Gator Bait Vicksburg

I am in and I am also on the race comittee trying to get this kicked off this year.  Five of us went up and rode the course today and the road looks good.  The lake isn't open yet but I talked with the Col. at the Corps of Engineers and it should be open within the next couple weeks.  I have personally seen the lake as high as it was today in my lifetime so I believe we are getting close.  We talked to a few locals after the ride and they seemed excited the triathlon is going to take place up there,  therefor so far so good.  I had to pick up my tribike from a bike shop in New Orleans yesterday and left some flyers down there so hopefully we will get triathletes down there signed up.

We have Ben Hall from Ruston and Nathan Davis from Vicksburg signed up so if you know of a speedster there is definatly going to be some fast folks there for them to compete with.

Just signed up me and the wife.  Looking forward to it.

I'm the wife.  We're in!

Great, spread the word.  The race has been officially USAT sactioned.  We are getting some really good feedback from some of the Eagle Lake locals, numerous locals have asked to volunteer so that is especially exciting.  There are a few of us going up there to make sure everything is order this weekend, getting transition ready, lining out all our aid stations etc. 

I'm in!

Awesome, I enjoyed reading your blog.  Welcome to MS and bring some of those fast Hattisburg folks up with you.  Tell S. Hudson there will be some competition as B. Hall from Ruston will be there.

I swam the course today and the water temp. wasn't bad at all.  I figured I would be torched b/c I didn't swim till 4:00 pm but it didn't feel too bad.  The race committee met up there and settled in on the transition area, timing mats etc.  We also checked out the finish line.  The couple who owns the old Cotton Exchange is letting us use their property for our finish line and post race party.  Thats awesome b/c it is a beautiful lot and has a georgous view of the lake.  It appears that everything is now falling into place.  I have helped with a few local run races but putting on a tri is much more complicated.  There are several triathletes on the committee so we are trying to incorported the knowledge we have picked up from other races. 

As far as my training it has been slacking big time.  I finished my first IM a few weeks ago and haven't done much since.  My wife convinced me to do some P90X with her and that has absolutely killed my upper body.  I need to set me some new goals and start training to try to achieve them, but after all the IM training I also owe it to the family for some R&R with them.

Look forward to seeing you all in a couple weeks.  If anyone has any questions feel free to pm me or email me at [email protected] and I will be glad to try to answer them.

I've been out too long with a stress fracture and just started running again. A 10k is too much of a reach right now.

I hope it is well attended and I will be there for the 2nd annual Gator Bait!

Drink lots on the bike and use every aid station.  Drink lots this week in general.  It will help a lot for that run.

x2, make sure you take in plenty of fluids and keep the run conservative going out.  I have ran the course twice and I am afraid since it is dead flat people are going to hammer the run going out.  It will be a grave mistake b/c when you turn around the sun will hammer you.  So my advice is keep it easy on the way out if you want to finish strong.  You will love the finish line area.  It is set at on one of the prettiest properties on the lake and we are very grateful to the family letting us use it.

If we can get 4 more people signed up we will hit 100 participants so if you know someone who is on the fence tell them to come on.  No worry about the alligators, they only like the fast swimmers  In all seriousness I have swam it twice nice and the lake is surprisingly cooler than what I expected.  I can remember being in Eagle Lake as a kid in August and it being very hot.  This weekend it felt very refreshing.

Sam's not racing but his wife Judy is competing in the Open Water Swim!  Casey Lee is coming in from Jackson and I'm coming up with another girl from H'burg! 

See you Saturday!!!

Just got in from getting stuff ready for the race (marking course, getting trailors ready etc.)  It is shaping up for a good weekend.  It has been a hectic week trying to get everything ready but hopefully it will all fall in place.  There were a couple guys from Clinton riding the course this afternoon.  I anyone has any questions feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will try to help you in anyway I can. 

I can say I watched my first sunset on Eagle Lake since I was in college this afternoon.  What a beautiful sight.

Mary glad you enjoyed the race.  Thanks all who came out and supported the event.  I thought the race went well for our first time putting one on and we have gotton some good positive feedback thus far.  If anyone has any suggestions on how/or what we can improve on let me know and I will bring it up with the race committee. 

Also I thought it was a joke that there was supposively a gator at mile five on the bike course.  My wife and I spotted him on the way home and took a picture.  Now thats crazy. hehe