Newbie from Jersey

Welcome! Congrats on your success so far...keep having fun!

hey! congrats on getting started.... and you are just across the river from me! what triathlon are you looking at doing?

Welcome to the site! Congratulations on your progress so far!

Kelly

Good luck with your training!  Many of us here are beginners too - so you'll fit right in!

I made a minor mistake...I thought I was competing in Aug. but it's September and it's the DQ Triathalon at Marlton Lakes, NJ

Thanks for all the luck wishes (I'm gonna need them )

Edited by kadence2k3 2004-05-25 11:24 AM

good luck for september and glad yor seeing the progress.

i've done that race (2002 and 2003) so if you have any questions about it let me know!

kadence2k3 -

I am over the bidge in philly and hoping to have conquered swimming in time to do that race as well

good luck

since both of you are (or may be) doing the race i thought i'd offer some thoughts here...

it is a really good first race. really low key. this will be its third year and the past two have been a tad disorganized in little ways (like, um, the transition area isn't closed off - but they do a pretty good job of keeping people out of there).

the swim - 1/4 mile. straight shoot. before the race starts you walk over a little causeway (which, incidently, you will run over later) and swim straight across. there are buoys marking the course - but no turns. the lake is not the deepest lake in the world, which means two things (1) the bottom sediments will get churned up, especially if you are not in the first wave; and (2) at just about every point on the course you could put your feet down if you want to (or move about 10 feet to the right (closer to the causeway) and put your feet down). the first year (see race report linked at the end of this post) the lake was really shallow, we were in a quasi-drought, but the second year it was quite a bit better.

the bike - 11 miles. one loop, slightly rolling hills, well marked. one or two sharp-ish turns but there are people there telling you to slow down into the turn. there were people at every major cross section, and i did not hear of any problems during either of the previous years.

the run - 5k/3.1 miles. out and back course. basically flat. through residential neighborhoods. water stops every mile, encouraging people out on the course.

it's a nice, small-ish, friendly run race.

the first year i did it (in 2002), it was my second race ever and i did prepare a little write-up with some photos if you're interested.

Weight loss will come with time, I'm down 20lbs.  Hope the tri goes well!

Have fun training---I've lost 50 pounds now, and run, bike and swim faster!!MMMMM, anothe 20 pounds to go and I should fly!!!

Good luck on your training and your tri!!

Darlene