Key Impressions:
Superbly organized and friendly!
Bike route is uphill from start to finish!
Bacon is for the young and the fast, the old and slow (me) are left with an unwanted mountain of tepidly warm veggie wraps for the post-race meal!
Race Description:
The Pittsford triathlon is a sprint triathlon that takes place every year on the first Sunday in June. The race consists of a 300-yard swim, 15-mile bike ride and a 3.3-mile run. The race attracts around 100-200 people, mostly individual racers and a handful of teams. The fastest time for the race is just over 1 hour and the slowest times are around 2 hours 30 minutes. All participants are treated to a post-race meal.
Organization of the Event:
This is a small friendly triathlon ideal for the beginner and yet challenging enough for the accomplished athlete. The whole process from parking your bike and gear in the transition zone to being marked and getting the ankle bracelet only takes a few minutes. I have participated in the race 4 times and each time I have been pleasantly surprised by the efficiency and the friendliness of the staff. On my very first triathlon in 2016, the process was so efficient and effortless that I was convinced that I had forgotten an essential step in the morning registration process and that I would be somehow disqualified for not registering properly. I asked several times if that was it? and several times I was greeted with a knowing smile and kind reassurance that I am all set.
The Swim:
The swim is in a pool and consists of 6 laps, swam in a serpentine manner. Participants enter their expected swim times when registering for the race. The swim time entered determines the order in which people start the swim portion of the race, this also determines your bib number for the race.
The time between participants starting their swim is every 15 seconds, which for the average swimmer represents about half a length distance between for the initial spacing. For the most part there are generally very few issues with crowding in the first 3-4 laps, and if there are any faster swimmers behind you, they generally tap your foot to let you know they wish to pass. Occasionally there are issues with some swimmers having put down a faster time than they can accomplish. This does result in random bottlenecks occurring. On two occasions I have seen people stand-up and walk part of the swim in the shallow end. However, for the most part, the swim in the pool is well coordinated and a very efficient process. The swim times range between just over 4 minutes for the fastest times and around 13 minutes for the slower times. The average swimmer will be somewhere in the 6-8-minute range.
The Bike Route:
The bike route is uphill from start to finish! Not really, but it can seem like it since one spends more time grinding up the hills than speeding down the hills. If there is one comment that is common from most beginners it is “it’s a hilly route” The 15 mile bike route is well marked and every left or right hand turn has volunteers present to ensure that there is no confusion as to which way to go. Bike times range between just under 40 minutes for the fastest cyclist to around 90 minutes for the slowest cyclist with the majority of cyclists finishing in around 1 hour.
The Run:
This is a 3.3 mile run as opposed to 3.1 miles which would be standard for the 5k. There are numerous water stations along the route. There are a few hills and most of the route is on sidewalks through residential neighborhoods. The fastest times for this run are just over 20 minutes and the slowest times are around 50 minutes. Most runners finish in around 30 minutes.
Post-Race Meal.
The organizers provide a post-race meal which is mostly breakfast wraps, juice or water. Without a doubt the breakfast wraps that contain bacon are the first to be consumed, leaving a largely unwanted abundance of veggie-wraps for the old and the slow participants. On the one hand I think this should encourage me to be faster for next year, however, on the other hand I hope the organizers will read this post and seriously rethink the bacon/veggie ratio. After all, everything (even a triathlon) is better with bacon.
My top 6 Recommendations to First Timers Participating in the Pittsford Triathlon.
1. Correct Swim Time: Know your swim time as opposed to guessing it. This is the best way of having a trouble-free swim for yourself as well as the other participants.
2. Know the Transition Zone: Walk the transition zone before the race. Know how you get from the pool to your bike, know where you leave the transition zone on your bike, know where your bike enters the transition zone after the ride and which way you leave for the run.
3. Practice the Bike Route on the Bike you will use: This may seem obvious, but I have been surprised by how many beginners simply drove the route by car instead of biking it. Without a doubt it is not the same experience.
4. Expect Heavy Legs: if you have not practiced running after biking don’t be surprised if for the first few minutes, your legs will simply not run due to feeling heavy. This feeling will dissipate fairly quickly. Just keep moving forward. My best advice here is to practice this, it may not prevent the heavy legs in the actual race, but it won’t be a surprise either.
5. Smile for the Camera: You most likely will have friends or family present to support you. Treat them to a smile and a friendly wave if possible, as opposed to a grimace and a grunt. Those photos will be posted on social media before you finish the race.
6. Have Fun!
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