Fred Matthews

I am considering doing TriWaco this year since I'll be there that weekend and I have heard that the run course is rather hilly. Does anyone have any knowledge about this?

Thanks,

Fred

RustyD

I'm not familiar with it, but I'm planning on doing it too. I'm near Dallas, so it's not far from me. It's a very nice area there on the Brazos river. Are you considering the sprint or olympic?

Fred Matthews

I was wanting to do the Olympic but running is my weakness. If it is too hilly then I might just do the Sprint. Here are the comments I got about the run portion:

""""Had to respond to the 'hilly' comment = brutal - if that is strong enough a word, might not be, how about a phrase, "holy crap I had no idea Waco, no scratch that, TEXAS had hills like that", that's a little better, but still not enough, so I might need a little stronger language, hmmm, searching for the right combination, OK, I got it, "If I ever chose to run that %$(*#@@ing course again please shove a hammer up my butt and yank it out my nose"...yeah OK, that works. """"

So, as you can see I was hoping for a little different perspective on the run course. Maybe I just need to man up and take the challenge.

Hope to see you there.

Fred

RustyD

I'll probably do the sprint, considering I just did my first one this past weekend. Not sure I'll be ready for the Olympic. The running course isn't a big deal for me. I'm a slow runner on just about any terrain, a plodder, so the hills don't bother me much. But I don't care for the hills much on the bike.

Fred Matthews

Then you should be just fine. From the website the bike appears to be very flat. That is one reason I am considering the Olympic. I like to swim and I can handle the bike pretty fair. So I hope to have plenty left in the tank for the run.

Just something to consider.

By the way, I went on www.mapmyrun.com and placed the run course on there. If you click on "Search for Runs" then click "Change Search Location" and put in Waco and change the search to "Newest First" it will be under TriWaco Olympic Run. There is an option to see the elevation. You can also do this on the TriWaco website.

Either way, best of luck.

Fred

RustyD

That's a cool website. I've never seen it before. I found several good runs here where I live that I'll have to try.

Monoborracho

Fred, a common mistake that lots of folks make is to think that Texas is flat without considering where Lance trained to climb hills. And the Waco area is really pretty mild on hills compared to the area to the west of Waco. Many bikers know about the Hill Country west of Austin but are not aware that the hills run from San Antonio to Wichita Falls. Just sayin...... enjoy.

Fred Matthews

Yeah, you are absolutely correct. I was just not familiar with this area of Waco. My family is from Mexia so I know that part of the state. So when I read that it was hilly I was a bit surprised. My sister lives in Georgetown and she trains on those hills over there.

That is the great thing about TEXAS...it has everything you want and more. I sure miss it when I am away. Can't wait for TriWaco.

Thanks,

Fred

Tyrell

I did TriWaco Olympic last year (and placed 2nd in my AG!). I think the Sprinters had a turn-off on the run before entering Cameron Park which is where all the hellish hills ambush your PR in progress. Not for sure on the turn-off though. The bike course is stupid flat and fast with one water hand-up for Olympic. I was skeptical about the swim in the Brazos but but City of Waco did a really good job of making sure it was sparkly clean. Overall a good event put on my Hammerhead (even though the RD is a bit of a Nazi regarding nit-picky rules). Read and follow instructions in the pamphlets in your race packet you should have no problems. I'm planning to do the Olympic again this year so I'll see ya out there maybe! I'm not anticipating a faster time than last year for me since my training this year has been hampered by a newborn, a move, and a new job.

Time to start running hill repeats!!