Vetratten wrote:
Did it in 2020.
Swim is protected and in the speedway obviously. I thought I tasted motor oil but it may have just been my mind pulling tricks on me as apparently I was the only one.
Simple swim and it's a tad narrow so it was very fast since not many people were going off course and so it was just a train from the front of Packers as the way to the end. Just make sure your seeded properly.
Make sure you get there early for a warm up. It was on the schedule but not announced over the loud speakers.
Bike was 2.5 laps around the speedway which was amazingly cool and I couldnt care less about nascar. Then it's out onto basically closed roads. I say basically because it's a 2 lanes each way, one lane is closed for the race and the other lane is so slow moving that your flying by cars that only move when there is a spot for them to let a car through. It was mostly straight so can stay in the aero position a good chunk of the race. I had 55 miles for the bike so it was fast but short.
The run is mostly exposed and if your slow the second lap can get lonely but honestly I was never completely alone and was always within ear shot of someone to cheer on. Either way it was cool to run a chunk on the main track, a chunk in the road course and some in the back lot.
There were some volunteers had backed out but shouldn't be an issue this year but it did mean there was one less aid station.
I would absolutely do the race again if it didn't fall right on my anniversary weekend this year. Daytona beach is a ok standard Florida town and the beach is good enough for a short family vacation.
Orlando is a hour away so can be combined with a Disney trip if you have kids.
But the pro component made the weekend. Being there and bumping into them and chatting them up in the elevator was really cool. I sat at a bar next to Bob babbitt and I must tell you the stories he told were pretty cool. The pro race was energetic and i know they're trying to make more out the weekend with a holiday light 5k as well as other things. I'd do it just to extend the season last labor day!
Exactly the same as what I would have said about the 2020 race
Except my Bob Babbitt story includes being able to sit across from Bob on the set right after he interviewed Lionel. And having my picture taken with Bob As if he were interviewing me. SO cool
Next day Bob saw me, remembered my first and last name as well as aak me about my upcoming race
Meanwhile he almost missed the start of his wave because he was asking how I was doing lol
Truly a class act
Great race I would race again but no aquabike this year and the knees are not doing great