Monthly Archives: September 2018

9/22/2018 Scott Orlando Ledges To The Lake Adventure Triathlon Hinckley, Ohio

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9/22/2018

Ledges To The Lake Adventure Triathlon

Hinckley, Ohio

Scott Orlando

Finish Time:  1:18:42

Overall Finish:  7th Place

Division Place:  1st Place

Race Review By Scott Orlando

This was the 7th year for the annual Ledges To The Lake Adventure Triathlon in Hinckley, Ohio.  The race consists of a 3.5 mile run, 5K kayak, and 9 mile bike.  The run is on done on the trails around Hinckley Lake that change between paved, gravel and dirt.  The course has lots of hills and turns as it makes its way around the lake to the boat house to the kayak leg.  I was a little slow on the run but I knew I could make up time in the kayak so a conserved energy and stayed at a nice easy pace.  I chose to use my Stellar SR Multisport for the kayak leg.  I had a fast transition into the 19′ surf ski and quickly started passing the runners that had gotten ahead of me.  The speed of the SR was not match for any of the slower recreational boats and I quickly got back to the front of the race.  I have to admit that I enjoyed the look on the faces of the kayakers in the slower boats as I flew past them with ease!  Another clean transition to the bike and I was off to tackle the 3 laps of hills.  I was back and forth the entire bike course with a much younger but very fast competitor.  My only advantage was my faster triathlon bike compared to his basic hybrid.  I would pass him on the flat and declined parts of the course and he would catch me on the hills.  The last lap I really dug in, got the lead, and held on to the finish beating him less then a minute.  The race was well organized.  They provide an award for 1st place overall (no 2nd or 3rd overall)  and age groups are configured strangely.  Awards were a little lacking in quality but the shirts were nice and I did when a nice raffle prize of a free entry to next year’s race.  I always enjoy this race and look forward to returning in the future.

9/15/2018 Scott Orlando Capital City Challenge Adventure Triathlon Charleston, WV

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9/15/2018

Capital City Challenge Adventure Triathlon

Charleston, WV

4.2 mile run, 4.2 mile kayak and 16.8 mile bike

Scott Orlando

Finish Time: 2:12:39

Division Place:  3rd Place

Race Recap by Scott Orlando.

The Capital City Challenge in Charleston, WV continues to be one of my favorite races.  This was my 5th time competing in the race.  What was thought to be a weather challenged event due to the pending path of Hurricane Florence ended up being a very hot, sunny, and humid day.  Although the run course was very flat and without a single turn, it ended up being the most challenging part of the race for me due to the extreme heat and humidity with little or no shade to hide from the sun.  I started with a fairly fast pace but ended up backing off from the effects of the sun.  I completed the run leg in around 10th or 11th place.  My transition to the kayak was a little slow as I tried to recover a bit from the run.  I didn’t waste time but my movements were very deliberate as to not make a costly mistake.  The kayak leg was my happy place in this race.  I chose to race my Stellar S16 Multisport kayak over my faster but less stable Stellar SR Multisport surf ski.  I chose to make the trip with the smaller and slower boat because of the uncertainty of the weather.  I felt I would be safer and more comfortable with the more stable boat if the weather did make a turn for the worse.  In the end the river conditions were fine for either boat.  I was able to pass a few kayaks in the water while only being passed by one person in a surf ski who ultimately finished 3rd overall.  I had a fairly smooth transition to the bike although still being a little cautious of the heat.  The bike course was two loops of a little over 8  miles each.   The weather leading up to the race made it difficult to get out and train on the bike the way I wanted.  I would have liked to have been faster in the bike leg.    In the end I finished 8th overall and 3rd in my age division.  This was the first time I had broken the top ten in this race and placed in my age division so I am proud of both of those accomplishments.