USAT Tuscaloosa Triathlon Official Website

Brett N.
Brookline, MA

  (10-16-2010)

"First, let me mention - this was an Olympic distance race, not Sprint. There is a sprint the following day, but the featured race at this event is the Olympic distance race. Despite the details of the race described above - this is also an event that requires qualification. See the USAT website for qualifying standards.

That said - this is an awesome race. Built well for competitive triathletes. There's no focus on scenery, just a fast and highly efficient course. Two lap bike couse, and yet there was very difficulty riding through the other cyclists... plenty of space. The only hang up in organization was when the marshalls would ride by you and then sit behind slower riders in front of you. You'd get stuck behind the marshalls (and the slower riders ahead!). The swim course was challenging, as most of it was up stream, but the current was light, and if you stayed near shore, you were less affected by the current. The bike course was very rolling, but very fast. The run course had some substantial hills, and because of the heat, it was very challenging.

Plenty of aid stations, the best swag I've ever gotten at a race, fun award ceremony, plenty to do in tuscaloosa, and it was a lot of fun to watch the pro race later in the afternoon!

To anyone that qualifies, I would have recommended this race - unfortunately, next year Nationals moves to Burlington. If organization there is anything like it was in tuscaloosa, I would absolutely recommend the race!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Eric W.
Gadsden, AL

  (07-23-2009)

"Well when I was considering doing the T-Town tri race I was a little worried about the open water swim- so I managed to con some friends into doing the race as a relay with me. Paige and Susan, each agreed to do a leg of the tri-Susan swam and Paige ran. that way all I had to worry about was the bike-a veritable walk in the park.


I originally heard that the swim was not going to be wetsuit legal- but I think a chilly spring kept the water temps down so I needed to find a wetsuit- I borrowed Athena’s (Thanks Athena!) but the wetsuit was an extra-small and Susan was just too tall. Luckily the girls managed to track down a wetsuit at the last minute.


So we met over at the race start early Sunday morning and I heard them calling our race number, 401, and our names over the PA-just what I need something to exacerbate my usual pre-race butterflies. Well they decided to change the swim course and use only two waves to start so no biggie. It turns out our relay entry was extra super duper complicated because the twins were in the collegiate/female category and I was in the men’s 20-24 age group category-but we were all in a relay-and I think the only co-ed relay.


Anyways- we got started and Susan fought through the giant mass start in the chilly water. Her big goal she said was not to drown, but she did much better than that-she opened up the throttle after getting past the first buoy, and summarily was the first relay swimmer done with the 750 yards.
Our transition was a little clumsy having to take off and switch the timing chip but I managed to get on the bike and pull my weight.


I was expecting a hilly bike course-but they kept us off the big hills the Olympic trials got to use. I put in a 21.5 over the course of 12 miles. I was expecting a longer course-so I wasn’t able to empty the tank. I sprinted in to the end- and had trouble getting off my bike. This is a frustrating thing because after passing tons of people and never getting passed-sprinting towards the end at 30mph I stumbled in transition and get passed. My legs just locked up shaking and trembling. I made the hand off to Paige who I could hardly find in my oxygen deprived state.


She took off like a woman possessed and ran with the other fast relay team runner for quite a while-but he managed to open up a little gap. Paige had a great pace at 7:30 and ran her own race. (the guy later on said he had to dig deep and sprint to get away and had to slow down towards the end to keep from blowing up) It was a cool running course as we got cheer on our runner twice as she came round the circuit.




We finished second-which I was rather pleased with- and it was a pretty low key way to open up the season.
Whitt, Wright, Whitt :401 1 14:56 1:16 2 34:37 21.5 0:46 3 24:18 7:50 1:15:51
Then we ate enough Chinese food to last a whole week- I’d say I had earned it after a grueling 35 minutes on the bike "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2008