Who is doing the Philly Insurance Tri?

Welcome to BT and the triathlon community!

I'm doing the oly on Sunday.

Don

I am!  Doing OLY also.  Good luck with your first tri!

Will be there to support my wife for the sprint and am racing on Sunday.  Kids will likely do the kids' races on Sat, too.

I will be doing the sprint. My first time doing a Philly event. Was debating sprint vs. oly, but a) we will be at Disney World 6/16 to 6/23, and b) the oly filled up.

Cool.  Anything in particular I should know?

1)  Don't worry about the quality of the water.  I've been swimming in much worse.
2)  The bike can get really congested in spots.  Be careful!
3)  The run is flat but most of it is unshaded.  If it's hot be sure to stay hydrated.
4)  Have fun!

I did the Saturday sprint the past two years, and will be stepping up to the OLY on Sunday this year.

As for what to expect for the sprint:

SWIM:
Check out the swim course, if you haven't yet. You start out swimming against the current, then across it, then with it, then across it again. If you start out too hyped up, swimming against the current can sap your energy and throw you off your game. You may want to consider a practice swim before the race start just to get you mentally ready. I will be this year...

BIKE:
Remember to do TWO loops. Stay to the left at the turn-around of the first loop. It's a tight 180 degree turn right in the middle of the crowds. Set yourself up so you don't go through the turn right next to someone. The course is not too bad, but as mentioned, can get crowded at times. There's a tight left turn from a quick downhill out of the park and back onto the drive. Careful around that turn, as people have wiped out there. You can also make up some time on that downhill. I've noticed a bunch of folks back off and just coast down the hill. I recommend hammering it, but I ride the course often all season long on Sunday mornings, so I'm used to it. ;o)

RUN:
Easy, flat, out and back course. As mentioned, most of the run is not in the shade so if it's hot, stay wet. There's a water/gatorade station at about the half-way point for the "out" and the "back". It sits in the middle of the course. If you're not used to drinking gatorade while running, DON'T. I practically puked it all up my first year. Stick with the water.

Transitions:
Transition area is busy, but pretty well organized and well marked. There's lots of volunteers all over, and lots of port-a-potties. Although, right before the race starts, there never seems to be enough... )

It's a well supported and well sponsored event. A fun crowd shows up that cheers everyone on. Good luck and enjoy it!

Wow, thanks for the detailed help!  I'm definately psyched, but also definately not up to shape yet.  Got a ways to go, but there's still lots of time too.

Signed up for the Oly (will be my 2nd time, and I've done the Sprint once) but given my recent PE incident and the subsequent lack of training recently, I'm trying to decide whether to switch to the Sprint or just bag racing and volunteer one or both days.

I'll be volunteering both race days, and possibly packet pickup on Friday depending on my work schedule. 

I'll be volunteering on Sat, then racing the OLY on Sunday.  My first time at this race.

Cool!  Let me know where you'll be and I'll stop by and say hello.

The Oly is my first race in ten years.  I can't wait to see the amount of rust.

Also going to do the sprint - this is my first tri.  Just got into a pool for the first time in 20 yrs this week, and things are a little rusty to say the least!  Hopefully I will see a few of you out there.  I live in Berwyn, and looking for training partners if anyone is interested.

Keith. 

Nice avatar

Ha ha - just noticed that !  I am from Brecon, been over here for a few years - you?

K. 

Hi Keith,

The Sprint will be my first race as well.  
I live near Berwyn, in Norristown (about 25 min away).  LMK if you want to meetup for training.

Cheers,
Aaron

I am doing the sprint - will be my first. 

I too live in Norristown.  Do most of my training runs around the neighborhood and up into East Norriton.  I bike mostly on the SRT.

Good luck - this is a great event for a first timer.  The oly philly was my first race in 2007. Course is well marked, not too crowded, and tons of fans to keep your adrenaline up.

Just remember on the bike... anytime you make a left you're going up a hill. Let us know how it goes 

Are you talking about the same race I have done?!?!?!  Both the sprint & the oly are VERY crowded races.

I haven't really had problems with crowds... I've only done the past 2 years, however.  I may be jaded though after my participation in the Chicago triathlon...

I haven't had big problems with the crowds... but that's because I'm a back-of-the-packer and my wave usually goes off close to last (40-44, clydesdale).  Most people are heading home when I cross the finish line!  I did the sprint 2 years ago and the oly last year and doing the oly again this year.  Love the course.  The bike is pretty challenging... a little hillier than some first-timers expect.  Run can get VERY hot.  Drink at every aid station and pour a cup of water over your head.  Good luck and have fun!