Amica 19.7 Phoenix - International Course : Official Thread

Ha Ha Ha!! This was my exact answer on Facebook...

All I know is that when you look at it on Google Maps it looks green...Slapped in the middle of a concrete hole. It appears to be more of a canal swim than an open water. With that being said, if people say it's okay, I'm taking their word for it. I'll see you on race day!!

The water may not be great, but remember - they would not put anyone in health jeopardy.  

RedRock had to cancel the Marquee swim last April just because of a little rain and its effects on TTL.

You may glow a bit coming out of the water at Firebird, but that, like all things, will pass. 

The water at Firebird lake is very different than TTL.  My understanding is that it's pumped from an underground source and it has a very high mineral content.  When you first put your face in it, you'll get a little slap in the face, but you quickly get over it.   I never noticed any 'fuel' smell or taste to the water despite all the boating events that are held in the lake.  The worst part of that venue for me was that the run (Firebird Triathlon) was adjacent to the motorcycle track (seperated by a cement wall) and you were sucking in motorcycle fumes while on the run.  Maybe the run will be different for the Amica tri.  Hopefully it will be different anyway.  there was a thread on this topic a in early 2010 just before they held the Firebird Triathlon. The race director had posted some info on the lake if you want to dig that up.

Wade

SunshineEstrella (or, if I may, Tracy), 

I agree.  I like seeing the maps before signing up.  I don't know if it matters to see them, but it is one less unknown for me.  Since I am still pretty new to this I like to eliminate the unknowns.   I think I want to make this triathlon my last of the "season."

Here we go, folks...

Couple of friends said it was pretty bad and that they'd MUCH rather swim in TTL. They say the racing boats have made the water weird. But they're still going to race haha. I will too if my knee is green lighted this upcoming week!

The bike course looks pretty bad imo. I thought my first triathlon at Nathan's had a lot of turns!

Mikeylee - 2011-10-23 7:40 AM I agree the bike course seems to have an excessive number of turns, especially when you factor in the sprint distance, which I am doing as my third triathlon, does three loops of the course! Despite that, it is wonderful to be blessed with a body that can move that far!

For sure! I'll be doing the international distance. Hopefully I don't lose track of how many laps I do? Haha.

Now if my knee will get better by Sunday, everything would be great See you out there!

I am concerned about the water temp.  I read the water will be mid-60's.  Is a wetsuit needed?  This is my third triathlon, and the water in the other two (Nathan's and Bartlett Lake) was quite comfortable and I did not even consider a wetsuit.  If a wetsuit is needed for mid-60's, I need to rent one and get in a practice swim in it! 

I appreciate the the info on the water from you all. 

You don't NEED it, but it might be good to have one if the water is in the 60's. When I went OWS at Saguaro a week ago, the two buddies that didn't wear wetsuits were shivering outside of the water. That was probably low 70's for water temp and mid 80's for air temp. This was just standing on the docks.

I'd imagine 60's water/70's air is going to be colder! 

I actually paused to sight on my 2nd lap and started gagging. ALMOST threw up during the swim!  Never going there again!

Leaned over so much on a 180 degree turn (the first one in the parking lot) on my 2nd lap of the bike that my skewer's handle scraped across the road and made me teeter a bit. My right leg was slammed down though so all was well 

Knee issues popped up on my 2nd lap of the run 

But besides that... A great first oly! The volunteers, athletes and cheerers were awesome. Matty Reed is freaking tall. That is all.