2nd year in Texas for the 4-day, 10+ event multisport festival. In a word, it was awesome. USAT did a phenomenal job with this event. Many, many highs and really, nothing major to complain about at all (except a few TT bikes that made it past the check in to join the Draft Legal races). But anyway…
PROS:
1. For USAT to put on SO many races without hiccups was really remarkable. Open water swims, triathlons, duathlons, Aquabike, draft legal racing, kids races, mixed team relay .. it really was remarkable.
2. The schedule: They published a schedule of events and times and they adhered to it to the minute. Again, remarkable. The races started EXACTLY on time and awards, etc.. also started out on time and Tim Yount REALLY made these move along.
3. Dallas / Los Colinas - A perfect location! Many hotels, many restaurants - and even on Friday/Saturday night getting a table was no issue. Airport was 15 min away, and if you had a hotel nearby no need to rent a car. They are headed to Omaha next year which is a more difficult airport and accommodation is much trickier, but Dallas for 2 years was just awesome. The airport was 15 min away too. So incredibly easy!
4. Race courses - Draft Legal had 100% closed roads and 100% police support with great traffic control. Yes it was flat, but very easy to understand, no confusion on anything either.
CONS:
1. Somehow TT bikes and TT helmets made it into the draft legal racing here and there. Weird as there were firm bike checks getting into transition (timing chip on ankle, helmet buckled just to get in to transition, check brakes, bib number, etc..) Not sure how those bikes made it in but they did.
2. By the final day they ran out of National Championship Jersey men’s sizes medium and large. It’s the first or second national championship event of the season and already they ran out of long-sleeve jerseys. Lots of XXL and Smalls but not the sizes you want.
3. Omaha next year. I know everybody wants a race close to home but at least Dallas was easy to get to and centrally located. Lots of options for housing and the food was great. Omaha has very few direct flights AND the new date is early June. USAT stated that many complaints were about how difficult it is/was for northerners to train for a late April race w the winter but I think that argument doesn’t hold anymore with so many indoor options - Zwift, treadmills, etc.. I mean Oceanside 70.3 is earlier and everyone seems ready for that one.
An early June date is challenging for anyone involved in public education but I do understand how no date is perfect. They said the new date - June 5 6 7 8 is more ‘family friendly’ but I don’t see that as this years date was a traditional school vacation week for many, while early June for sure is not.
All in all, for year #2 is was incredible. Yes the weather was a bit chilly on the final day but it all worked. It really wasn’t THAT bad at all and the races were so short that most people could deal with a hard 20 minute effort in the cold.
Tim Yount is the man and the USAT staff were incredible. The registration process and picking up race packets was as easy and I’ve ever seen it. Near logistical perfection.
Thanks USAT! I can’t imagine flying to a race going forward and only doing one event and then coming home. The concept of 4-5-6 races or more over 4 days is simply so much better and more fun.
And the Mixed Team Relay is the best event in our sport. Tri/Du whatever, it brings out the best times and most fun. Everyone seems to dig deeper and find a new level in the MTR.
Awesome job again USAT! Would love to hear others opinions.
PROS:
1. For USAT to put on SO many races without hiccups was really remarkable. Open water swims, triathlons, duathlons, Aquabike, draft legal racing, kids races, mixed team relay .. it really was remarkable.
2. The schedule: They published a schedule of events and times and they adhered to it to the minute. Again, remarkable. The races started EXACTLY on time and awards, etc.. also started out on time and Tim Yount REALLY made these move along.
3. Dallas / Los Colinas - A perfect location! Many hotels, many restaurants - and even on Friday/Saturday night getting a table was no issue. Airport was 15 min away, and if you had a hotel nearby no need to rent a car. They are headed to Omaha next year which is a more difficult airport and accommodation is much trickier, but Dallas for 2 years was just awesome. The airport was 15 min away too. So incredibly easy!
4. Race courses - Draft Legal had 100% closed roads and 100% police support with great traffic control. Yes it was flat, but very easy to understand, no confusion on anything either.
CONS:
1. Somehow TT bikes and TT helmets made it into the draft legal racing here and there. Weird as there were firm bike checks getting into transition (timing chip on ankle, helmet buckled just to get in to transition, check brakes, bib number, etc..) Not sure how those bikes made it in but they did.
2. By the final day they ran out of National Championship Jersey men’s sizes medium and large. It’s the first or second national championship event of the season and already they ran out of long-sleeve jerseys. Lots of XXL and Smalls but not the sizes you want.
3. Omaha next year. I know everybody wants a race close to home but at least Dallas was easy to get to and centrally located. Lots of options for housing and the food was great. Omaha has very few direct flights AND the new date is early June. USAT stated that many complaints were about how difficult it is/was for northerners to train for a late April race w the winter but I think that argument doesn’t hold anymore with so many indoor options - Zwift, treadmills, etc.. I mean Oceanside 70.3 is earlier and everyone seems ready for that one.
An early June date is challenging for anyone involved in public education but I do understand how no date is perfect. They said the new date - June 5 6 7 8 is more ‘family friendly’ but I don’t see that as this years date was a traditional school vacation week for many, while early June for sure is not.
All in all, for year #2 is was incredible. Yes the weather was a bit chilly on the final day but it all worked. It really wasn’t THAT bad at all and the races were so short that most people could deal with a hard 20 minute effort in the cold.
Tim Yount is the man and the USAT staff were incredible. The registration process and picking up race packets was as easy and I’ve ever seen it. Near logistical perfection.
Thanks USAT! I can’t imagine flying to a race going forward and only doing one event and then coming home. The concept of 4-5-6 races or more over 4 days is simply so much better and more fun.
And the Mixed Team Relay is the best event in our sport. Tri/Du whatever, it brings out the best times and most fun. Everyone seems to dig deeper and find a new level in the MTR.
Awesome job again USAT! Would love to hear others opinions.