By the time most average Arizona students roll out of bed Saturday morning hung-over and confused, 12 not-so-average UA students can say they did something a little more productive with their day — running a triathlon.
Twelve UA Tricats are headed to Lake Powell this weekend to compete in the 1500-meter swim, 24-mile bike ride and 10K run at the 2009 Powell Triathlon.
In preparation for the event, the triathletes cannot fall victim to the typical Friday night college diet of beer and pizza, but rather a binge of bread, peanut butter and bananas.
Furthermore, they are relying on all the hard work and miles they’ve put in getting ready for the Olympic-distance race.
“”We’re pretty pumped and we’ve been training really well,”” said sophomore Neil Segel. “”We did really solid at the Elephant Man Triathlon a few weeks ago, and we’d like to continue that streak here.””
Racers will campout along the shore of Lake Powell, but have to be up and ready by 8 a.m. to take to the starting line.
With water temperatures just under 70 degrees, Lake Powell promises a challenging and nippy race environment.
“”It’ll be chilly in the water when we start at 8 a.m., but once you get on the bike your heart rate gets real high … probably five minutes in you’ll get pretty warm again,”” Segel said. “”Plus we’ll be wearing wetsuits. Wetsuits make you like 20-30 percent more buoyant and they give you more side-to-side balance in the water.””
Besides the cold, the only real challenge Segel foresees is the technical bike track.
“”The bike looks to be tough, it’s really hilly and there’s two loops,”” Segel said. “”The run is pretty flat, with only like a 200-foot total elevation gain so we shouldn’t have to worry about that.””
Winning times for the race are predicted around two hours and five minutes, and Segel is confident that he can reel in a competitive time of two hours, ten minutes if he brings his A-game.
“”Personally, I’m looking to place pretty high. I won for our team at the Elephant Man Triathlon, and hope to definitely repeat that.””
Moreover, Segel speaks on behalf of all his teammates in the hopes of claiming a high finish at this event.
Among the other anticipations of the race is the eagerness for the promised after-parties on the beach.
“”You’re dead (after the race) but I mean you take a nap for an hour in the afternoon, and then you’re ready to have a fun night with all the guys,”” Segel said. “”All the schools camp out and after the race it’s just a big party with big campfires.””
“”Most of us are staying all day Saturday to hang out with some of the other schools,”” he added. “”And hopefully make some cool connections.””
Altogether, the Tricats are looking forward to a multidimensional experience: social atmosphere, exercise, camping and parties.
“”This is the first year we’ll be at this race,”” Segel said, “”but I’m sure it’s a race we’ll keep for a while.””
