Atlantic City here I come!

Short version:

44 out of 435 Top 9.8%

8^th in Age Group

1 Mile Swim, 20 mile bike, & 6.2 mile run

Swim:  28:07

T1:  3:34

Bike:  54:05 (22.19 MPH)

T2:  3:30

Run:  37:27 (6:22 pace)

TOTAL:  2:08.43

The Atlantic City Triathlon is quickly becoming one of my favorite races.  It is at the perfect time of year, late summer.  Temps are usually dropping, the water is still warm, and humidity is low….perfect conditions.  Delmo Sports runs this race, as well as the Tri the Wildwoods Sprint Triahtlon, and they do an awesome job!

Cathy, the kids and I arrived in AC on Friday afternoon to pick up my race gear and check-in at the registration area.  The first thing I noticed was that it was a much better venue than last year.  Last year was cool to have T1 inside Boardwalk Hall, but it was tough logistically.  Bader Field was super easy to navigate with plenty of FREE parking.  We got in and out so fast we had time to meet my parents in Cape May Court House for dinner.

After eating, we went to their house and let the kid’s burn off some steam and let me get everything ready for Saturday morning.  The alarm would go off at 4:15AM, so I wanted to get to sleep by 10PM if possible.  It is a 40 minute ride to AC from their house, so I wanted to hit the road by 4:30.  I got up to AC by 5:30AM and cruised right into the parking lot.  I was in transition and set up by 6AM.  Now I just had to relax.

My swim wave was first, so I would be in the water early.  The race was delayed starting by 12 minutes, as the State Police cleared to Atlantic City Expressway(ACE).  Once the race director received the OK, my wave headed into the water for the in-water start.  The swim would be in the back bay, protected from the waves of the ocean that almost killed me last year (the swim was cancelled last year AFTER I went into the water).  The swim was a nice easy rectangle, nice current with a little push it seemed like in both directions.  The best part about Delmo Sports is their concern for the athletes.  Once again, plenty of lifeguards in the water and along the shoreline at the exit.  The run to T1 was rough on the feet, since Bader Filed is an old airfield and the rumble strips on the ground made the run in from the water more like a fast walk.

Once I changed and ready for the bike I headed towards Albany Ave.  It seemed like a long run from T1, but it probably wasn’t that long, I just wanted to hop on the bike with my new helmut and test it out.  This year the bike course was different from last year.  We exited Bader Field and Rt 40/322 Albany Ave and headed West towards the ACE.  We entered the ACE at exit 2.  It is awesome to ride on the ACE with hardly any cars on it since the right lanes are closed and we ride in the right lane and shoulder.  We exit at #4, cross over the ACE, and re-enter at exit 4 heading east directly into Atlantic City. 

front view

       

left side

       

right side

Once into AC, we make a short loop on the exit ramp and turn around heading Westbound again towards exit 4.  The wind was tough going this direction.  I could feel my bike move a few times during a side wind gust.  What you pay for in the wind coming across the bay, you make up for in flatness.  Once you get to exit 4 you just loop around the off ramp and exit the ACE at #2 and return to Bader Field.  A nice easy 20-miler on the bike in and out of AC.  Heading into Bader Field was a little tough.  Along the road we had the right lane, but some drivers were impatient, and cut into the lanes.  What jerks!  There were plenty of signs and police in the area.  I overheard quite a few exchanges of police officers and drivers.  Once into Bader Field it was a tough run to T2, since I took my feet out of my bike shoes in an attempt to save time and run barefoot.  In reality, I probably cost myself time.

Once I got to my rack, I put my bike up and got dressed for the run.  I was moving OK, but my feet were sweaty and I had a hard time getting on my Zoot racing flats because the grip of my wet feet.  I also tried a new hydration belt at this race, Nathan Hydration, in preparation for Pocono 70.3 in a few weeks.  I just wanted to test it and see how I would like it compared to my old belt, a single 20oz. water bottle holder.  It worked fine.

Once I got done dorking around in T2, I hit the run.  The run course was almost the same as last year, a nice run along the boardwalk.  Running to the boardwalk was a little crazy.  Some of the roads were opened to traffic, but with police controlling to flow.  Sometimes the drivers paid no attention to the police and it was like playing Frogger for some runners.  I had no issues, but I could see quite a few in front of me.  Again, this was because of impatient people disobeying the police officers direction, not a problem with the race director.  I felt great running and noticed many people with their Philadelphia Triathlon Club race kits on.  It great to hear “Go Philly” along the course.

Overall I felt really good with my results, especially since I have had not much motivation to train lately.  Mentally I am still trying to get over IMLP and physically I am still 10lbs too heavy.  Same thing happened last year after IMLP, low motivation.  I still get most of my sessions in, just without much focus it seems.  Oh well, its back to school in our house and that is good.  Half Marathon this weekend so I'll post that report next week.