By Mindi Straw
1. Buster Britton was a legend for the Birmingham triathlon community. This was the 32nd Buster Britton Triathlon and one of the longest running triathlons in Alabama. The race honors the life of Buster Britton - one of the Birmingham area's original triathletes that lost his life in a fun run after completing the Hawaii Ironman only a short time earlier. Buster was a true inspiration for triathletes as the sport began to take shape in Alabama.
2. Oak Mountain State Park is very cool venue. This is the largest state park in Alabama, Entering the park you are welcomed by beautiful lush and stunning landscape and many activities for the family. Everything from hiking, biking, water activites, golf, camping and so much more.
2. Oak Mountain State Park is very cool venue. This is the largest state park in Alabama, Entering the park you are welcomed by beautiful lush and stunning landscape and many activities for the family. Everything from hiking, biking, water activites, golf, camping and so much more.
3. The swim is like swimming in a pool– but 85+ degree’s. Nothing is more exciting than arriving at a race site to glass flat water. The water temp was warmer than the air temp but given the short 400 yd distance no worry of overheating.
4. There are LOTS of hills at Oak Mountain. To add there are lots of hills in the Birmingham area. The bike course is a 12 mile out and back. You get to enjoy the hills both directions. Approximately 850 ft of elevation gain and after speeding down one hill you start climbing up another. The roads are well maintained and in good condition.
5. The race course is practically a “closed course’– it is not advertised as closed but with less than 4 cars on the road I consider that a win!
6. I completed my FIRST triathlon for 2018– YEP! Exciting for me. Starting in April with a DNS and recently 2 DNF’s for tendinitis in my foot it surely felt good to complete a race and enjoyed every minute of it.
7. Running in the shade is the BOMB! A big plus for a summer tri this somewhat of an out and back course that takes you up and down some paved hiking trails that are tree covered is much appreciated. This was my first run in over a month – what seemed like some monster hills were actually just rolling hills and roughly 200 ft of elevation gain.
8. Team Magic has great staff and volunteers. The staff and volunteers remind me of a well oiled machine – they got it all together from pre-race communication, well orgnanized race venue and spectacular after party. Thank you!
9. Great awards presentation. The Team Magic does not disappoint when they put on an awards ceremony. They are appreciative of the athletes that support their events and recognize first-timers, paratriathletes as well as AG and overall. I think it is cool that they use podiums for winners and the awards they give are always useful and very generous.
10. New faces on the race course. I am so accustomed to seeing familiar friends and athletes at many of the local events. I only saw 3 people I knew from the gulf coast. Most of the athletes were from surrounding Birmingham and Atlanta area. The Vulcan Tri Club from Birmingham was very well represented as athletes and volunteers. A youth elite team Multisport Explosion from Atlanta had some top notch athletes – the male OA winner was one of their athletes. I will say the SISTER Chain still has the coolest 2018 tri kits hands down.
8. Team Magic has great staff and volunteers. The staff and volunteers remind me of a well oiled machine – they got it all together from pre-race communication, well orgnanized race venue and spectacular after party. Thank you!
9. Great awards presentation. The Team Magic does not disappoint when they put on an awards ceremony. They are appreciative of the athletes that support their events and recognize first-timers, paratriathletes as well as AG and overall. I think it is cool that they use podiums for winners and the awards they give are always useful and very generous.
10. New faces on the race course. I am so accustomed to seeing familiar friends and athletes at many of the local events. I only saw 3 people I knew from the gulf coast. Most of the athletes were from surrounding Birmingham and Atlanta area. The Vulcan Tri Club from Birmingham was very well represented as athletes and volunteers. A youth elite team Multisport Explosion from Atlanta had some top notch athletes – the male OA winner was one of their athletes. I will say the SISTER Chain still has the coolest 2018 tri kits hands down.
