I'm nervous about not having seen, ridden or run the course...I'm nervous about a new wetsuit that I have not yet swam in and I'm nervous about my lack of outside bike training...other than that I feel strong and ready to race! Thought you might enjoy an excerpt from Triathlete.com on the race.
Photo: Rich Cruse/Triathlon.org
USA Triathlon’s national events director, Jeff Dyrek, who had a hand in bringing the ITU race to San Diego and designing the course, shares some insider advice for tackling the Olympic distance race, which 3,000 age-groupers are expected to race on April 20.
1. Bring a wetsuit. “People probably anticipate Southern California to have warm water and great weather,” says Dyrek. But the water temperature in the protected Ventura Cove swim at last year’s race was a brisk 64 degrees.
2. Prepare for a fast but technical bike. The two-lap Olympic bike course features five 180-degree turns as well as a few long straightaways. A mile and a half into the bike course, there’s a U-turn, followed by a 3-mile stretch where athletes can “get down on their bars and really hammer it out” until the turnaround on East Mission Bay Drive. On Fiesta Island, athletes can build up speed before a U-turn near transition and the second lap. If it happens to be a rainy day, Dyrek says the course will still be safe for fast racing since none of the sharp turns follow steep descents.
3. Remember the sunscreen. For the run, Dyrek predicts ideal racing temperatures, but at the time of day, there will be little protection from the sun. He estimates 80 percent of the run course is along the water, so while it’s extremely flat, there’s little to no shade from trees or buildings.
5. Soak it in. The two-lap Olympic run course follows the bay around Bonita Cove, Mariners Basin and onto the Mission Beach boardwalk, with water views almost the whole way. “Take advantage of the scenery!” he says.
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