Over The Mountain Triathlon

This will be my first OLY race (have only competed in sprints thus far), but I train in some "hilly" terrain around Raleigh (Apex to be exact).  This ride, plotted as best I could on BT routetracker, has ~1700 ft of climbing, and 282 feet on the run.  I'm nervous more about the swim (longest OWS to date for me is 750m) than the bike.  I'm actually looking forward to the bike and the run, no matter if it's a double loop.  I'm racing with a training partner, and that will give me a chance to say hello to him during the race, as he will have a faster swim and bike than me.

I'm still working on nutrition logistics, as my longest duration race has been 1'48" or so (before I got serious about this sport).  I'm in the 1'20" range for a long sprint now, and just use HEED on the bike, hammer gel/GU on the run.  I'm thinking a GU right out of the water/on the bike, two HEED bottles on the bike, and 2 GUs on the run with water every 10-15 minutes.  Other OLY racers care to share their nutrition planning for a race like this?

Made our first trip out to the course today--Holy crap!  First, let me say that your first major challenge looks to be right out of the water.  The boat ramp which leads up to where we believe the 1st TA will be is steep. That's going to kick everyone's butt.  The roads are decent, not perfectly smooth, but overall in pretty good shape.  There wasn't much traffic even at 2pm today.

Now for the bike--As soon as you come out of the TA, you head into a short uphill section as you pass the golf course.  Mile 2 has a pretty decent climb, not overly steep but long.  Another similar climb at Mile 4 but longer.  Next few miles are rolling.  Right at Mile 8 you start a climb which lasts around 1.3 miles.  There are some great down hills on these course but you will earn them.  You'll climb to reach them and climb at the end of them.  10-13 are pretty nice, good time to get some fluids and nutrition on board.  Once you cross into South Carolina, you head into the National/State park.  Miles 14/15 are long, gradual climbs as is most of the park, from miles 14 thru about 22.  23-26 are mostly uphill with a few mixed downhills.  The last few miles to 2nd TA are mostly flat and a good time to get your legs loose and get mentally prepped for the run.  It was hot and very sunny today--Definitely get your nutrition/fluid plan in place in anticipation of a hot race.

We ran out of time and didn't get a chance to play with the run course.  I feel better having seen the course but know this is going to be a challenge.

Is it anything like this one?

That's coming out of the TA at Bandit's Challenge.  If you look carefully at the top, you'll see a guy pushing his bike.  MEAN! 

I feel like I'll pull the trigger any day now.  I'm just waiting for the spirit to move me. 

That photo just made my stomach do flips...that looks like a nice place to take a leisurely stroll.