I had a great time, except for the swim. Swimming against that current was killer and trying to sight the bouys while simming straight into the sun was not easy. I got off course several times. I was very impressed with how it was run though and all the free stuff we were given. We couldn’t have asked for better weather for this time of year.
I wasn’t there but I will say that it looks as though for the first, and probably last, time in triathlon history swimmers were given not just an advantage, but an unfair advantage. Sort of like what runners enjoy in every other triathlon. I like that.
If you think runners enjoy an advantage in olympic distance races, half ironman/ironman’s must just be murder for the swimmers.
oh yea haha.
I was there as a spectator (my son raced). I got the impression from what Skip Gilbert was saying at the awards ceremony was that they are trying to “rebuild” this event into what we all would expect of a National Championship for a worldwide sport. I don’t remember his exact words but it sure gave me that impression. There were issues, there will always be issues with an event of this size. There have been enough comments about the qualifying events that I hope they can do some sort of standardization in order to promote a sense of “legitimacy” to the Nationals.
The bike and run course distances need to be accurate and marked. The swim… well it was what it was. I was on the promenade watching one swimmer for what seemed like 5 minutes and he/she never progressed. I had my son swim downstream out toward the middle and try to get as close to shore as possible going back upstream.He was only off by about 6 minutes from his previous lake swim. Hey. it could have been worse, they could have let a barge or two pass 
My son heard that one of the motorcycles hit a biker but other than the Jeep Cherokee that got onto the bike course right by the entrance (bottom of Hackberry) I didn’t see any issues.
The schwag was great, my son made quite the haul. Did you get over to the Blue table right outside of the expo hall, where they were selling any of their clothing for $20. I wish I had brought more cash for more toys.
Overall, we had great time. The weather was about as good as you could possibly hope for this time of year.
I had a blast. an aboslute great time.
the swim sucked, and if I had plans/expetations of qualifying for worlds, I’d have been dissapointed, but everyone swam in the same river…
I’ll be back next year, the schwag was top notch.
I saw the blue table, and stupid me didnt ask what it was about, I definitely would have bought one of those long sleeved jerseys for $20…wow…
I dont understand why USAT produces these high level races in podunk towns in the middle of nowhere in the heat of the summer. The venue in Oregon at Hagg lake was really pretty good. overall. The venue in Kansas City was terrrible. The venue in Tuscaloosa has problems with a river with strong currents and heat and humidty.
Why cant they produce these races close to a major metrolitan area that has a great state park network like Harriman State Park in New York. Or maybe where Endorfun hosts Timberman at Ellacpya State Park? Or make some really nice destination location such as Lake Placid or where they host Eagleman?
I have seen a few of these races and the level of compeition is amazing and inspiring. It would be nice if the venue was equally as inspiring. Know what I mean?
It would be interesting to know what goes into choosing the venue site.
There were a lot of people working on Saturday (Public and private), I’m not sure who foots that bill. I was kind of amazed at the effort that went into putting all the “wrappings” on the bridge over the transition exit. We were there multiple times throughout the day on Friday and the activity on that bridge kept going well into the evening.
I was expecting the worst as this was the beginning of the school year, I was picturing horrible traffic in and around the campus.
Is there an expected decrease in participants next year; I assume that Nationals will be around the same time but Worlds is early September. I can’t imagine too many people doing both. Or… is there such a low participation in the Worlds that it doesn’t effect the attendance at Nationals?
my guess is they have discussions with towns that are willing to accomidate such a race and award a town/city the race for the 2 year period…they must bid it out. I heard New Hamshire was in discussions for 09/10, but in the end Tuscaloosa was willing to do more.
they closed down a major parkway for a very long time. it was a 4 lane highway. Plus, the run course was closed down to traffic as well.
sorry, but I dont imagine any major metro area shutting down a 4 lane parkway like that.
“…I got the impression from what Skip Gilbert was saying at the awards ceremony was that they are trying to “rebuild” this event into what we all would expect of a National Championship for a worldwide sport.”
Did Skip give any indication how long this rebuilding process might take? I know that he hasn’t been in the sport very long at all but a lot of people have so I’m really suprised that we’d have to “rebuild”. It seems like it’d be easier and less confusing if they (USAT) would just get their shit in one bag. Maybe hire someone that knows what they are doing would be a good start.
No, Lake Placid pulled out at the last second, and only Tuscaloosa was willing to step up in such short notice.
Work with your locals RD’s and get them to help. This is how LC DU nationals ended up at Auburn for 2 years. :o)
I continue to try and get either world or other nationals here in Nor Calif. Just have to find the folks willing to
put in the work, and sometimes, money. :o(
Dave
The swim was the swim … chalk it up as one for the fishies. That said, there was no excuse to having a short course for the run and possibily the bike - but that is easily fixed. I did not see any systemmic problems that would preclude the race from being better next year.
The course was tough - but what do you expect? It’s Nationals!
This just made me double over in laughter. That race was FAR from hot and humid. Had it been 2 days sooner, you would have been able to enjoy a warm August day in Alabama but it was unseasonably PLEASANT to be outdoors. Tuscaloosa, and this is coming from an Auburn student, is not a podunk town… now it’s certainly not the best, but as a race venue, that town bent over backwards to accommodate the sport. It was cheap to stay at, plenty of good restaurants/hotels, and the willingness to shut down major roads was amazing. I raced there last year with Collegiate Nationals and was impressed, same level if not better this past weekend. As far as the currents, that was just a freak occurrence, there was a current last year at Col. Nats, but it wasn’t near that strong. Things happen, HTFU and deal with it. As far as the run course miles go, from what I was told, they were laying the course out when that motorcycle accident occured and had to quickly throw it together, nobody did anymore or less than anyone else, so oh well. Rumor mill is saying we might be able to expect T-Town to host Collegiate Nats after Lubbock if they can’t get a venue in California, though I’ve heard A LOT of people wishing it would go back sooner haha.
I’m kinda glad they move it around. For me, I qualified for the previous 2 years, but the trip, literally across the country, was just too much for me. Granted, I lucked out with it being in Ttown…other than it’s Bama country (just playin’…have many many friends who are Bama grads…we get along fine, until the Auburn game 
).
I wish Worlds would be someplace other than Europe! My boss was all excited for me that I qualified until I told him where it was…he said go anyway… I just can’t afford it this go’round.
I had fun…swim stank, but we had ridiculous rain the entire week and I understand having to have the flood gates open. I do wish they’d of worked with USAT more so that they could’ve closed them an hour or so before the race and then opened them the minute the last pro was out of the water…woulda been nice.
Weather was UNREAL…this is not August in Alabama weather…not by a loooooong shot! Be very thankful!! I did an iron distance race a couple of years ago and was doing my long stuff in August…I remember starting my bike at 5am and by 7am it was 90+. And humid… I’m from here, so as used to it as you can be, but that was tough stuff.
hope y’all enjoyed some good BBQ while you were here!
I posted on the other Nats thread, but just in case anybody from USAT reads this, here are my top items for improvement, and let me say that I will be back next year assuming I qualify.
- Need mile markers on bike and run courses.
- Would be nice to have on-line tracking for friends/family not able to come to the race.
- Would be spectacular to have on-line coverage of the race, like IM live does, but I realize this might cause race price to go up tremendously and I don’t want that.
- Keep up the nice work with the finish line, food, jumbo tron.
- Very nice swag. Best I’ve ever received in a race. backpack, towel, hat, technical shirt, glasses, very nice.
- Consider re-doing part of swim course to be more like elite course.
- I’d leave bike and run course, as is, but add on a bit to make exactly 40/10k. (But i didn’t mind that they were short).
- Keep weather nice and cool like it was on race day! (I realize that is not within your control, but weather was awesome).
I think we would all agree with ATL Dad on the issues and what was good and bad.