Tom Sawyer Triathlon XXIX

Scroll down and you can read comments from last year's discussions.  You will find a lot information there.  I have done it the past 2 years.  It's a fun, low-key race; perfect for a first tri.  Last year's was marred by a tragedy, but it couldn't have been avoided.  

I would do it again this year, but, we are moving to Colorado in few weeks.  Good luck!   

 

I would do it again this year, but, we are moving to Colorado in few weeks.  Good luck!   

Thanks M-shell.

I was trying to get more info on this race too.  A course map would be nice...  I did not see the threads from last years race.  Am I missing those somewhere?
I noticed that the swim is in a pool.  Do we swim laps? 
I'm still really new to the sport.  I finished my first last month & am looking for what's next!

Last years threads are in the Kentucky section: "Triathlete Killed in Louisville" and "Tom Sawyer Sprint Triathlon".

Swim is in pool, self seeded by time.  Fastest swimmer goes first, followed every 20 secs (best recollection) by another swimmer.  It's a 50 meter pool.  Swim up right side of black line, touch wall, swim back on other side of same lane.  Go under rope and repeat 8 times. 

This was my 1st tri, and was pretty honest in my swim seeding.  Was one of the last to start.  It was very frustrating standing in line for over an hour, watching others who seeded themselves with fast time, but had to do a slow breast stroke to complete swim.

I did a Google search and was able to find the race and contact info.  Not the sign-up sheet or bike/run course route.

Last years bike left the park, winded through Anchorage, to turnaround at Ford truck plant on Chamberlain Ln.  You'll hit many speed bumps in Anchorage, so be prepared to let up a little to avoid flatting.

Run is a flat 5K on the park grounds.

Chris

is run still cross country? i know it was when i watched my dad do it 15 years ago.

Thanks guys for the info.  I found the old threads, and they were helpful.  I think I might do it!

This is going to sound like a dumb questions, but can I do the bike portion with my mountain bike? This is my first sprint triathlon so I am not even sure what to wear. Any advice and direction would be appreciated.

Many people in this event last year were on mountain bikes.  Regarding what to wear, being that it's sprint you can get away with just riding with compression shorts and athletic shorts over them.  I used a pair of tri specific shorts, basically a cycling short with a little less padding.  They also dry quickly so you don't feel like your running with a diaper on.  You can swim, bike and run in the same shorts.

Picked mine up at Ken Combs or you could also try VO2 Max, also in St. Matthews.

The run is around the perimeter of the park with a short trip around the fitness trail.  No cross country, however, that would be pretty cool as they have some great cross country trails at Sawyer.

 

I did my first sprint earlier this month and used a mountain bike.  I just signed up for this one and plan on using it again.  It's not quite as fast as a road bike, but might be beneficial in this race b/c there are speed bumps to go over. 
I took my registration in today and asked if I could have a course map.  The guy printed me out one with no problems.  Glad to know I won't be the only newbie out there! 

Thanks for the help! I am extremely excited about my first sprint tri. Looking at last year's results, I figure that if I can be in the 18 min. swim time and 55 mi. bike time then more than likely I won't make a fool of myself :-). I am really just doing this for sense of accomplishment and to get in shape. I plan on busting it pretty hard fro the next 5 weeks.

Does anyone know of a good place to lap swim? Also, is the bike course for this tri very hilly? Thanks again.

OK I am officially registered! There are a few more questions I have though:

What time should I get to the park that morning? Is it OK to wear my running shoes for biking? And lastly, when we receive our packet does that tell us where to set up our transition stations? Thanks again...


Edited by Douglas76 2010-07-01 2:40 PM

You should arrive about an hour before, yes you can wear your running shoes and the transistion area is first come first serve.  I would suggest putting the bike closer to the exit since running through transistion with a bike is harder than just running through it.

The guy at Tom Sawyer park said that we would get an email about a week before with the time to get there in the morning and all other info.  He also said that we get our race #'s the morning of, not before.  I drove the bike course.  From a car it doesn't look too bad, but that's not on a bike either....  I asked for a course map at the park and they printed one off for me.  If I had a scanner I would copy it for you.  Sorry.

I found this link of the bike course, but I am not sure if it is up to date. Can anyone verify?
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/E-P-Tom-Sawyer-Triathlon-Bike-Leg

I had posted a map of the bike leg last year.  Assuming nothing has changed the link is below.  The turnaround is at or near the entrance to the storage place.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/map.asp?routeid=97875

BATLOU,

 thx for all the information prior to my move to Louisville KY. Well I did receive my registration over the mail when I was in N. Va about 2 weeks ago. Well the bad news is a injured my back in a Jet Ski accident and bruised my tail bone and kidneys. Finally ran yesterday and still felt a little bit of tightness. I will not be taking a chance for the Tom Sawyer race, but currently getting my mountain bike ready for the Cherokee and Senecca trails. Thanks again and good luck to u and others doing the Tom Sawyer Sprint. If my back feels better and depending when my tri-bike gets here from N. Va I may decide to do Tom Sawyer.

I was just curious-how does the swim work? Do you stay in the same lane the entire time and swim 16 laps? Thanks for the help.

heres a map of the swim course http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/map.asp?routeid=62011

....u swim down on one side of the black lane line, hit the wall and go to the other side coming back. Once u complete that lap u go to the next lane and repeat it. This is what ive heard...not positive though. Hope it helps

^^^^^^Correct on swim.  I did Tom Sawyer last year and swim is 8 laps, one in each lane.

I don't know about you all, but I am getting pumped! Its my first tri, and I have been training really hard. I swam almost a mile last night and biked close to 10. But running in this heat is kicking my butt, near the end of my first mile I thought my lungs were burning a little too much and had to cut it back. Anyway, good luck to everyone looking forward to this!