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[Domestique]

I have always enjoyed the GCT although I have done it only 4 times and once as a relay. It was my 1st HIM in 2000 too. However...

"Waffle house?"!?!?? That was uncalled for. I looked for the Pancake breakfast too after my swim Fri morning. I have always enjoyed it with other tri peeps at the food pavilion and have at the GCT as well as IMF05, 06. It WAS sort of an icon of post swim fellowship at this great race. I understand the fine peeps at the Baptist Church have decided that they can only handle it once/year and decided on IMF.

WATER at the finish... it seems the fast peeps get it all when you're slo like me. Did someone say they got 2 bottles of water?!?! You were thirsty?!?!? There was NONE when I and others got there! I had to ask where it was and it seems that all they had was in the food pavilion. So... move it to the finish if it's out. I needed some BADly but had to hunt for it. Yes... it irritated me. Wonder why?

Triathletes can be very selfish and rude when it comes to the post race food too. Some of us were waitng at the pizza table for nearly :30 mins chatting about the day. By the time the pizza arrived there were about 40 of us in line. One young lady was feeling way bad and needed some food and she had no moola with her to buy any. When it arrived... all of a sudden a bunch of nearby peeps jump out of their chairs and grab the pizza?!?!? WTF?!?!? IM a hi school teacher and I must say that these triathletes behaved no better than a bunch of freshmen. I became vocal. Of course they can't understand why their kids get in trouble at school for not using good judgement and fairness. I figure they were the "cheaters" in the draft packs too!   I guess I was just tired and needed/wanted some food without grief.

The T. I have bunches so it wasn't an issue for me. I will say my previous ones were more attractive I think but again... no biggie.

I agree... I feel the GCT is a great race and I will come back but... it isn't what it once was but I love this race. No doubt the loss of IM slots and now Fl 70.3 one week later close by with IM slots has impacted it. It used to sell out by March and some big time pros raced it. IM surprised NA Sports hasn't supported it better by not taking it's IMF slots away since it is the same venue with much of the same staff as IMF. The swim captain is the NA Sports swim captain. Tom Ziebart was the awards announcer as well as the RD for Fl 70.3?

With that all said... it has the very best prerace meal and post race party. I have seen nothing to compare. A great expo, ma##age, fun venue, less pressure than IMF and many of my friends go too. It makes me happy to go there.

D

[rocketman-rick]

Very typical Gulf Coast race.
Overall,  it was a nice race, however a lack of cold water at the finish along with a lack of  cold spray tent is a recipe for serious health problems.
I don't race for tee shirts but I have to admit that I was disapointed with what I got.  Shirt size ran very ,very small . 
It's still a very good (tough) race that is well organized.

[fishex99]

Issues of interest. Thanks for sharing.