Ironclm (Cathy) is a west coast phenomenon, so she hasn’t trolled an Eagleman guest list, so I am taking it on for us located more posteriorly to the Pacific. It is now just ten days away. Yippee! Some real pain and misery :-). So who is going to be there next week? Anybody else in the 45-49M group?
We will see you there. Will be sporting the Team Elite logo. Staying in Easton. Hoping for calm water and low winds. Just hoping to go top half of the M30 - 34, which means 5:15 – WTF???
Good luck to all STers racing Eagleman.
I’ll be there, it will be my first half. Really hoping for 5 1/2 but I’ll take what I can get.
jaretj
1st long course. Can’t wait - finishing feeling good is the only goal.
It’s sort of like looking down from the top of your first black diamond ski trail isn’t it? Just so long as you understand that “feeling good” at the finish is a relative term. In my experience, the meaning of that phrase changes quite a bit during the course of a half IM. Good luck to you.
I’ll be there, competing the in the F40-44 age group. Haven’t done Eagleman before, but did Duke (my first and only half so far) two summers ago. Finished in 6:07 on the hardest half marathon course I’ve ever run. Don’t know what to expect this year as I’m totally undertrained, but I do expect to do better than 6:07.
I will be there…25-29 age group…looking to go under 4:45. But this might be a stretch because I have spent that last 2 months averaging about 6-8 hours/week (working 50+ hour weeks does not jive with training). Plus, this is my first half iron race. So Nw if I can do anything under 5 hours, I will be more than happy.
We’ll see…
good luck Jaret…race well, and feel great on the run!!!and may the wind always be at your back that day!!!
I’ll be there, in the 25-29M ag, hoping to survive the run and maybe nab a spot for an IMNA event. As Accuweather forecasts it right now, there will be a high temp. of 82F and cloudy with a chance of rain. Hopefully that changes over the next 7 days and also that all entered and racing do well! See you in MD…
About 20 locals participating. Most of us will be in some sort of Cambridge Multisport gear. So look us up when you get here. Let me know if you have any questions.
It’s a phenominal race. Today winds were 40+. Several of us went in the river anyway for a quick mile. Found a spot where seas were fairly calm, but they were rolling in at the venue at over 2’. If next Sunday is like today, you will know you’ve done a race at the finish.
But I’ve personally requested calm conditions and 74 degrees. So we should be OK. Good luck with your travels everyone. And please don’e hesitate to ask for help - stevelantz@dmv.com.
See you at the venue.
Chubby
Chubby- Terrific! First quick question, is there a current to be aware of in the swim, left to right, right to left? I noticed that last year’s swim times ran about three minutes longer than 2002. Any idea if that was due to course variation or current type factors? Thanks.
Initial indications are the first 3 waves or so will be faced with a slight current before it goes completely slack. Vig sets the course based on wind and current to minimize the effects. Pre-race meeting will let you know about any current expectations for the morning.
As for the times last year, the swim conditions were difficult because of the 18" seas - what we call “chop”. If the seas are higher, you roll with it, if less than less of a factor. But 18" is about the worst because is slaps at you and the wavelengths are too short to get into a good stroke. You also get pushed off course easier in those conditions. That’s the short version.
CH
I understand about chop. You are also implying that thte course is generally accurate in length which is good to know. Thanks.
Eagleman will be my second half iron distance… 20-24 age group. Think I’m capable of sub 4:50 if the gods are with me. But, I’ll be happy with sub 5.
Looking forward to the event… I hear it’s a ton of fun. Good luck everyone.
I’ll be there in the M30-34 AG. This will be my 2nd year at this race. Ideally, I’ll be under 4:30 if all goes well. I’d be disappointed if I didn’t beat 4:45. Pray for no wind!!!
where are you from? im heading down from philly. have a safe trip down to cambridge and good luck!
My wife and I will both be there. Missed it last year due to my shoulder surgery. It will be great to be back. Michelle is in great shape, running faster every day and will probably have a great race. I'm, well I've never felt so unprepared for a race in my life. I thought I was ready for Columbia, had a good swim, good bike, and fried on the run. I'll have to see what sunday brings, hoping to be close to five hours.
ST roll call for Blackwater as of Monday June 7:
bryanjaf M30-34 hoping top half finish
jaredj hoping 5:30 in first half-IM
TomH first long course
here&anon F40-44
Graz M25-29 <4:45 – 5:00
giantracer M25-29
Chubby Hubby Cambridge Multisport local
longspur 55-59
thisbetc621 20-24 <4:50 – 5:00
Tri ME F25-29 <5:45
Andy M30-34 <4:30 – 4:45 *
Sweeney ~5:00
(and Michelle)
Parkito M45-49 <5:30 , a 5:27:00 would get me a new pr 
- Designated beer hander outer at the finish line to the rest of us
Edit: Bummer, I had this formatted when I posted it originally. Ah well, B- for effort I guess.
Is there a prevailing wind direction?
Are we likely to be into the wind on the way out or on the way back? Or is the wind all over the place?
the cycling course is essentially a tennis racket. as such you will face winds in all directions given the design. that said, the bay side is where the winds will be most prominent. i believe that is the outbound third of the course, but someone with more experience should be able to verify that.
good luck.