Donna Smyers’ Elmore Triathlon Series is a hidden gem; there’s really no other way to describe it. Okay, “deceptively tough” might also fit the bill. Billed as a “practice triathlon,” its unassuming, low-key nature makes it a great first race for beginners. It’s timed manually. The swim is shallow and short. Course officiating is by the honor system. The transition area is a traditional Vermont wooden rail fence. There are no vendors, podiums or prizes. The swim buoys are a lobster and Shamu. The field is small and friendly. It costs $20 for all three races and the money benefits the @gmmtri youth program. It’s about as Vermont as tri could possibly get.
Of course, that means the course is tough as nails, too; the bike and run, anyway. Vermont ain’t flat and this race embraces it.
The rain started early and did not stop. My gear was soaked before the race even started.
Waves of 4 kicked off the swim. The water was barely 62 degrees. I’ve done colder races, but not many. Probably only one. I tried to help out beginners I saw by suggesting they get in the water before the race, to prepare for the shock. I wished them well. It was short but we went hard, and by the end I was fairly hypoxic and my chest felt ready to burst. I love a long distance OWS; I think I have a ways to go yet before I will make friends with the sprint swim. It’s just pure pain.
Onto a wet bike, and the rain picked up. The roads were rivers and I was dodging puddles like potholes, trying to find the cleanest lines. I had forgotten to mount my aerobars, but that proved to be an okay outcome because things were so squirrelly; it felt safer in the drops.
In T2 I was hampered considerably by my wet feet, trying to stuff them into my shoes. One of the timing volunteers asked if I was making a sandwich 🤣
Finally on the run, I found it to be a completely saturated gravel road. Something like a dirt sponge. Hardly a flat piece of land on the thing, too. So more pain to push through; at least the chilly temps and pouring rain kept me cool.
I was able to keep my pace fairly well, adjusting for gradient, and finished strong across the line in 3rd place overall.
