I was really worried about the cold ruining the day, but it didn't for me.
It was something like 37 air temp at the start and yeah they said something like 62 or 63 water temp.
I made the mistake of not brining flip flops, so the walk from transition to the lake was cold on cement and wet grass. Standing around Mirror Lake for 30+ minutes was cold on my feet but I had a winter hat on and just pulled up my wetsuit and was otherwise fine, shivering a little but that was likely more nerves than anything.
Water was not bad at all, surprisingly. It felt like a bathtub that had gone from nice and warm to that uncomfortable cool feeling but not cold. Wet suit was enough to keep me warm. My feet and hands were a bit cold but not numb. I wore a silicon cap under my IM swim cap and even with a bic'd head I was fine. My face was not uncomfortably cold, luckily.
T1 took me 11 minutes!! Yikes! I had to pee badly and there was a line, but it was mostly layering gear over gear over gear that took a while. I wore compression socks (nice and warm but took 5 min to put on. won't try that ever again).
Wore a balaclava ski mask/hat thing under my helmet that I happened to find when I was packing for the race. Never wore one before, no idea how I even acquired it but it kept me toasty (bic'd head doesn't like cold air). I'm sure I looked like an overdressed idiot. But I was warm.
Cotton arm warmers I picked up at NYCM, castelli windvest, and on top of all that a run windbreaker that's really too tight to run in, but kept the wind out. I was NEVER cold on the bike. Also wore fingered cycling gloves. Neoprene toe caps I pick up once at an expo and never used.
I was WAY more bundled than ever. I figured I'd rather take the slow T1 and aero penalty from the jacket, over being cold and miserable and hate the day. In hindsight I should have just worn my castelli thermal jacket, skipped the vest, armwarmers and wind breaker, but I expected to shed layers along the way (which I never did) and didn't want to lose my team kit.
Sooooo many people on the bike wore bulky, flapping windbreakers. I was very surprised about that. I thought I'd be the only one willing to give up speed for warmth but I guess not.
Off the bike and onto the run I stripped it all off down to my tri suit and was fine. Run temp was great actually. It was sunny and felt like maybe the 50s then? I think it was the sun that made all the difference. If it had been overcast it would probably have been a bit miserable.
~~~~~~~~~
Empire Tri Coach
Team Gatorade Endurance
USATF Coach | NYRR Distance Pacer
Dad of twins
It was something like 37 air temp at the start and yeah they said something like 62 or 63 water temp.
I made the mistake of not brining flip flops, so the walk from transition to the lake was cold on cement and wet grass. Standing around Mirror Lake for 30+ minutes was cold on my feet but I had a winter hat on and just pulled up my wetsuit and was otherwise fine, shivering a little but that was likely more nerves than anything.
Water was not bad at all, surprisingly. It felt like a bathtub that had gone from nice and warm to that uncomfortable cool feeling but not cold. Wet suit was enough to keep me warm. My feet and hands were a bit cold but not numb. I wore a silicon cap under my IM swim cap and even with a bic'd head I was fine. My face was not uncomfortably cold, luckily.
T1 took me 11 minutes!! Yikes! I had to pee badly and there was a line, but it was mostly layering gear over gear over gear that took a while. I wore compression socks (nice and warm but took 5 min to put on. won't try that ever again).
Wore a balaclava ski mask/hat thing under my helmet that I happened to find when I was packing for the race. Never wore one before, no idea how I even acquired it but it kept me toasty (bic'd head doesn't like cold air). I'm sure I looked like an overdressed idiot. But I was warm.
Cotton arm warmers I picked up at NYCM, castelli windvest, and on top of all that a run windbreaker that's really too tight to run in, but kept the wind out. I was NEVER cold on the bike. Also wore fingered cycling gloves. Neoprene toe caps I pick up once at an expo and never used.
I was WAY more bundled than ever. I figured I'd rather take the slow T1 and aero penalty from the jacket, over being cold and miserable and hate the day. In hindsight I should have just worn my castelli thermal jacket, skipped the vest, armwarmers and wind breaker, but I expected to shed layers along the way (which I never did) and didn't want to lose my team kit.
Sooooo many people on the bike wore bulky, flapping windbreakers. I was very surprised about that. I thought I'd be the only one willing to give up speed for warmth but I guess not.
Off the bike and onto the run I stripped it all off down to my tri suit and was fine. Run temp was great actually. It was sunny and felt like maybe the 50s then? I think it was the sun that made all the difference. If it had been overcast it would probably have been a bit miserable.
~~~~~~~~~
Empire Tri Coach
Team Gatorade Endurance
USATF Coach | NYRR Distance Pacer
Dad of twins
Last edited by:
Mendeldave: Sep 12, 17 8:06