CpC | Counterpart Coaching

The Other Coast
Doug Marocco

Triathlon is recognized to have originated in San Diego and continues to flourish on the West Coast with the early season half Ironman race in Oceanside and traditional opener Wildflower in May at Lake San Antonio. The east coast has it’s own version of Wildflower and several other long distance races that rival events held anywhere in the country to include the prestigious Eagleman-Hawaii Ironman Qualifier.

Although not as well known, the White Lake Triathlon Half IM and following day sprint distance events directed by mega-event production company, Set-Up Inc of North Carolina seems to mark the start of east coast racing. Each event sells out with 800 competitors and combines a mix of top age groupers and novice athletes in a festive atmosphere with on site cabins, campsites and nearby hotels. It is one of the few places that you can roll out of bed (rack or sleeping bag) and set up your transition area in your pajamas.

White Lake Race weekend is set for 7-8 May and kicks off on Friday night with a Race Execution Clinic given by the 2004 Winner and Counterpart Coach, Doug Marocco. He will provide details on the racecourse as well as race information and strategy that should be useful to first time-long distance triathletes and as well as seasoned veterans. Race registration is ongoing and technical support is provided by Inside Out Sports who also supports all of the U.S. North America Ironman events. A special feature for those age group athletes looking to compete for the overall places is an Open and Masters Elite wave. No qualification is needed, but due to USAT rules, your finish will not qualify for year-end rankings. There has been prize money in the past, but none offered in 2005, so it is truly a passion for the sport and acknowledgement of such a well-done event that brings the top athletes to the race. . White Lake also has the distinction of being one of the series qualifiers for the new U.S. Half Championship held in later September.

Although the course is very straight forward, you can preview the swim, bike and run portions of the event as well as walk the transition area to familiarize yourself with all of the details prior to race day. The half Ironman course is primed to set a PR with its glass-like lake swim, a pancake flat bike course, followed by a two-loop flat run. On race morning the sun rises with a glimmer across the crystal clear lake with a sand bottom and a maximum depth of about nine feet. The race uses an in-water start with a water temperature that hovers close to the USAT threshold temperature of 78 degrees, but usually wetsuit legal to start your day off with a fast swim. The Half swim course is a long rectangular shaped course - approximately 900 meters out, 100 meters across, and 900 meters back. A quick exit onto the boardwalk and 100 meter run on grass to smooth in out flow transition and you are on your bike for 56 hammering miles.

The bike course is flat and fast with only 6 turns. You could literally stay aero the entire time. Although there may be some prevailing wind out of the southwest toward the 25-45 mile markers, just gear down, stay aero and roll on the newly paved surface. The strong riders will make a bid for the lead at the final aid station and over last 10 miles of the bike course before transition to the run. The pace of the bike will become intense for all of those being overtaken as the strong runners will be setting up for their strength, the run.

The run course is a flat, two-lap, out and back with aid every mile. There is no shade and the temperature has been hot in the past. Of consolation is that you will see all the other athletes along the way and so you can judge your effort and place compared to your friends and competition. After completing lap one and running back through the start area, it can be very tempting to skip lap two and jump into the lake. In fact, in 2003 close to 40% of the field didn’t end up finishing and I think the lake temptation got more than a few of them when temperatures soared near the 100 degree mark. By lap two the fast swim and flat bike has given way to a hot, flat run and it is great to just cross the finish line. Post race is continued excellence with fast results, finisher medals, a great selection of food and an abundance of well-deserved awards. Only after you finish should you take a dip in the lake. White Lake is a spectator friendly course that is convenient for families to play in the park or lake while cheering on their competing athlete. It’s all in the details and Set-Up Inc does it as well as anyone in the country.

The opportunity to race in a country atmosphere is what makes White Lake and many other East Coast events special. With most races having no more than 1000 competitors, they have the feel of early days of triathlon. There are a handful of Half IM events from Florida to New Hampshire that are well organized and will prove to be very challenging. Whether it is first year events like the Kinetic Half in Lake Anna, Virginia, Med Express Mountaineer, in Morgantown, West Virginia, last years inaugural race Half Ironman Florida or the classic Gulf Coast Triathlon, there are plenty of long distance racing to be found. You could spend your summer doing any of the “mans” from the: Rock’N Rollman or Eagleman, to the Mussleman or Mooseman, Timberman or Pineman, or the Devilman or Diamondman. If one of those doesn’t do it for you, look to the Duke Liver Center in North Carolina, the Great Buckeye Challenge or Sylvania Half in Ohio, Odyssey Half in Virginia or the South Carolina Half rounding up the year in October. There is something for everyone wanting to go long on the other coast.

Doug Marocco is a 9-time Hawaii Ironman finisher with an Ironman PR of 9:23:08. He can be reached at doug@counterpartcoaching.com