Anyone else competing in the Camp Pendleton tri next Saturday? More importantly, have any race specfic advice/pointers for this newbie?
I’ve been training for four months, have an athletic background, did the bricks, will be trying out the wetsuit this weekend, read up online…
Am pretty sure I will finish, but am far too competitive for my own good and am setting high goals for self. (2:25-2:30, is this realistic for a first timer?)
It’s a great race and a good, fair course. Despite not having been in the water since early April, I was planning on racing up there. But I’m sitting here in a cast with a broken bone in my hand from an unfortunate run-in with some styrofoam packing blocks and a coffee table (teaching my 7 year old how to karate-chop). File under: Stupid Dad Tricks.
This is the only race wherein everyone at the aid stations is saying, “Gatorade, Sir? Powerbar, Ma’am?” It makes you want to stop and salute. The Marines take this race seriously and put on a great event.
I was hoping for my first foray into <2:15 territory. Looks like I’ll need to wait a bit longer.
I will be there, my third time in four years. It truly is a great race. My first attempt resulted in my one and only DNF (double flats) - I have not ridden with any less than two tubes since that race. I set my PR there two years ago just three weeks after IMCDA. I am looking for another PR this year, but we’ll have to see.
The Marines on base are great as aid station volunteers. Both in this race and Ralph’s 1/2. They put as much pride in their races as they do in being Marines. I would highly recommend both races if you have the chance to attend.
LOVE this race. Extreamly well organized. Wish I could do it, but they sold out and no transfers allowed.
I remember the jog from the exit of the water to the bikes to be quite lengthy for a transition. Prepare to get a bit muddy unless they paved the area between the water and the transition area.
Bike had a few rollers and some false flats. As I remember from 2003…
Run all flat except for a very very short part that is steep. I do remember this as there was a drill sargent at the top yelling at all runner "YOU WILL NOT STOP ON MY HILL!!!) I thought it was pretty funny.
The marines were just amazing. It is grass roots. Have a great time.
Trisha
<< The Marines take this race seriously and put on a great event.
the Marines do take the race seriously and do a great job putting it on. The only part that they do not take too seriously is the rules. It’s a free for all when it comes to drafting, no on course officials. I’d still highly recommend the race though, it’s a great course, competitive and low entry fee (relatively speaking).
I consider the bike course to be relatively fast. It has a couple of small hills in it and some false flats, and will probably have a bit of a wind in one direction or another, but overall a good fast yet challenging course. The run is a double out and back loop that makes you run up a 150 yard long hill once each lap (and you also get to turn around and run back down it). By the time you get to the run, it will probably be hot though. There is no shade on the run course and it starts to heat up pretty quick by mid morning.
I won’t be racing it, but will be out there cheering everyone on.
the bike course is fast, with a couple short climbs - I think when Rick and I did the relay I did a 1:03’ish split, compared to 30:00 20k TT’s on the flats that I normally did (a few years back, before I got serious) … so it is fast
and there was nothing but drafting going on … hard to avoid … when in Rome …
just a couple of things which might help your first visit here go better.
parking: you’ll be a good distance from the T area, so plan to have a backpack which will carry all of what you want at the site. then bike over.
this is a place full of sand, so bring a short water bottle to squirt sand off of your feet after you get to your bike from the swim. water’s right there at the big restroom complex, so no need to fill it ahead and then lug it in your backpack.
peggy