Has anyone done this race? I have only done sprints and was looking to do this one as my “Big” race in September. Looks like a great race but would like some feedback if anyone has done it.
Swim in the Potomac. Not terrible…
Bike in very crowded conditions with lots of nukes riding beach bikes, crosses, fixes, banana bikes, etc. Everyone drafts.
Run is almost flat.
Hot and humid.
no swim last year due to water runoff after a storm. It wasn’t the first time in its short history that the swim had been cancel due to mother nature. Be aware of that since it can turn into a very expensive dual.
Has anyone done this race? I have only done sprints and was looking to do this one as my “Big” race in September. Looks like a great race but would like some feedback if anyone has done it.
It’s a fun race. The swim isn’t bad, the run is very scenic. Only down side is the bike. There are parts that go down to one lane, and with 3600 riders the logjams can get bad. Lots of drafting, but as someone who’s a lousy swimmer and a fast cyclist, it was frustrating as hell to get past everyone.
I’d still race it again though.
To run along the Mall was totally awe inspiring. Felt proud to be an American. Biking on the parkway was crowded but if drafting you going too slow. The water was fine. Doug
You couldn’t pay me to swim in that part of the Potomac.
Fastest bike course I’ve ever ridden. Drafting wasn’t an issue… I rode completely solo for many long stretches. Leaving T1 sure, it was hairy passing hundreds/thousands of people riding relatively slow, and it was a bit dangerous squeezing by, but I was able to keep all the speed I wanted and was clear of them all by about mile 5. Then it was awesome… big flat smooth road… no hills… fast as can be.
One caveat: I wasn’t in the elite or cadet wave - they looked to have more challenges with drafting, but that was because there was no swim. Imagine 100 elite athletes leaving T1 in close proximity onto a flat course… a huge chunk of them are going to ride 24.5mph all the way home. Start with the plebes and you are passing people that are doing 18 for 5 miles and then cruising solo.
It was pretty drafty up front, but the swim would have broken up the elite pack immensely.
That being said, I love the race. I’ve never had a problem with the Potomac and the scenery on the run is nice. If you notice it while you’re dying, anyway.
Has anyone done this race? I have only done sprints and was looking to do this one as my “Big” race in September. Looks like a great race but would like some feedback if anyone has done it.
There’s something to be said for a big-city race that makes up for the hassles that come with them. I’ve done NYC, Mrs. T’s (Chicago), and Nations the first year (swim was also canceled that year) when the bike actually went through the city and by the White House and Washington Monument and Capitol and they had 6 lanes of Constitution and Independence closed off for it. That was really, really cool. The bike course has changed since and doesn’t give you that unique experience anymore, but still, it’s a big event in a big city and that is very cool. Large number of participants, a lot of hassles and logistics like parking and shuttles and expos across town, and it’s very expensive. But, it’s a big-time race in a big city, and you pay a premium for it and deal with annoyances as part of that. Just look at $1000 for IMNYC.
Chuck Brodsky works hard and is passionate about his events. He does not half-ass the production of them. You can be certain that, weather aside, he has taken care of every detail. Hell, if he can put on a 6000 person triathlon in Washington, DC on the same day as the 10 year 9/11 anniversary proceedings occurring within sight at the Pentagon, he is obviously doing something right.
Now, I put on some events too, including an olympic distance triathlon within pissing range of Washington, DC one week after Nations. The SavageMan 30.0. It is about the diametric opposite of Nations Tri: rural, backwoods country event, few logistical hassles, 1000 rather than 6000 people, inexpensive, guaranteed nice swim in clean water, stunning mountain beauty. There are hills, but nothing like it’s big brother the SavageMan 70.0. Most everyone who has done the SavageMan 30.0 comes away claiming it is the most fun triathlon they have ever done.
So, if you’re looking for a big production with a huge number of participants in a big city, Nations Tri is gonna make you very happy. If you are ambivalent about it being a city race with 6000 others and you’re just looking for a well-regarded Olympic distance triathlon for an A race that you’re going to enjoy, give the SavageMan 30.0 a consideration. If you come away unsatisfied with the experience, you get your money back.
So, if you’re looking for a big production with a huge number of participants in a big city, Nations Tri is gonna make you very happy. If you are ambivalent about it being a city race with 6000 others and you’re just looking for a well-regarded Olympic distance triathlon for an A race that you’re going to enjoy, give the SavageMan 30.0 a consideration. If you come away unsatisfied with the experience, you get your money back.
I’m not sure coming away unsatisfied from Savageman is even possible… DC on the other hand is simply too big for my taste. I’ve done very well at Nations’ (10th and 15th OA) but it’s just not fun for me… I want to race, not deal with logistics.
Savageman really is the best
.
The swim is cool, the bike sucks and is a bumpy draft fest, the run is hot like fire.
I thought this was a Bill Burke event.
Savageman is the best race I’ve ever done. If you want a sightseeing tour of DC, run the Marine Corps Marathon.
I did the 5150 in Washington last year (more or less the same course as the Nations) and Savageman 30 the year before. Savageman is a much better race. I am heading back to Deep Creek this year for the big race and skipping DC all together.
I did the race last year when the swim got washed out. The bike course was fast but it was also the most crowded one I have been on. It is a real draftfest (check out the split times) and its pretty hard to avoid getting swallowed up the 20-30 rider packs going 26 mph - you just gotta coast and let them go by which is not fun for such a short race. The bike course was also very dangerous with fast moving packs constantly coming up on very slow moving novice riders who did not know the rules of the road (ie moving out to the left rather than over to the right when a fast moving pack approached from behind - saw that a couple times) resulting in several ugly crashes (think cat 5 crit with 2000 riders). I live in DC so I would love a good race in town but I won’t be doing it again.
Not to disparage the fact that you posted already, but search through past threads (i.e use the search feature) and you will find lots of good info. I’ve posted on several threads about each already, with pretty much nothing but positive things to say about Nations and DC Triathlon. I love DC, I love racing, I loved Nations and DC Tri. The logistics are tough, but that makes the race special. I can imagine the race would suck ass on the bike if you can’t make the cut for elite amateur or whatever it is that gets you into the first wave, but I’ve never raced BOP/MOP in DC 
I raced AG the last two years, stupidly trying to be the big fish in the small pond rather than having the elites crush me:). In 2010 I was in one of the first waves still, so it was great and I didn’t understand the complaining. Last year the 25-29 males started in the middle-ish, behind the 50+ women. On that bike course. I now understand the complaining. I’ll either race in the elite wave or not at all this year. Still undecided.