On my way back from a work trip from Reno, I wrote a post about my running and preparation for the Pikes Peak Ascent. Back in Chicago, I spoke with my sister Patricia who told me the swim was back on for the Hy-Vee Triathlon. I told her it was just for the elites so they could keep the Olympic trials on schedule and at Hy-Vee.
Well Trish was right. They sent out this email this evening:
2008 Hy-Vee Triathlon Update—The Swim Is Back On!
For days, Hy-Vee and West Des Moines city officials have been monitoring water conditions at Blue Heron Lake in West Des Moines’ Raccoon River Park in the hopes of hosting a true triathlon. Today, they got the news they had been waiting to hear: the water level is lower and the bacteria readings well within the safety range.
This means that age-group, junior and youth elites, and ITU World Cup athletes will all have the swim returned to their events during this weekend’s Hy-Vee Triathlon. So bring along your wet suit! Water temperatures have not yet been determined so please be ready for a wet suit or regular swim event. When we find more information out about the temperatures we’ll pass that along via the e-newsletter.
Please note: the Hy-Vee Kids Triathlon for children will remain a duathlon, which is a run-bike-run. It will be hosted entirely on the campus of Valley Southwoods. The finish line will remain on the campus of Southwoods School, where officials moved the event last week after flood waters threatened Des Moines.
New course maps are being drawn up reflecting the swim routes and bike transition area. Those maps will be distributed to the media and posted on www.hy-veetriathlon.com as soon as they are finalized.
All activities will take place at the times already scheduled. Volunteer and spectator parking will be at Wells Fargo on Mills Civic Parkway. Athlete parking will be explained during the mandatory briefings each participant must attend prior to racing.
Oh CRAP! I have to swim Sunday. I guess it is kind of like tapering, because I haven't swam since they announced it was going to be a duathlon last week.
A big congratulations goes out to the organizers of the race. They deserve a lot of credit for keeping this going. I am sure there are still major challenges that must be overcome, but so far it has been a herculean effort.
I don't know much about this lake, but I will do what I can to find information about the lake (water temps especially). Check back later for more info.
Notes:
- They released an updated course today. Looks like the bike is a point to point course of sorts, with two transition areas. See the map of the bike.
- Here is the website for Blue Heron Lake on the West Des Moines Park and Rec Page. There isn't much info, but it does have a few photos. I tried calling the Parks and Recreation Department on a water temperature, but they didn't know. I guess that is something we will find out at the expo.
- UPDATE: The triathlon just sent an email out saying the water temp on Thursday was a balmy 73 degrees. That means unless it gets REALLY hot in the next couple of days, it will probably be under 78 for race day, and it will be wetsuit legal.
- Also in the email, they announced practice swim times on Friday. That isn't going to do me a lot of good getting into Des Moines on Friday night. I am going to head over to the lake on Saturday to at least look at the set up and see if I can sneak into the water. If not I am going to take a quick dip to loosen up in the fastlane de Wittmack.
- Here is the story with quotes from the Des Moines Register. I love the quote from the native Iowan from NYC who talked about the tri being just gravy on top of the water receding in general. My feelings exactly.
- Lost in all the fuss over the swim is the fact we have an Olympic Trial going on!!! Inside Triathlon talks about it some in this article. The big showdown will be between the US's top male triathletes, Andy Potts and Hunter Kemper. If you need help figuring out who to cheer for, Andy Potts swam for the University of Michigan... so he is out. GO HUNTER! [Andy, I am only kidding, if you win I am sure you will represent the country well and not wear any horrible UM stuff in Beijing.]
- As people are looking for information on the Hy-Vee Tri, a lot of you are ending up on What's Next Dave. Welcome. Feel free to click here to see the rest of the blog. If you lik what you are reading, feel free to click here to subscribe or here to get it sent to your email.
Just for fun, and to get a little fired up, here is a video from last year's Hy-Vee Tri:
8 comments:
no worries....swimming is just like riding a bike you won't forget how to do it (er, I mean...ummmmm, you know what I mean)
Good luck! You'll do great. Just think of the swim break as a great swim taper. Don't worry about it.
Thank you both for your nice words of encouragement. It is strange how this off again on again thing has thrown me for a bit of a loop. I am going swimming tonight and a nice slow swim in the lake tomorrow and I will be fine.
I am not looking to kill myself, just do them as confidence builders!
It is more that I mentally downgraded the tri from an "A" race to a training event, and now I am trying to amp up for it again (and taper at the same time). Good news is once I hit the water on Sunday, those head games end and I will kick it into autopilot (if all goes well).
Good luck. Have fun.
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