Age Group Nationals

Robert Sabo

I am taking the year off from IM and therefore my season has been in turmoil without a true AA race.  I signed up for 70.3 in DC 8-4.  my family is now pushing/requesting to go to Age Group Nationals in Burlington VT August 18th.  They want to go to worlds in London as well.  So if I go to Vt I want to finish in the top 18 in the 45-49 AG.  I have done distance nationals 3 times and finished in the top 10 all three.  What's the group think about doing both races with 70.3 as a B race?  Anyone done the Burlington course?  Is it particularly tough? hilly?

mgraffeo

Robert, the Burlington bike course is not nearly as hilly/tough as it looks from the course profile. Most of the grades are more false flats than actual grades. Overall, it was rippin fast! It was actually deceptive, I think I left some watts on the course because I didn't realize I wasn't pushing as hard as I should have, since I was going so fast. I brought my 12-27, and next year it will definitely be the 11-25 or even 11-23.

The run course is also very fast. The first quarter mile or so is up a steep hill. At the top, it levels out and gently rolls through about mile 3, but is net downhill. Pretty much pancake flat after that.

I had an Olympic distance PR there last year, and am hoping to bring my A-game to the race this year and take even more time off that PR. Hope to see you there!

kmepham

I'll be at AG Nationals this year as well. I'm glad I'm 50 so I won't be racing against you two but I look forward to seeing you there! Mike, the gearing you're recommending, is that with a compact crank?

Daniela

I'll be there as well, and hoping to travel to London next year. We're road tripping through the US on the way there and Canada on the way back. Can't wait!!

Anyone know how it compares to the Tuscaloosa AGN bike and run courses?

mgraffeo

Kevin, yes, with a compact. my biggest gear last year was a 50 - 12, and I was really wishing I had another gear several times.

Daniela, I didn't do Tuscaloosa, but have a friend who did both, so I'll ask her. BTW, love the sig line!

GMAN 19030

I admittedly pay zero attention to these kind of things. I had to renew my USAT membership a week ago and saw messages that I had qualified for 2011 and 2012. I haven't logged into my USAT account in about two years. Can they not email that information? Not that I'm going or anything but it seems silly to me that their only form of notification was within their website.