I'm leaving Wednesday morning from Kentucky! I just got a new drive train and now my shifter springs are toast. Hopefully I'm getting all these mechanical issues out of the way. We're staying at the Stella Maris Hostel.

i'm racing...
won't be all that competitive this year...training has taken a back seat to life.
will enjoy the hurt, though...

Battling a bone spur in my elbow, partially torn tricep, and achilles tendinitis flare up weeks before this race, but it's sub 5 or bust for me. Let's do this!

sub 5 is definitely the goal...
have a good race out there!

It appears the race start is one hour earlier (7:10am) this year for the 70.3 event. I hope the sun is out to help with navigation in the water.

Awesome! Good luck to you as well! With a low temperature of 50F I'm actually thinking of wearing my Castelli Perfetto Vest on the bike. It's very form fitting in a small. We'll be wet and at 50F that is cold. I expect 60-65F at the end of the bike. The temperature rating on the vest is 50-65F. Being wet, I want my core temperature to stay consistent, but no overheating. I wore it from 50F-59F during yesterday's ride, but was not wet. What are others doing in terms of bike gear?

I'm going with my Roka amber dark. They should brighten the sky and provide good visibility with swimming northeast as the sun will be rising to our east.

Driving in from Pittsburgh on Thursday. Looking forward to checking out this race.

I’ve heard that roads should be in excellent condition with mostly new pavement.

My tentative plan is for arm sleeves on the bike and the amber lenses for the swim.

about 600 mile drive from Pittsburgh. I'm 30 miles north in Butler, County

#10 at this race for me. Conditions are looking fantastic; it's gonna be a fast day.

Did this race in 2012 [half] 2013 [full] and 2014 [half] when it was B2B My favorite long course race of all the different races over the years. Had a horrible fall in 2017 and blew out my ACL/MCL and needed micro-fracture surgery. Had to take 18 months off of running and 9 months off swimming. Getting back to this race has been what has kept me going over the last two years post surgery. The run just hasn't quite come back, but I'm old, hahahaha. Just feeling blessed to get to the start line healthy. Looking forward to this race, best of luck to everyone. Leaving Weds from NE Ohio! BTW - appears they moved the swim finish up a bit due to last years storm damage? Anyone know if the swim start is still in the same place near the Blockade Runner Hotel? Athlete guide mentions they will have a carpet from the swim exit to T1, that is a nice change, no need to leave an old pair of shoes at the swim exit!

hydrate like a mofo

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https://www.strava.com/...tes/zachary_mckinney

Rode 38 miles of the bike course on Sat. Short stretch of Highway 421 that was washed out during Florence is still being repaired. Bell Williams Road which is the two lane heading back is kinda rough, bumps and potholes. Someone on Facebook IMNC page has a video of bike course.
Swam in Banks Channel this morning with sleeveless wetsuit and was very comfortable.

Hope all the bad luck leaves before Saturday! Staying at the Holiday Inn Express

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Rather than look back and say "why?", look forward and say "why not?!"

I don’t ever figure to be competitive. Just hope to stay rubber side down and have fun!

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Rather than look back and say "why?", look forward and say "why not?!"

Great googily! I hope you stay in one piece!!!

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Rather than look back and say "why?", look forward and say "why not?!"

This is a worry for me too. I’ve been burned both by glare with clear and low light in tinted goggles. I might have to make a goggle sacrifice and make a game time decision

Glad to hear about the roads. Worried that Florence caused irreparable damage.

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Rather than look back and say "why?", look forward and say "why not?!"

Wow. Congrats on making it back! Fingers crossed for a pain free race!

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Rather than look back and say "why?", look forward and say "why not?!"

Yes!
This!
Exactly what I was hoping for. Probably going full sleeve simply because it’s gonna be chilly race morning (I’ll take that over heat any day).

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Rather than look back and say "why?", look forward and say "why not?!"

It's not so hard to stack googles, one above the other, so you can switch if needed. You can make the switch in seconds while sighting and using a little breaststroke kick to keep your head up. Yes, of course...have a little open space to yourself before you do that so you don't kick someone.

Big pack of St Pete Mad Dogs headed north for the race. After 147 days above 70 degrees, mostly 90+, the cool temps will be a welcome relief. Also water temps below 80 - just dug my dusty wetsuit out of deep storage. See y’all there.

John Hollenhorst
St Pete Beach

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John Hollenhorst
St Pete Beach

[url=https://postimg.cc/KkL9v5VQ][/url]

Come find me on the run course downtown. Get a free high five and call me a Turd

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When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

Looking forward to doing just that