Challenge Atlantic City 2015
The Pre-Race Report
It’s Saturday afternoon 27 June 2015, and I’m trying something new. Yes, something new at a race! Before going race-day hypoxic, I will report on the pre-race goodness that is, so far, Challenge Atlantic City. Chris and I plan to finish the Half Distance triathlon tomorrow.
We left Knoxville Thursday afternoon by car, up I-81, enjoying an extra hour of standstill in 90 degF heat due to a truck fire and subsequent rear-end collisions. Oh well, it made for a short wait at Cracker Barrel supper on the other side!
Hotel in Baltimore and a few hours driving into Atlantic City Saturday. Our route had tolls of $9.75; as any drive through DC/Baltimore/Philly/NY/NJ will! We checked in at the Sheraton Atlantic City (credit card points coming in handy again), and made a quick 0.8-mile walk to Bally's.
Like a favorite trail, registration was smooth and flowy. In less than ten minutes we had our USAT waiver signed, packets and timing chips in hand, transition parking pass (3-days for $10 at Bader Field) and into the Athlete meeting. We grabbed our goody bags (a small backpack with a water bottle and a Red Bull 4-pack) a little later. The backpack was super handy for the co-located EXPO, where we grabbed a few items, and sampled a few new endurance products from Boom (gel made from real fruit) and Vitargo (a starch-based energy drink, whose plain formula tasted just like water). I just may sample Vitargo on course, too.
The Athlete Meeting was helpful, especially the course reviews. We already read the Athlete Guide last week, and I implore everyone to do so. So many questions online and in the meeting were already answered in the Athlete Guide clearly and simply. It’s time wasted for the race team to reiterate this information repeatedly; the meeting is to get clarification and hear any changes. Sorry, I don’t want to rant, but I find it aggravating that too many athletes don’t own this responsibility to review the provided information.
After the meeting and USAT rule review, we enjoyed an afternoon beverage with another Knoxville athlete in one of Bally’s restaurants and then headed into the Carbo-Load Dinner. Wow. Bally’s put on a great spread: salad bar, baked potato bar, eggplant parmesan, roast turkey and dressing, farro salad, couscous salad, steamed vegetables, pasta primavera, shrimp-stuffed sole, roles, dessert bar, drinks, and probably more. Never had that at a race before. Rumor is that Monday’s breakfast is just as good!
The dinner also featured a few quick announcements and a lovely speech from another athlete that crashed her bike last year around mile 105. With bone protruding and in great pain, she finished her 140.6 miles, even inspiring a by-stander to quit smoking as she toiled on! Her message: all decisions carry consequences, and it’s the little actions that matter. Simply smiling and encouraging others can reach so deep and make a big difference. Her words will stay with me.
Today was an early start, getting to swim practice at Bader Field to meet up with team mates and mingle with the athletes, sharing samples from SBR Sports, including the best ever TriSlide, Foggies and TriSwim products. I jumped in as well to get a taste of the brackish goodness that is the “Back Bay” and swim the 500-yard practice course. It’s been five years since I’ve put my face in salt water, so this was wise. I was surprised at how shallow (four feet at the ramp, with grassy pudding on the bottom) and warm (78.4 degF) the water was. No wetsuit needed, but several folks wore one, hoping that the temperatures drop at least 0.4 degF in the next 20 hours! The firetruck was already parked at the swim exit for Sunday, ready to wash all that salty ‘New Jersey’ off our bodies!
I finished my role as Challenge Family Triathlon Team Brand Ambassador at 9:00 when the swim course closed, and found my wonderful spouse had our bikes all together. A nice strong tailwind for the warm-up (heading the same direction out as Sunday!) had us cruising along at 20+ mph with ease. The wind continued to strengthen by the minute and we u-turned after four miles. My power intervals into a beastly headwind were quite the test of bike handling and core stability! Nice wide road shoulders kept us out of traffic as we pushed hard back to Bader Field. We finished the ride with a few laps of the abandoned runways. Headwind. Tailwind. Headwind. Tailwind. Then a quick 15-minute run. Feeling fresh and ready.
We puttered until 11:00 and then dropped the bikes in Transition. By dropped, I mean bungee-corded those bikes to the poles. Holy wind, Batman! The rain started as well.
We found lunch at The Hook in nearby Absecon, NJ. We enjoyed fantastic gourmet omelets, strong java and an entertaining cook and staff, all in a very humble little building next to a tiny marina. Shop-Rite grocery store was around the corner to stock up on snacks and pre-race breakfast.
So, we have an early start Sunday, with the Half boys in the water at 6:00, and us ladies chasing at 6:05. The Full athletes drop in at 7:00. Sounds unorthodox, but Race Director Stephen Del Monte explained this plan for a few reasons, including athlete safety, road closure permits and easing congestion for some course sections.
We still have to pack up for tomorrow and get some supper, then lights out by 20:00. I’m really looking forward to Sunday. I have no traditional race “goals.” I do plan to execute to the best of my ability, keep all things in perspective, consume nutrition as practiced, show gratitude to all that bring the event together and share a smile with everyone I possibly can!
Find out what happens in Part II...
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