In case you missed it the first time around…
They’ve arranged for an expaded transition area. I just got an email saying I was officially in the race after being on a waiting list for a few weeks.
The new addition to the old transition will hold an additional 400 athletes, so if you plan on doing the race, you should sign up soon. Z
Great venue…
I just signed up…hurry…
B.
njmtbbg -
“Great venue…” Please elaborate. I’ve been signed up for many, many months, but have recently wondered if I can fit in the trip there. Hearing that they were adding more people had me concerned about over-crowding, but 400 more isn’t too bad. My read on it is that the swim is fast and glorious with the lower Manhattan skyline looming, and that the run is superb as it makes its way through Central Park. The bike? I can’t really picture that, other than to love the idea of traffic-free conditions. (I did Chicago in '03, and speeding along pretty damn close to traffic was mildly disconcerting…)
Any insights you have will be greatly appreciated!
I was born in NYC, lived there during college and many years after and now live in suburban New Jersey. My wife works in NYC (B’way and 49th st.) and I travel regularly into the city. Therefore, I say great venue for the following reasons: (Please forgive my New York-Centric attitude)
Swim - Right down the Hudson River. The skyline of NYC (especially the Upper West Side which has recently expanded thanks to Donald Trump) will be to your left and Jersey will be across the water. The Hudson is a clean river in relation to several years ago.
Bike - You’ll head up the Henry Hudson Parkway (which hugs the western part of Manhattan Island) go under the George Washington Bridge and continue across the Henry Hudson Bridge into the Bronx. My former apartment is about eight blocks up on the left. I lived right on the highway. These roads are regularly traveled by thousands of cars every day and millions a year. So having them be traffic free will be awesome! The road quality will be good (by NYC standards). It’s a straight out and back. The first half will be uphill and descending on the way back.
Run - Central Park is a 10K loop. Beautiful run through the streets to the park. You’ll run behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in front of the Museum of Natural History and run by some great sights.
I’m pumped (as you can probably tell) by the fact that I was able to make it into the race. In a city of 8 million (and a metropolitan area of 15 million) 400 more people will be a drop in the ocean.
It’s a shame that the Olympic bid has fallen apart. Thanks to that jerk Sheldon Silver…but that’s a different story…
all the best,
B.
The bike is kind of a grind. Unless you spend a lot of time driving on the Henry Hudson in a car driving on it on a bike is no big deal. Nice view of the Hudson R and the GW Bridge goiong and coming. North of the brdge is as boring and untechnica as posssible. Dull turn around and then suddenly your pointed south, the road tilts down for a nice long, straight stretch. There’s sthe Bridge and the River agian…zooming by in a blur as you rocket downhell towards the Boat Basin. You blow pass the exit for the Boat Basin and skid down to the turnaround in front of one of Trump’s monstrosities. Hammer up the highway, off the exit and into T2. Now is a skuffle over to the Park for a classic lreverse loop around CP with hundred of runners, cyclists, roller bladers and walkers scurrying by on yoiur left. Blast past the Bandshell and you’re home and dry in the middle of the greatest City in the coiuntry. Now go eat…you can’t help but stumble into a great restaurant for some serious refueling and alcoholic rehydration
I’m sold! See ya there!
(Go Bosox!)
The Hudson is a clean river in relation to several years ago.
The road quality will be good (by NYC standards).
Gotta love those qualifiers. Man, 6am start time. One has to get up awfully early to get into the city in time to do that! Plus, rack you bike the night before, so no bike or swim warmup. All for $150.