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2012-01-28 6:44 PM

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Subject: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
So who else is in?  Never raced this event before, looking for any insights.  Will be heading over from the in laws at Raleigh on raceday.  Looks like a hike but can not justify the overnight expense.


2012-01-29 8:22 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
My husband and I are signed up as well.  Never done it either.  It will be my husbands first Oly. We are doing this race as a warm-up for White Like HIM a few weeks later.  Do you know what we can expect the water temps to be that early in the year?
2012-01-30 12:52 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
I think this event has been a sprint in the past looking at the times , never done it either, I am in, I would have to guess it's a wet suit race that early in the year.
2012-01-30 8:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
Just assumed it would be wetsuit legal based on doing a sprint in Raleigh last year that was a couple of weeks after this date and it was.  I am also doing it before the HIM at White Lake, hoping to get in the mileage to set me up for a good race. 
2012-01-31 6:30 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

Last year I believe it was looking like it would NOT be wetsuit legal in Aptil.  If my memory serves me right, setup measured the water the day before @ 79.  The race was cancelled due to the massive t-storms that came through (the ones that spawned the tornado out near raleigh).  The year before it was a perfect 70 degree water temp. 

This is the first year for the olympic distance so i can't really give any insight on that but the sprint two years ago was well run.  Bike was typical rolling NC terrain with a headwind the first 4-5 miles.  The run starts out uphill which isn't terribly steep or terribly long, but steep and long enough that you will certainly know it is there. 

Coming into the race site, if you need a place to "drop the kids off at the pool", there is a Sheetz gas station about 10 minutes from the site on the way in.  It is pretty much the ONLY place around.  

2012-01-31 9:17 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
I did the sprint last year and really liked it- well run and a nice course. I think it is kinda far from Raleigh to go for a sprint (the race is NOT in Greensboro like they say on the website- it is way north from there- I think it took me 90 or so mins to drive there from Cary and I wasn't noodling along at 5:30 in the morning) so had decided not to do this again as a sprint, but then doing a 2 loop OLY didn't appeal to me either so I decided to skip the OLY this year. Some people like the TT swim start but I prefer mass starts (they are fun and they cut down that waiting in line...and they make it easier to guage how you are doing later in the race). So to me, just too many factors weighing against it. But the race itself was really nice!


2012-01-31 8:56 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
I'm in. Looking forward to it. Sounds like it's gonna be a great race.
2012-02-01 8:29 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
bgraboski - 2012-01-31 7:30 AM

Last year I believe it was looking like it would NOT be wetsuit legal in Aptil.  If my memory serves me right, setup measured the water the day before @ 79.  The race was cancelled due to the massive t-storms that came through (the ones that spawned the tornado out near raleigh).  The year before it was a perfect 70 degree water temp. 

This is the first year for the olympic distance so i can't really give any insight on that but the sprint two years ago was well run.  Bike was typical rolling NC terrain with a headwind the first 4-5 miles.  The run starts out uphill which isn't terribly steep or terribly long, but steep and long enough that you will certainly know it is there. 

Coming into the race site, if you need a place to "drop the kids off at the pool", there is a Sheetz gas station about 10 minutes from the site on the way in.  It is pretty much the ONLY place around.  

Note that the bike starts out on this same hill. Be sure you have your bike racked in an easy gear. I saw many people struggling to change gears while trying to clip in and pedal up the steep starting portion. I think it is probably a good 7 or 8% grade, but only for, maybe 50 yards, then it is gradual. But you don't wanna be in some hard gear when you first start out.

2012-02-12 5:07 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
Thanks for all the feedback and information.
2012-02-18 9:55 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
Im in for this too. Not too many hills around here (Angier) that hit 7-8% might go pre-ride the course some saturday.
2012-02-19 3:28 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

techknowgn - 2012-02-18 10:55 PM Im in for this too. Not too many hills around here (Angier) that hit 7-8% might go pre-ride the course some saturday.

techknowgn - I'm also planning to preride the course soon. Let me know when you're going if you'd like some company.

-MJacaruso



2012-03-01 9:52 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
MJacaruso - 2012-02-19 4:28 PM

techknowgn - 2012-02-18 10:55 PM Im in for this too. Not too many hills around here (Angier) that hit 7-8% might go pre-ride the course some saturday.

techknowgn - I'm also planning to preride the course soon. Let me know when you're going if you'd like some company.

-MJacaruso

 

That would be cool but I have to tell you im pretty slow uphill so we might not be riding together for long. Im looking at 2 weeks out at this point. If youve already done it, let me know what you think. I found a hill locally that is 14% for about 25 yards so im gonna keep pushing at that

2012-03-06 2:13 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
Haven't been to ride the course yet, but I'll probably go the weekend after next, so the 24th or 25th. Just let me know if you're available and want to come along.
2012-03-07 6:50 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

techknowgn - 2012-02-18 10:55 PM Im in for this too. Not too many hills around here (Angier) that hit 7-8% might go pre-ride the course some saturday.

If you are going to pre-ride just for the hill at the beginning, don't worry about it.  By my garmin elevation numbers from the race in 2010, it is only a 3.1% grade (99ft over .61m).  Just remember to keep in the small ring out of T1. 

Race Elevation on the bike (one loop):

 





(Race 4-17-2010, Elevation.png)



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Race 4-17-2010, Elevation.png (44KB - 26 downloads)
2012-03-16 5:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
Fishing Notes.com estimates a current water temp of 55F. They claim their algorithm is accurate within 4 degrees. With less than a month before the race, we may still get to wear wetsuits, but it's gonna be close.
2012-03-19 7:50 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

MJacaruso - 2012-03-16 6:27 PM Fishing Notes.com estimates a current water temp of 55F. They claim their algorithm is accurate within 4 degrees. With less than a month before the race, we may still get to wear wetsuits, but it's gonna be close.

That is supposed to be pink, right?  For awards, you can wear wetsuits up to 78 degrees.  You can wear wetsuits up to 84 degrees, but you can't win a an award.



2012-03-21 11:58 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
Apparently it is already about 65 degrees, which seems about right.  Lake Norman is currently at 69. I love it!  I hate cold water and never done a real swim in a wetsuit (besides trying it out and swam about 200 meters).  So I am just happy to swim without the wetsuit. 
2012-03-21 4:02 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

Chubby - 2012-03-21 12:58 PM Apparently it is already about 65 degrees, which seems about right.  Lake Norman is currently at 69. I love it!  I hate cold water and never done a real swim in a wetsuit (besides trying it out and swam about 200 meters).  So I am just happy to swim without the wetsuit. 

There is a big difference between 55 and 65 degrees.

2012-03-22 2:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
japarker24 - 2012-03-21 5:02 PM

Chubby - 2012-03-21 12:58 PM Apparently it is already about 65 degrees, which seems about right. 

There is a big difference between 55 and 65 degrees.

That is a big difference. I thought 55 seemed a little low since Jordan is already in the 60s. Where did you get that number, Chubby?

2012-03-22 8:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
The link to the elevation isnt working. could your repost? Whats the total #? Anything other than the uphill start to worry about?
2012-03-25 7:41 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

That is a big difference. I thought 55 seemed a little low since Jordan is already in the 60s. Where did you get that number, Chubby?

I got that number from a comment posted on the fishingnotes.com website. The website currently states the water temp to be at 59 but someone commented it to be around 65.  Lake Norman has a very accurate reading which updates every 15 minutes and Lake Norman is currently at 69.  So I figured that Belews Lake is most likely in the mid 60's as the guy stated.



2012-03-31 9:45 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
Fishing notes might be all wet ha ha...I swam in Norman Monday I would say it was about 65
2012-04-01 9:33 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

Ha ha.  I swam in Norman yesterday am.  65isch sounds about right

 

2012-04-03 9:04 AM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread
I need to get in an open water swim prior to race day. Anyone know of a good spot in the Raleigh area? Im in Angier but can do Raleigh or Fayetteville
2012-04-05 7:51 PM
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Subject: RE: Belews Lake International Triathlon : Official Thread

Went to the race site on Wednesday and bricked the bike and run courses. The hill out of transition is not that bad. It's mainly a bunch of hype. Keep your bike in a low gear to start, and stand up in the last few hundred yards before going down into T2 to stretch out for the run back up that hill. The run goes farther down Campsite Rd than that of the sprint and is a little hillier because of it. Not much shade, but there are a few sections under some trees. According to IOS, the water temp is currently 69, and they estimate race day temps between 70 and 72.  

Should be a fun race. I'm psyched!

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