From: arands@zodiac.rutgers.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon
Subject: Another report: Harriman #2
Date: 18 Aug 92 03:05:02 GMT
Organization: Rutgers University Computing Services

Harriman No Frills Triathlon #2:

The day dawned bright and early for my fiancee and me (5 AM).  The weather - a
delightful 60 deg F, raining, foggy, cloudy - perfect tri weather.  We drove
the one hour drive from the Einstein Med School in the Bronx to Harriman Park. 
The race was supposed to have been 0.5 mi/12 mi/3 mi, but due to the rain, it
was changed to the 16 mile HILLY bike course (much to my delight!!!).  AS we
pumped up our tires with over an hour to go, Magali's valve stem on her wheel
blows off the rim and the tire is flat.  So, just pull it off and put a new
tube and work the tire on the rim with the lever and - PSSSTTT.  Oops.  Nicked
the tire with the wrench.  Down to our last spare - MINE.  We got that one on
with no mishaps, but no more spares for the race.  I love anxiety!!!  Four
years of cycling and I goof for the first time changing a tire in front of
Magali.  

We hurry and get our bikes to the transition so that we can get down to the
water and warm up.  I, having done Harriman knew of the rocky run from the
swim to bike transition, chose to wear my Aqua socks for the swim in Lake
Sebago.  As we stood setting up our transition areas, I realize Magali is
standing barefooted in the midst of a pile of broken glass.  Somehow, she did
not cut her feet (thank God!!!).  She realized though that she had forgotten
her swim goggles and cap in the car.  So I send her to the swim start, run to
the car, get the goggles, put the keys in my bike bag, and run to the swim
start with about 2 minutes to go.  I needed a run warmup anyway.

All this and the race hasn't even started yet.

Mags and I are in the third and final wave.  The swim was unexciting and very
cold, a longish half mile.  Mags used her competitive swimming background to
lead me out of the water by a minute.  She tippy toed up the ramp to her bike
between rocks and glass fragments, as I zipped up a minute behind.  She got out
on the bike course about 30 seconds ahead, but I soon caught her in the first
mile.  The bike course features a 3 mile downhill blast, followed by a 3 mile
crawl up the same hill.  Normally speeds over 50 are common.  I've clocked 62
mph.  However, rain and fog kept it down to about 30 mph for me this year.  I
got passed by a few bombers, but waited for the uphill to move.  I was 106th
overall out of the water, Magali about 103rd.  On the ride out to the big
downhill, small rolling hills greet the riders.  I managed to use my only
strength - hill climbing to pick off cyclists ahead.  Up to the end of the
three mile climb, I passed about 50 - 60 of the cyclists ahead of me, most of
them surprised at the longness of the hill.  Mags also faired well, passing many
disk-wheeled guys, while riding her new Trek 1200 with brand new and much
improved positioning.  The wet roads kept speeds down, and the cool
temperatures made for cool but pleasant cycling.  Coming into the transition, I
was greeted by and almost passed on a sharp corner by the race leader (he did
have a 4 minute head start anyway).  I rifled off my soggy cycling shoes and
slipped on ly nearly dry running shoes (I flip them over to keep them dry). 
Coming off a good 5 k run last weekend, I was psyched for the run.  ONLY 3
miles!!!  I got out on the run, and my legs did something totally NEW to me. 
They ran - and they ran pretty fast.  I was almost in disbelief.  At about
this point, Magali coming in on the bike was passed by the next girl in her age
group (who eventually took third - BUMMER!!!). 

I began to feel good on the essentially flat 3 mile run, and pushed and pushed. 
I dropped from 7:06/mile to about 6:30/mile, much to my own disbelief.  And I
actually passed people.  I have never done that.  Towards the finish I heard
cheers for "Dave" behind me.  As I ran the cheers got closer, so I figured Dave
was closing fast.  I put it in high gear and began a half-mile sprint with
"Dave" closing fast, and managed to hold him off at the finish.  Magali,
putting in a good run came in just barely 2 minutes later, with a good
finishing sprint.

At the awards, Magali finds out she missed third in her age group by one spot. 
But her time on her watch said she was three seconds FASTER than third place. 
We figure the Big Apple Tri Club started our wave a few seconds late (which
they have done before).

All in all, race conditions and the course were very safe.

But, I could not help but be disgusted at the CHEAPNESS and INCONSIDERATION and
downright RUDENESS of the Big Apple Triathlon Club.  Their attitude towards
late finishers (who cares? - we'll take down the finish line after the winners
finish) is simply wrong.  The broken glass in the transition area absolutely 
dangerous.  

And where did the 330 x $35 = $11,550 go?  Not into t-shirts or swim caps or 
race area preparation.  You had to buy swim caps, and race t-shirts could be 
**bought** after the race.  

I am sorry but after 4 years in triathlon and one year in the Big Apple
Triathlon Club (BATC), BATC just plain sucks and ain't worth the money.  But
the race itself is fun.

Later dudes and dudesses.

Rolf Arands
arands@zodiac.rutgers.edu


      
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