df Ranch Tri - Sweetwater, TX Report

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version

   Thought I'd give a report on this race I did this weekend.  7-24-2010
The race was in located at Sweetwater Lake where the temperature of the water was 77F.  so wet suit legal but I did not wear one.  There was about 100 people ranging from El Paso to me in Houston.

Starts with a 500m open water swim.  This was my 1st open water mass start and I learned the rough way what elbows and feet to the face feel like.  Plus... I think lake water pushes you backwards...  I felt like I was going nowhere.  Start and finish were at a boat ramp.

The bike was a quick 14 mile out and back but added the difficulty of a 10-15 mph wind and more hills than I run into here in Sugar Land.  My legs were burning...

The run was a typical 5k out and back and again on hilly roads next to the lake. Some shade.  There were two water stops in this section.

Overall, it was a very well put together race and the people were very nice.  If you find yourself out in the Abilene area in the summer...  this one might be a fun challenge.

Here is the link.

https://fastfeetracing.com/df_Ranch_Triathlon.html

Regards,
Greg

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version
Sweatt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Active Member Joined: May/28/2010 Location: Sugar Land Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Quote Reply Topic: df Ranch Tri - Sweetwater, TX Report Posted: Jul/26/2010 at 1:05pm
	Thought I'd give a report on this race I did this weekend. 7-24-2010 The race was in located at Sweetwater Lake where the temperature of the water was 77F. so wet suit legal but I did not wear one. There was about 100 people ranging from El Paso to me in Houston. Starts with a 500m open water swim. This was my 1st open water mass start and I learned the rough way what elbows and feet to the face feel like. Plus... I think lake water pushes you backwards... I felt like I was going nowhere. Start and finish were at a boat ramp. The bike was a quick 14 mile out and back but added the difficulty of a 10-15 mph wind and more hills than I run into here in Sugar Land. My legs were burning... The run was a typical 5k out and back and again on hilly roads next to the lake. Some shade. There were two water stops in this section. Overall, it was a very well put together race and the people were very nice. If you find yourself out in the Abilene area in the summer... this one might be a fun challenge. Here is the link. https://fastfeetracing.com/df_Ranch_Triathlon.html Regards, Greg

Rita Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Feb/13/2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 73	Quote Reply Posted: Jul/28/2010 at 10:47am
	Congrats and thanks for posting your report! Sounds like you did well in your first open-water swim. I didn't fare as well when I did mine, mostly doggy-paddled, but I didn't get kicked, either. Hard to get kicked when you wait until your wave is at the first buoy before you start swimming (but the next wave comes up on you faster that way). Good job!

Marathon Freak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Active Member Joined: Dec/30/2009 Location: Sugar Land Online Status: Offline Posts: 39	Quote Reply Posted: Jul/28/2010 at 1:04pm
	Congrats on your first Open Water Swim. Let all the crazy people swim ahead of you then catch on the bike or run.
	Pam Fourie "The Brave may not live forever, but the cautious don't live at all."

Atina27 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Sep/12/2009 Location: Fulshear Online Status: Offline Posts: 52	Quote Reply Posted: Jul/30/2010 at 6:55pm
	Ok, you just scared me! I am terrified of the open mass swim start and have yet to do one. Yes, I plan on waiting until the fast people are out of the way on my first one, but I didn't take into account the next wave. I'll have to give that some strategic thought.

Rita Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Feb/13/2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 73	Quote Reply Posted: Jul/31/2010 at 3:23pm
	Well, if it makes you feel any better, often by the time the next wave reaches you, they have spread out a bit, so there isn't a huge group coming up on you at once. Plus I've realized that most people don't want to attack you, they just want to get from point A to point B as fast as they can. Don't take it personally