Felt I was not as prepared as other races. My swim fitness has taken a big hit with the new job, (excuses). Never found a draft as I opted for straight route over following the bouys in and out.

Swim more

The water was refreshing actually down right cold at 65.They had carpet on the boat ramp which was good. Unfortunately the carpet started rolling up and when we exited it almost tripped me. In fact the two guys behind both went down, heard some volunteers say something about being it typical as they don't use their legs in the swim, DOH the carpet tripped them not their numb legs. Of course I can't say anything as my HR is screaming high was down to 156 by the time I got to my bike. Once off the ramp you hit the mud in transision what a mess. I sank up to my calves in places. Once at my bike the wetsuit did a great job of cleaning the mud off my ankles and feet as it came off.

Of course it rained the whole time, lite rain but made the road wet and slick. With way more turns then any course I have been on due to the loops. Some people scared me by going too fast and others scared me by stopping, geesh no happy middle road. Luckily we were spread out pretty good. Now normally I am pretty strong on the bike but today ran into a mechanical issue, the front derailer was not functioning. I had the choice to be stuck on the small or big ring after the first 3 miles. We had already made a big climb and thought I could just push it through. I could but more slowly then I would have wanted and hurt the legs more too. LOTS of hills and me on the big ring, urgh. I see it really lowered my cadence too normally 90. But the small ring was not enough on the rollers and there was too much cross chain noise. Thought HTFU, Suck it up. This one girl passed me on an uphill only to be overtaken by me on the next set of rollers. As she pasted me again on an uphill, she said I looked like I was struggleing on the hills. When I told her I could only use the big ring she said she would just die, I told her I am not far from that now. Not a fan of loops either as it seemed you never got a good pace going before it was time to turn again. Over the longer loop of 12 miles we had 14 turns longest straight was 1 1/2 miles along the turnpike. Adding the slick rain covered roads made it just slower, specially to turn. The mix of sprint and olympic racers complicated things too. Worse two things, Riding in the middle of the road side by side chatting and stopping at the turns.

Obviously get the derailer working right. But it was working before but I should have ridden it more since HTO replaced the cable as seems to have streched when I needed it the most.

Knew it before hand but with the new Yankz my shoes are harder to put on. Its good as the Yanks hold my forefoot better but slowed putting them on. Oh did I mention the MUD. As we leave T@ with have to run thru a pig trough. I had mud over my shoes before even getting to the timing mats. Ridiculous they didn't have carpets or rerouted us as it got worse by the time we returned.

practice more with my shoes

I have not trained on hills much this summer and paid the price. My legs felt surprisingly strong after the bike but those hills just killed me. Very challenging course from that stand point. Didn't realize PA had so many hills was very hard to get into a good pace. Felt much better on the second loop after eating some salt caps and tums. But the legs never cramped but I could sense they were on the edge. Surprised my pace was as good as it was.

Should have modified my yankz to be easier to put on. Practice more on hills. Guess the treadmill at the gym will have be run higher over the winter.

trudge thru the mud to my bike rack. Collect my soaked mud covered gear and pack. Then a few of us decided to look for some food. NONE the one table we found the guys said it was for your group, the one guy asked if we could join.
Will up date the race time when posted.


HILLS, swim fitness and mechanical bike issues


This is the worse event I ever competed in. First yesterday before the race we get an email which states thanks for signing up but due to signing up late (a month ago) they may not have shirts for us late registrers. I felt it should have been covered at registration as other race do. But they took the extra $10 bucks no problem. So we check in and get no goodie bag not just no shirt, on our packet we are told to come back at 7:45 to see if any shirts. Well three of us hit the station at 7:55; 20 minutes before the race and she gives us a hard time about not having a lot of extra shirts, good grief. The race starts 15 minutes late but then part of 1st swim wave took off after someone rang some cowbells not the airhorn. For 5 minutes they try to stop them by YELLING STOP to those swimmers, why not use a kayak they couldn't possibly hear you. So after another couple of minutes they send the rest of the 1st wave. How will they score / time that wave? There was no water station on the bike even though we go by the same intersection three times for the loops? I report the guy I saw cut the course and the official said not much he could unless an Official sees it. Didn't even take his number? Then the issue of the lack of food / drink at the end was dismal. A lady I racked next too said this new race director is know for being cheap. The races she did before the YMCA ran, and they had a great spread out. Then on the way out of the park we are forced to turn the wrong way and sent out to the country with no idea of where or how we were to get back. I was disappointed to say the least with the way this event was run. Its a shame as the course is a good test of your endurance. The lake is awesome and well situated. They could avoid the loops and go longer there are lots of roads in that part. I ride the Lancaster Covered bridge Century most years and they cover alot more ground. In a nutshell I will not be back, there are way too many well run races to putup with this. .