General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Catfish Sprint Rss Feed  
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2011-06-28 1:11 PM

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Subject: Catfish Sprint
So I am getting ready to do my first triathlon which is going to be the Catfish sprint in Harrisburg. I noticed a bunch of you have raced this race in the past so I wanted to pick your brains. The main thing I am nervous about is the bike portion. I am concerned about riding on front street do they close a lane or anything  or are you expected to ride going the wrong way on a one way street. I don't mind either way just want to know what I am getting myself into. Thanks everyone for taking the time to look at this


2011-06-28 2:02 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Newburg, Maryland
Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

I have not done this race before, but having done many different races in the area. It will be safe however they set it up.  If you ride into traffic or with traffic there will be a lane just for the bikers.  Safety is a very big concern to race directors as they start to put a race together so you will not have any issues and will not need to dodge cars!  Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Mike Fecik
Coach | Lancaster-Harrisburg-York area club director
endurancemultisport

 

2011-06-28 2:04 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
cm121886 - 2011-06-28 2:11 PM So I am getting ready to do my first triathlon which is going to be the Catfish sprint in Harrisburg. I noticed a bunch of you have raced this race in the past so I wanted to pick your brains. The main thing I am nervous about is the bike portion. I am concerned about riding on front street do they close a lane or anything  or are you expected to ride going the wrong way on a one way street. I don't mind either way just want to know what I am getting myself into. Thanks everyone for taking the time to look at this


I've done Catfish twice and I'm doing it for the 3rd time this year.  They close half of the road on Front Street and have police stopping traffic for you at all intersections.  It's an out and back bike course so you ride the wrong way on the out portion and the right way on the back portion. If I remember correctly they have cones separating both bike lanes and the traffic lanes.  You need not worry about traffic.

Remember to bring sandals or flip-flops since the swim start is about 1/2 mile from transition. They will transport your shoes back to T1 but you need something to walk in for the 1/2 mile.  Unless you just walk barefoot...like me.

Good luck and have fun.
2011-06-28 2:25 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
I did this race 2 years ago and am doing it again this year. It is a great race and set up nicely for being done in Harrisburg. No need to worry about the bike course. They have cones setup seperating bike lanes from the road which the cars travel and they are not spaced to far apart either. Police are stationed at every intersection to stop traffic. The whole race is FAST!! Swim downstream in the river, bike flat out and back, run flat out and back with a nice stretch to the finish with people cheering in case you need the extra motivation!
2011-06-28 3:02 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Wow thanks guys for the quick response. It good to know they do all that. I live in Wormleysburg so I have been riding the course and the traffic is not to bad but it will slow you down. Being my first tri I am trying to get a handle on everything that is going to happen. I think I am going barefoot the trek across the island just think it will be easier that way.  Thanks again for the quick comprehensive responses. 
2011-06-28 3:28 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

The Catfish was my first Triathlon last year!  So this will be my 1 year anniversary of the addiction. What a great first race you are going to have.  Like others said, it is a very fast course.  Nothing beats swimming with a current!  And again, like others have said, you have nothing to worry about on the bike course.  Its an out and back to Fort Hunter and there are cones and police everywhere.  Once the bib assignments are out (Are they out yet???) let us know and I'll stop by and say hi.

 



2011-07-01 3:33 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
This will be my 4th Catfish. It is also my home turf since I live on the 3300 block of Second Street. (The Harrisburg Marathon and Half both go past my front door.)

The river is usually shallow so it doesn't feel like an open water swim. You can see the bottom and often can scrape your knuckles. We just watch for any alerts for ecoli, etc. That's not to scare or anything, it just seems there's always an alert prior to the event, then gets cleared up prior to the event.

Front Street is divided between bikes and traffic up to somewhere past Division where you follow the right side of the road up to Ft. Hunter where you turn around and return to city Island.

It is a good first race and it will go fast.

Though it is July, I will probably be in a full wetsuit, temps permitting, since I need the buoyancy.
2011-07-01 3:35 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
By the way, I hope people say hello. I'm the skinny 49 year old with the blue Felt F5C road bike.
2011-07-01 9:38 PM
in reply to: #3577418

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

nxm165 - 2011-07-01 4:35 PM By the way, I hope people say hello. I'm the skinny 49 year old with the blue Felt F5C road bike.

 

Hey Nick, I saw you last year but I just started logging on here at the time and didn't say hello.  I'll be sporting a white BT tech shirt prior to the race and Trek 2.1 road bike in transition.  I think last year was wetsuit illegal?  I don't quite remember because I didn't own a wetsuit or understand the relevance at the time.   Were your previous races wetsuit legal/illegal?  

 

-Chris

2011-07-02 9:47 PM
in reply to: #3577805

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
stilgarnaib - 2011-07-01 9:38 PM

nxm165 - 2011-07-01 4:35 PM By the way, I hope people say hello. I'm the skinny 49 year old with the blue Felt F5C road bike.

 

Hey Nick, I saw you last year but I just started logging on here at the time and didn't say hello.  I'll be sporting a white BT tech shirt prior to the race and Trek 2.1 road bike in transition.  I think last year was wetsuit illegal?  I don't quite remember because I didn't own a wetsuit or understand the relevance at the time.   Were your previous races wetsuit legal/illegal?  

 

-Chris



Last year was wetsuit legal. Just got back from OBX, so I don't know what the current river temp is, but unless told otherwise, I prefer to wear the suit. It won't bother me if nobody can where one, though; I'll just chug along the best I can.

I'll look for you on the big day.
2011-07-03 9:58 AM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Anyone have any ideas oif what the temp is in the river currently? I would definitely like to know if it will be wetsuit legal I know the past couple years have been so Im guessing its a good chance this year will be as well since the weather has been quite as warm as in the past.

Edited by swimmer04 2011-07-03 10:00 AM


2011-07-03 8:10 PM
in reply to: #3578950

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Carlisle PA
Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

Don't know the temp - not sure if "data unavailable" means "we didn't get funded to gather the data" or that there's an issue with the gage right now.

But here's the link to the USGS data for the gage located on City Island: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01570500  <...

2011-07-04 9:50 AM
in reply to: #3571245


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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

Water temp is probably over allowable temp, however that really does not mean too much. The event is not USAT sanctioned and wetsuits will probably be allowed just like last year when the water was almost 80. With no rain in the forecast and the levels low, the current will not be that strong.

Mike

2011-07-04 7:34 PM
in reply to: #3579426

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
sashadog72 - 2011-07-03 8:10 PM

Don't know the temp - not sure if "data unavailable" means "we didn't get funded to gather the data" or that there's an issue with the gage right now.

But here's the link to the USGS data for the gage located on City Island: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01570500  

[/QUOTE...

After doing, what I consider, and extensive search of the interwebs, I guess I'll just have to go down to City Island and drop a thermometer in the river and find out the temperature myself.
2011-07-07 9:26 AM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Anybody know where you pick of the packets on Saturday is it still on city island. I will be the skinny 24yr old white kid trying to figure out what the heck he is doing on Sunday. Bikes an old blue trek 1100 white grips on the handlebars. 
2011-07-07 9:38 AM
in reply to: #3584515

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

The event website lists packet pick-up on Saturday from 2-5:30, presumably at City Island.  I don't know where.  We should be getting an informational email from the RD, or at least I remember getting one last year. 

I'm waiting to hear from the race director to make sure I am registered.  I sent in my application snail mail to avoid Active's fees but haven't gotten any response nor has my check been cashed.  Has anyone else registered snail mail and gotten some sort of confirmation?  I did email her but haven't received a reply.

Good luck to everyone, and if I can pick any BT-ers out of the crowd, I will say hi.  I will be the sturdy girl with the black/yellow Felt F80, say hi if you see me, well, that is if I am properly registered!



2011-07-07 10:18 AM
in reply to: #3584542

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
melbo55 - 2011-07-07 10:38 AM

The event website lists packet pick-up on Saturday from 2-5:30, presumably at City Island.  I don't know where.  We should be getting an informational email from the RD, or at least I remember getting one last year. 

I'm waiting to hear from the race director to make sure I am registered.  I sent in my application snail mail to avoid Active's fees but haven't gotten any response nor has my check been cashed.  Has anyone else registered snail mail and gotten some sort of confirmation?  I did email her but haven't received a reply.

Good luck to everyone, and if I can pick any BT-ers out of the crowd, I will say hi.  I will be the sturdy girl with the black/yellow Felt F80, say hi if you see me, well, that is if I am properly registered!

Packet pick up is in the base of the parking garage to the right as you come down the ramp.

I'll be sporting a BT white tech shirt on race morning

2011-07-07 10:20 AM
in reply to: #3584515

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

cm121886 - 2011-07-07 10:26 AM Anybody know where you pick of the packets on Saturday is it still on city island. I will be the skinny 24yr old white kid trying to figure out what the heck he is doing on Sunday. Bikes an old blue trek 1100 white grips on the handlebars. 

I'll look for you and stop by.  I will be sporting a white BT tech shirt so if you see me, ask me anything and I'll try and help the best I can!

 

2011-07-07 12:15 PM
in reply to: #3584542

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
I snail mailed my form for Pinchot, and the check was cashed after the race.  They are a really good group, so if there was a mix up or something, I'm sure they'll fix it for you.
2011-07-07 1:04 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Cool thanks for the info I will try and look out for the BT shirts
2011-07-07 2:54 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Participant emails just came out, and I am registered!  I will be bib 375.


2011-07-07 3:26 PM
in reply to: #3585190

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Bib 335 - Wave 1
2011-07-07 4:57 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Bib 357 Wave 1
2011-07-07 8:59 PM
in reply to: #3571245

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Harrisburg, PA
Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint
Bib 358, old-man swim wave.
2011-07-08 2:31 PM
in reply to: #3571245


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Subject: RE: Catfish Sprint

Bib 411.  Old man wave as well. :-)  But I'm a youngster in the age group - first year in the 45 - 49 group.  I still suck at this sport, but I'm having fun!

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