CATS Sprint Tri

Hills are tough!  My first tri was in Jonesboro and the hills were killer. 

This is going to be my 1st Tri.  I'm glad to hear that it is a newbie friendly race.  I did have a couple of questions about it.

1)  What, if any, nutrition plan did you use during the race?

2)  Do they use the same area for T1 and T2?

3)  How is the water temp in Sept?

4)  Are there any good stores with Tri gear in Little Rock?

Thanks for the help!!!

1.) Accelerade and GU on the ride.  Water at the stations on the run.

2.) Yes

3.) No wetsuit needed the water may even still be a bit warm unfortunately.

4.) I know Chainwheel has a tri specific area, other than that you could try EasyRunner.

For those concerned about the hills, here are links to the bike and run maps complete with elevation profiles:

Bike

Run

All the info is HERE

Just rode the course for the CATS sprint on Sunday.  My advice...take 2 water bottles.  Neither are for you!  There are lots of very mean dogs!!!

 Dog #1...no problem, just spooked me a little.  He didn't even come out onto 25. Dogs 2 and 3 work as a team.  The white lab mix barks like a maniac and the shepard mix runs along side you and nips at your ankles while showing his beautifully whitened teeth.  No worries.  He fades when you squirt him in the face with your water bottle.  (that takes a little coordination btw)  Dogs 4 and 5 also work as a team.  Little jack russell looking thing is bigger around than he is long.  He'll never catch you.  His partner, curly headed off-white dog is serious.  All the way from across the highway into my lane, in front of me, the along side.  I can't out run him, so I'll squirt him.  No dice.  He's still growling and the water has no affect.   Yell at him.  It just eggs him on.  He's in front of me, I'm swirving, traffic is behind me, and I'm sure they are laughing histerically.  He cuts me off a few more times, almost went over the handlebars, but held on.  Unclip, kick dog. (I would normally not do such a thing, but I am afraid for my life at this point)  It just pisses him off.  Ok, I'm gonna die.  Try to go fast again, but have nothing left in the tank.  For some reason, he quits.  Just walks back across the highway like nothing ever happened.  Next up, small gas station at a 4 way stop.  Only 2.19 miles left until the turn around.  I turned around at the gas station.  I was spent.

 Hills are not too bad.  Some of them are long. 

I can assure you it wasn't yesterday.  It is humorous today, though.

_{Fox says we have an 80% chance of rain.  No worries, just leave your goggles on for the entire race}

That whole gas thing made me a little pissy.  I got gas last Wed. for $3.40, Friday it was $3.99.   I thin $.54 in 3 days is re-donkulous! I don't think they should be able to raise the price until they get a new load of gas. 

...and I drive a Mini Cooper for pete's sake!