Training weekend (a little more detail)

6 of us went down to Portsmouth over the weekend to do some training on the DATT courses.  Most are exactly as I remember them, one was hillier.

We rented a 15 passenger Van to hold all of our stuff, the drive down was pleasant but a little behind schedule.  Thanks so much to Gavin and Lesley for setting this up.

The water was warmer than expected with some cold pockets here and there.  I would say around 75 degrees average.  I wore the full suit but could have gone without.

Friday
Swim 20 minutes, about 1000 meters
Bike about 28 miles 1:40
First oly course including Thompson Hill Road
Run 3 miles 25:30

First oly bike course:
Route 3 has a bunch of short ups and downs, then up Thompson Hill road which is like 15% grade to start with (about .5 miles), it then goes down to about 8% for the rest of the way. Basically a lot of downhill after that with some bumps and a moderate climb on route 125.  After the moderate climb it's just about all downhill to T2.

Saturday morning
Bike easy 41.5 miles 2:45:35 117 watts 167 NP
1 loop Little Smokies course plus a little more
Run 4 miles easy

Bike course.  
Starts off a little hilly then a left turn on FR1, a little bit down the road, about mile 6 I think, it starts going up.  This is the best part of the course, a good climb and it's just about all shaded, don't start off too fast, it's a long way up.  After the climb it goes down in a hurry but watch the first turn, it comes up quick and it's sharp.  There's a lot of downhill afterwards, if you know the road you will be faster, watch the people in front of you if you can to alert you to the turns.  After a little while you will cross a small bridge, hold on to your water bottles, I lost on there last year and had to go a get it.  
A bit of climbing after that but not as steep as the first climb then back out on 125 at the same place as sat morning's ride, back to T2 the same way.  Grab you bottles when you get back then do the loop again.

Saturday evening
Swim 20 minutes
Bike 23.1 miles 1:21 161 watts 190 NP
Shorted version of the Little Smokies course with Gavin
Run 3 miles easy

Sunday
Bike 21.3 miles 1:18 164 watts 190 NP
Out and back loop on Route 125 with Gavin
Run 10.2 miles 1:28:24 HR 138

Bike course:
This is the out and back that is done on Saturday afternoon.
Out of the park and turn left and go straight down 125.  It will go up and down several times (more than I remembered).  Finally, when you see the road sign that indicates a big downhill, get ready for a fun ride.  The first left turn is the tightest one so be carefull, all of the others can be ridden pretty fast.  The speed limits for the curves will let you know about how fast you can go, after the first couple it's all out over 40mph.  When you get to the bottom it flattens out for a while, you turn around and start going back uphill.  It took me allmost 10 minutes to climb back up so don't start off too hard.  I use a 39-27 with 650 wheels and wish I could put more gear on the bike but then again I'm a wussy.  Over the bumps on the way back and you're back at the transition area.  That climb is in my opinion, the hardest one on the series.