So, who is heading down to Panama City for the annual Heat Fest? The race is less than a month away and I am really starting to get psyched! The first triathlon of the season for me so I am climbing the walls over here wishing the race started tomorrow. I am especially excited about taking the new Blade down there and seeing just how it reacts to the flat and fast conditions of the bike course. I have to tell you I am very much impressed with the new changes that Litespeed made to the bike. Revamping the top tube, seat tube and seat stays have lightened up the bike considerably. And while I am on the subject. Let’s give props where props are due. People like Herbert Krabel, Dave Cash, Lee Simril and Mark Assmussen are great for this sport. I have had the honor of working with these guys since 1999 and there isn’t one thing that they wouldn’t do for the sport of triathlon. Guys, the new 2004 Blade. Bigger than a Barry Bonds home run! The bike rocks. Fastest bike in the sport bar none! Keep up the good work. I’ll see you at the races!
Let the line for the post-race IV Bags begin! I’m very psyched to take some revenge after last year’s train wreck. That said, we had the first hot day of the year yesterday (about 85-88) and I struggled during a lunchtime brick. Let’s hope for smaller seas and lower temps than last year. Later.
any idea on the water temps? Have done the race the past 2 years in the ridiculous heat. Definitely looking forward to the bike as well as I moved from a road bike to a Guru Crono Tri bike. Will be interested to see how it all shakes out as my bike splits have been within 1 minute of each other the last couple of years on my old bike. The run would be fun if the temp would stay somewhere south of triple digits.
Since your so strong on the swim. Do you have any specific swim workouts that you do to get you ready for the swim.
Bruce, we’re glad you are psyched but if you are going to pump a product you should disclose your sponsorship/financial interests.
Go to for Panama citya http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/plotqry.cgi?stn=8729108-PanamaCity,FL&flag=1 or Panama City Beach http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/plotqry.cgi?stn=8729210+Panama+City+Beach,+FL&flag=1 for the water temp…You’ll need to convert it to Fahrenheit here: http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm
edited to add the PCB link
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Thanks for the info Gator Dawg. The links work great.
For less math, I use
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/plot_param.phtml?$station=42039$wtmp
A bit west of PCB, but generally pretty comprable. Water temperature at that buoy will be within 1-3 degrees of what you get at the coast.
PCB weather feed I like is:
http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USFL0393?from=search_city
Keep an eye on the dew point more than the thermometer numbers. Anything under 70F, and the heat is relatively tolerable. But once the dew point gets above about 72F, sufferfest is highly probable even if the air temp is relatively mild.
Let’s hope for smaller seas and lower temps than last year. Later.
For some reason my reply didn’t post. I guess I’ll know not to try the “Quote” facility in the future.
Personally, I’d prefer to see a water temperature of 78F (i. e., wetsuit-legal) and an air temperature well into the 90s. I figure that would put me at the best advantage relative to my AG. And, coming back from injury, I desperately need some kind of advantage.
I can smell the burning skin in the park now. Has anyone noticed they changed the bike course and it is apparently 55 miles? What is the status of Hwy 79 construction?
Hopefully, we can get a break on something this year. Last year we had the terrible three: waves, wind (except in the park) and heat. I’m psyched, but not ready. See you at the cannon.
John,
Just a question. Why do I need to disclose my sponsorship/financial interest? Does anybody care. Besides there aren’t any financial interest. The people at Litespeed have been gracious enough to let me “borrow” one of their bikes to ride during the racing season. For all intesive purposes I don’t even own the bike. It’s a loaner. And that’s what I was basically pointing out in my post when I gave props. I am a married man and a father of two young boys ages three and twelve weeks. I don’t really have the money to buy a top of the line triathlon bike. Through the years I have gotten to know Herbert, Dave, Lee and now Mark. They have been ever so gracious year in and year out to let me “borrow” one of their bikes. Good enough explanation for you? And I also think that if my results didn’t warrant them doing it year in and year out they wouldn’t do it.
Now, is there anything else you need to know about my financial/sponsorship interest. If there is please just ask. I’ll give you all the information you want to know. Or you can just email me directly at gennari@bellsouth.net to ask.
Bruce
See all the grief you would have saved yourself with a little more disclosure?
It was justified for John to call you out, IMO, considering your first post on the forum was a pretty huge sponsor plug & your info didn’t (doesn’t) even disclose who you were (are).
So anyway, welcome aboard! Now, about those swim tips…
-Mike (Nate’s brother, in the spirit of disclosure 
I’m with mpl201, of course if some bicycle vendor let me “borrow” a top-end bike for a year, I would say it was the greatest thing since Spam as well. I’m glad you are happy with ABG, but your endorsement is as good as an endorsement form Triantlete Mag.
Just my $.02.
Mike
PS - Bruce, please post more if you can - your knowledge of training & racing would be a great asset to this forum.
Looks like the air temp will heat up just before the race.
http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USFL0393?from=search_city
Nah, 83 degrees is practically winter down here. That might even be a record low temperature for this race. Anything less than 100F on the blacktop will be fine with me! Hope to see you all there!
The Mike’s said it better than I could. If you have any financial interests in the product (and a free $1500+ frame for a year is indeed a financial interest), you need to disclose it before you endorse the product.
Good luck at GCT.
You guys must have missed the part where Bruce said, in his first post:
I have had the honor of working with these guys since 1999…
And since there is only one past amateur national champion with the first initial “B” and the last name “Gennari,” I hardly think he needs to add more than that.
Nope, didn’t miss it. And it still stands: if you are going to make a plug for a product from a current sponsor, you owe it to the group include that fact as part of full disclosure.
Not taking anything away from anyone, not the athlete nor the sponsor. Just tell the whole story and you won’t risk losing credibility later.
(And incidentally, you must have missed the fact that this was actually Bruce’s first ever post on slowtwitch – that was my point regarding his id. But thanks for the clarification – I actually thought it might be the guy from Tennessee who has had a hard time breaking 4 hours in an IM marathon…
-Mike