Ballantyne Triathlon : Official Thread

Good luck!  I will be at Stumpy Creek Olympic the same day. 

Speaking of which, why is setup events having two tri's the same day AND having another sprint at stump creek on Sunday?!?   Anyways, looks like Ballantyne has a pretty good turnout as there are almost 300 signed up.

One note: hopefully they re-paving Rae Rd before the race.  They stripped a thin top layer off the ashpult last week making the road much slower to ride on...which is kinda funny because that was the smoothest road surface I ride on.  Charlotte road money waste at is finest!   

Oh no!  That was the best part of the bike.  And the bike course was one of the main reasons I wanted to go back to Ballantyne.  I really didn't care for the run with the hilly section in the middle.

Alan, I knew you were doing Stumpy Creek, have a great race.

I can't imagine it takes two more weeks but ya never know with our crews!

On the plus side, if it is done in time, you will have brand spanking new road to ride on!

New road, huh?  I guess I'll take any help I can get.  lol

Anything I haven't read in the threads and race reports a noob might need or want to know about this race?  My nerves are getting geared up and I'm craving info.  lol

baxt3r:

The bike course is my regular long ride route so I hit those roads weekly.  You will start slightly downhill and then make a right on Blakeny Heath.  This section is a fast and downsloping.  You then make a right on Rea.  Rea is gently sloping upwards but U can maintain good speed on that section (if the paving is done).  Right on Crane road.  This is couple mile straight section that also slopes down with a few false flats here and there.  Right on New Town which is slightly uphill.  Right on Marvin...downhill and fast...until you hit the biggest hill on the course (It is hidden by trees so I dont really see it).  Not too long or too steep but the biggest hill none-the-less.  Once you crest the hill it is again mostly downhill.  Right on Old Audrey Kell which is pretty flat.  Left on Community House and Right on Bryant Farm (both flat).

The run?  Mile 1 and 3 are pretty flat (slopes up a little going out/down coming back in).  No idea on mile two as that is in a neighborhood I have never been in.  It will not be shaded much, if at all (at least miles 1 and three).

Pool?  It has water in it...and some fun slides if you have your green swim band!  Plus they have a killer kiddie pool! 

Good luck!

For the run - At about the 1 mile mark you go into a neighborhood and soon start to go downhill.  This is good until you realize that you have to go back up the same hill sooner or later.  At least there is shade in the neighborhood and the local kids will spray you with a hose if you want (And you will want!).  Unfortunately the last mile has no shade.

The facility itself is beautiful, and the volunteers were really nice.  The pool is excellent but there is a fairly long run up to the transition area and the run will count as part of your swim time.  I think that the bike start is slightly uphill, but it shouldn't be a problem.  As I recall there was ample parking as long as you weren't too late in arriving.

Great info.  I guess I get something to blame a lousy swim time on.  lol

Getting nervous.  I haven't been doing much in the way of training the last few days and I can feel the difference.  Time to kick it up a notch for the next week.

Not nervous, just stupid!  Went our for an easy ride today, stopped and promptly fell over.  Must have had dirt in my cleats and couldn't release them.  Twisted my back, but I should be OK by Saturday.  I think I'll stay off the bike until then.   Bob

I picked up a little bit of time in the past week in the swimming but it was after the cutoff for swim time changes.  I'm more like a 2 minute 100 instead of a 2:15/100.  Not much of an improvement but I would rather be held up by someone and be able to pass at some point than be the one holding up others.  I just don't like being "that guy" but I suppose I will in some respects considering I spent a small fortune on equipment before even running a race.  Well, got equipment but didn't really come out of pocket (long-ish story).

I'll be the one wandering around confused and half-asleep. 

Don't sell yourself short, :15/100 is a big improvement!

Hey Guys:

Brand Newbie, first tri (bib 318), had a really good time.  Legs are pretty fried but otherwise I'm good. 

Good meeting you there Bob, and good job placing in your AG.

Off to the salad bar at Ruby Tuesdays for some carbo-loading!

Well that's over!  The transition area was jammed with 100 more participants than last year.  All in all a good race.  The weather couldn't have been better.  I improved by ten minutes from last year.  Just shows you what you can do if you swim 50+ miles, run 500+ miles and bike over 1000 miles.  Oh and it doesn't hurt to spend some money on a new bike too!  

Congratulations Baxter, great job.  It was great to meet you.  Best of luck as you continue your new lifestyle.

NewDiz, thanks for introducing yourself.  It was nice talking with you.  Best of luck going forward.

Congratulations to all BT racers!  See you next year?

Bob