 |
| DQ Events times and/or hosts dozens of multisport events every summer in New Jersey. |
 | |
|
For example, at most races, you get a number to affix to your bike during the race and it matches the number on your race bib, which is also written on your upper arms. As you leave after the race is over, someone stands at the exit point of the transition area and checks that the number on the bike you are pushing matches the number on your arm. It's a simple security measure to help ensure that equipment--particularly expensive bikes--don't get stolen, but it was absent at this race. DQ didn't provide bike numbers and the transition area was unattended after the race.
There were some other things that felt low rent, like the meager food offerings after the race, but if we take DQ as a "bare bones" kind of racing outfit, the bones themselves were pretty sturdy. The course was well marked, there was an adequate number of volunteers. Duathlon and Aquabike events were offered. The pre-race meeting answered the basic questions. There were enough port-o-potties. I did not see any significant safety hazards.
While waiting to pick up my race packet, I heard much discussion about water quality. A man who was about 25 said he grew up in Hammonton and was doing duathlon because nothing could persuade him to get in that water. I got a parasitic rash from swimming in the lake at Mercer County Park for the NJ State triathlon, in both 2015 and 2013, so water quality is a concern of mine. The reality is, Jersey's waterways aren't great, and there is a lot of agricultural run-off, particularly in the part of Burlington County where Hammonton is located. Race directors in NJ have the water tested and it must be deemed safe enough for swimming, but that doesn't mean it's crystal clear by any means. Anxious swimmers may prefer calm lakes to swim in, but I am drawn to the ocean swimming races in places like Asbury Park and Long Branch, where water quality is less of an issue. Still, the water portion of this race was so short--just a quarter mile--that I figured the exposure was limited.
My race:
The lake was teaming with tadpoles in the shallows and the water, churned up by many swimmers, contained a lot of vegetation that had to be swatted out of the way during the swim. I got a long piece of water grass wedged under my timing chip and had to take a few seconds to yank it free during the first transition. But the swim was fast and easy. |
| Patti and I in our nice shirts with our cheap awards magnates. :) |
During the bike I had the strange experience of someone passing me and then immediately slowing down to take a drink from her bottle. She did this several times. Why?
I also had someone actually draft behind me for the first time in my life, and saw other people drafting at various points even though it is not permitted under USAT rules. I think when the race feels kind of down style and security is lax overall, maybe it brings out the bad habits in some athletes.
As far as the run goes, by the time I got through my second transition I was starting to feel the heat. Most of the run was shaded, but it was still slow going for me. Like the bike, the run was an out and back course and so as I was approaching the Mile 2 marker, I saw a man heading towards me who was just finishing Mile 1. He saw the Mile 1 sign and was saying: "No way. There's no way that's just one mile!" It was kind of amusing to watch him telling the teenage girl who was directing foot traffic that the course had obviously been measured wrong.
My goal for the day was to complete the race in under an hour and a half, and my time was 1:27, so victory is mine! I also came in 2nd in the Athena division (women over 165lbs), although they initially announced me as 3rd and I had to email the race directors afterwards to get them to correct the mistake. Patti came in 3rd in her age group, so we got to hang out together for the awards and compare notes about the race, which is always great fun.
It was a good race for me. I was satisfied with my performance. But I probably won't put it back on my calendar for next year.
RACE OVERVIEW
Pros:
- Friendly to all skill levels
- Good looking race T-shirts
- Moderate size, good for people who get stressed by mega races
- Properly marked course with volunteers
- Inexpensive compared to other local triathlons
Cons:
- Finishers' medals underwhelming and prizes for age group and category winners were car magnets advertising the DQ racing company
- Post race food adequate, but limited: hoagies, bananas, watermelon, chips ahoy, pretzels and water.
- Transition area not secured. At. All.
- Race results were sent quickly, but included at least one error (listed me as third in Athena, even though the person listed as second place finished 5 minutes AFTER me); there is not easy way to contact them via email, so I had to use Facebook. They did respond and fixed the error.
GRADE = B-
I like a bit more pampering and I wasn't excited about the course, but if you don't want anything fancy, DQ offers a no frills racing option that is safe and affordable.
 |
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment