelerade is hard to stomach at that temperature. I started in the next to last wave and didn't find the course that crowded. The roads are closed for this event. This year it will be crowded.


That is why you don't put your bottles on the bike until race day!

And its an oly ...... you only need one bottle at most.


I put my bottle on the bike at 5:30am or whatever time I had to check in for my 8:40 am start. Hard to keep it cold when it sits out there for 3 hours before even starting the race. Should have frozen it.
2009-09-06 12:15 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread

trakie - 2009-09-03 3:08 PM id like to complain as well about the waves, im going off at 8:06, male 24 and under, this happened last year as well when my AG went off after about 3-4 waves of older females and all i can say is it was crowded out there.  im a FOP swimming and ive been spoiled in the last 3 races ive done because i was in the first wave, but now ill have to deal with all the people in front of me.

What is an FOP swimmer?



2009-09-06 3:26 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
front of pack, swimming is a pretty big strength of mine so it sucks that ill have to spend lots of time swimming through/around slower people who went off in previous waves.  then again, maybe ive just been spoiled because in my last few races ive been in the first wave..
2009-09-07 9:21 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
Well final week now, weather looks good. High 81F, let's hope the rain stays away so river stays nice and "clean"
2009-09-07 1:45 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread

It is the same for a strong cyclist, as the roads get pretty crowded, so the only solution is to go pro and start up front or remember that we are all out there for fitness and fun and nobody except the pros are relying on this to feed their families.  Also remember that all of your competitors are facing similar conditions, so the playing field is somewhat level.

If crowded courses are a concern then one should really stick to small races.  The big races have some drawbacks, but they are also really fun events.

Lets all hope for good weather and a fun and safe race for everybody!  This is my third year racing this event, and the past two have been great, I am hoping for the same this year.

2009-09-08 8:07 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
brobinson - 2009-09-07 1:45 PM

It is the same for a strong cyclist, as the roads get pretty crowded, so the only solution is to go pro and start up front or remember that we are all out there for fitness and fun and nobody except the pros are relying on this to feed their families.  Also remember that all of your competitors are facing similar conditions, so the playing field is somewhat level.

If crowded courses are a concern then one should really stick to small races.  The big races have some drawbacks, but they are also really fun events.

Lets all hope for good weather and a fun and safe race for everybody!  This is my third year racing this event, and the past two have been great, I am hoping for the same this year.



I partially agree with you, however, the race organizers have a responsibility to provide a safe, enjoyable course. Last year, with 3000 participants I spent the majority of my ride saying "on your left" since I started in the next to last wave. This year there will be twice as many people in front of me. It will be twice as crowded since they did not change the time span between the first and last wave. This is a race not a ride. Sounds dangerous to me.
2009-09-08 8:34 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
Skazi - 2009-09-07 9:21 AM Well final week now, weather looks good. High 81F, let's hope the rain stays away so river stays nice and "clean"


Looks like rain Tues - Thurs this week.  Hopefully not a lot.


2009-09-08 1:32 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
Funny how the weather forecast changed over night Laughing It's almost like nobody updated the news channels and internet over the long weekend....

but then of course it is the weather and it changes..... LOL
2009-09-09 3:00 PM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread

Athlete's guide is now available.  4 days!

2009-09-10 11:47 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
newbie question:  what is oly?
2009-09-10 11:51 AM
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Subject: RE: The Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread
raka - 2009-09-10 11:47 AM newbie question:  what is oly?

Olympic Distance Triathlon.
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