Nation's Triathlon : Official Thread (Page 2)

Host hotel

There is Conte's in Bethesda, MD. Its about a 20 minute ride on the Metro. Dupont Circle Metro station is about 1/2 mile south of the host hotel on Connecticut Ave. Head north on the Metro, get off at the Bethesda metro station.

Ive been using them for about a year and the staff is better than other places Ive been in the area. Your friend might want to call and schedule something with them. Dont know how busy the bike shops will be with 7000 triathletes in town.

Conte’s of Bethesda, MD
7626 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301.312.6159

I'm actually going to have to defer to you & others' time. May/may not be able to make it (per wife's instructions). 

I am in.

Hey Cat! Glad to see you going. I need to shake your hand and give you a hug for your help!
Hell, I'll buy you a beer. PM me.
 

This will be my first ever tri and I'm so nervous! I'm pretty slow...but good luck to all. Also with Team in Training, Go Team 

There are several others within reasonable walking distance to the hotel; I would recommend calling ahead to ANY place to see if they can fit her in.

Bike Rack (www.bikerackdc.com), 14th and Q NW: Sponsors a multi-sport race team, good mechanics, but she will definitely need to call ahead. One of the race sponsors.

CityBikes (www.citybikes.com): Columbia and Ontario NW (closest to the hotel probably, 10 minute walk): A lot of folks use this place out of convenience, but there have also been lots of complaints about the customer service.

DC Bike Stations (www.dcbicyclestations.com): 14th and W St NW; New shop, don't know anything about their service. Because they aren't as well known she might have more luck getting slotted in

Rollin's Cycles (14th and RI Ave): Small shop, kind of strange, variable service. Might be able to help out, though

There are lots more shops in the city a bit further away. A cluster on M St in Georgetown (Revolution Cycles, Bicycle Pro Shop, Big Wheel Bikes) and Capitol Hill Bikes on 8th St SE. Good luck!

okokokok...bull sharks?!!

Why are there bull sharks in the river?! 

http://mobile.baltimoresun.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=297&nid=20788639&cid=17079&scid=2085&ith=2&title=Baltimore+Breaking+News

They caught that shark pretty much where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake Bay, which is about 100 miles downstream from the race course.

Living things are not a problem in the Potomac

true...lmao!

ok, makes me feel a lil better... but I probably swim like a wounded seal pup and am slow...lol.

granted 1/7000 is great odds! time to taper..

Check it out!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2...
Potomac River's health rebounds
By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The Potomac River is cleaner now than it has been in decades, thanks largely to upgrades at Washington's sewage plant - and the proof is on the river bottom, where thickets of underwater grass are replacing mud and murk, according to a new scientific study.

Now only if the swim support would use kayaks instead of boats and jet skis, we wouldnt have to worry about smelling like deisel when we get out of the water

http://www.nationstri.com/
Water Temp Update

UPDATE: As of 9/7/2010 the water temperature in the Potomac is between 80-81 degrees. If the water temperature is above 78 degrees on race day, then age group competitors that want to participate in age group results cannot wear a wetsuit, per USAT rules. We will provide another temperature check on 9/8/2010 at 5:30 PM.

I wonder how many people will beg out because they're not allowed a wetsuit.

Well, at the current temperature wetsuits are "allowed."  You just cant compete for an award.  Given that there are likely <<2% vieing for a podium spot, I dont see this as an issue.  Looking at the temperature trends over the last 120 days on the usgs.gov site for the potomac, I dont see how the temps will get below 78F by sunday.  Just doesn't look possible.  But I also dont think it will be above 84 degrees either. 

Now if the rd pulls something similar to eman this year and simply eliminates wetsuits even tho the temp was 79F, then I can see a large number of folks walking off, and appropriately so. 

Personally, I am very happy I found a neoprene speedsuit on sale cheep and will be wearing it.  (they are cheap as they are no longer WTC legal.)

Let's take a poll: Who will wear a wetsuit if over 78F?

Tough one, possible overheating... over increased speed. 

Race should be wetsuit legal. Water temps are already around 78° and the weather in DC isnt supposed to go above that until race day.

Now we just have to hope the rain holds off until we're done.

Or at least until the bike leg is over.  

I would probably say that wetsuits will be legal from the weather there and also the pattern it shows.

9/1/10   = 85 'F
9/7/10  = 80 'F
9/9/10  = 78 'F

If it keep at that ratio, water will be around 76-77 'F this weekend. They are going to take another temp tomorow, but I think it will be legal, unless the upper water flower got warmer.

Good luck all.

PS. Fm the weather man, I sure hope that rain holds till after the bike at least, or a whole lot of crashes will be on the course. I remember some areas last year been slippery and it was dry. Cheers!!

Edited by devouahy 2010-09-09 6:11 PM

The water temps this morning are officially wetsuit legal. ~75°F.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/hourbyhour/USDC0001...

Looks like it's going to rain Sat night and start to clear up just as the race is starting. My wave is 7:56 AM. Should stay cool between now and then, though.

That also means race day morning the water will be cooled by the rain.

Just hope it doesnt rain too much. Too much rain = DCs sewage plants cant handle it and discharge into the Potomac!

Yikes! But then again my mental image of the Potomac is a barren river that doesn't even have algae in it due to contamination so that wouldn't be all that off anyway