Irongirl, you guys put on a great race. Please accept this input as constructive observations, intended on improving an already great event.
With respect to the swim it certainly looked no longer than years past visually, but the times were quicker. When we were lined up at the start, there was this weird countercurrent in the St. Lawrence from east to west (contrary to normal flow). We kept being pushed back from the start. This current would help us on the long “out section” whereas, normally, it works against us. Thus the fast times.
Bike distance. It would be great if you put the turnaround for the Olympic tri at the 20K point 550 m up the road where the road is much wider. The current turnaround location is at the bottom of a downhill, with merging traffic from the sprint tri. It is not particularly safe. Again, the rest of the course is awesome, this is just contructive input from a participant. Not slamming anyone, you guys did a great job. This turnaround would make this a lot safer and bring the course to 40K even, meeting the two most important criteria of most participants (1. safety, 2. accurate course)
Run Course: I agree you did the GPS measurements, but I do know from running on twisty trails with lots of ups and downs, some models are not particularly accurate. In any event, aside from accuracy, safety is the more overriding concern. In the narrow area in the park near the turnaround, there are way too many people on a very narrow path with large speed differentials (olympic loop1, loop2, sprit tri, du, sprint du). I try to be courteous on the course and not bump into people, but I almost did several times. My suggestion is that you do the same additional distance outside the park perhaps on the road near the park where it is straight. I hate to make the experience of first timers or try a tri folks less pleasureable because I am trying to get around them in the heat of the Olympic tri battle.
When I organized races I always went by this saying, “If you have to make the course a bit long or a bit short for safety reasons, go with a bit short. Fast times makes people feel good about the race, their training and their performance. This will make them come back the next year”
When no one goes sub 40 min in an Olympic tri, when the same people go sub 40 all the time in every other Olympic tri, you gotta question what is going on. I had the second fastest time in 40:29. I was substantially faster for 15K at the Muskoka Long Course tri on a hillier tougher course. How is that possible ?
Finish Chute: I think that you need a different finish chute for the Olympic tri and sprint. For many athletes, doing the Olympic tri is a huge achievement and they end up crossing with and mixed in with a whole bunch of sprint triathletes. No one even knew who the first place man or woman was when they crossed the line. This would be a great addition.
Anyway, thanks for a great job. I know as athletes, we are sometimes thankless, but I just wanted to say, that you should keep up the great work. Next year, I am bringing my family down and we’ll spend the weekend on a mini vacation in the Thousand Islands (rather than the "get up at 5 am, drive down, race, drive home commando trip).
Dev
Your wife and girls are as fantastic as you say!