This past Saturday I participated in the Sun 
Multisport Cranberry Trifest 2014 in Lakeville, MA. I completed each leg of the event (.49 mile swim, 14.2 mile bike ride, 3.1 mile run) as an individual competitor and you can check out my results here: Kevin O'Dea 2014 Results
The event was an absolute success. Read on for the details about the experience . . .
Location: I’d been to Lakeville, MA once before for a round of golf with some buddies. This time I got to see more of the town and it’s really nice. Rural and neighborhoody, with easy access to nearby highways.
Arrival/Registration: Registration and packet pick-up ran from 5:30am-7am, but I was slow leaving my apartment in Cohasset and arrived at 7:05. Parking attendants were helpful and I got my car where it needed to be with relative ease. The registration building could’ve been marked a bit better, but fortunately the staff worked past the 7am cut-off and quickly got me my packet which included my swim cap/participant badges. I picked up my tracking bracelet right outside the registration building and also received my body marking (your registration # had to displayed on your left bicep & calf, and your age on your right calf).
Transition Station: Once checked in and marked, I was directed to the transition station to setup my bike, towel, biking/running clothes, and gear. I had plenty of personal space for my stuff and never felt like I was invading anyone’s station. Other athelets were setting up their stations and you could feel the excitement.
Start/Swim: The race started at 7:30am with the first heat of swimmers hitting the water. I parked my car at 7:05 and was in the starting section at 7:25 – pretty good considering 467 athletes raced. My biggest concern leading up to the event was the swim (in particular, the water temp). My favorite part of the event afterward . . . the swim. The water was a comfortable 70 degrees. The sun was out, the swim course was well marked, and you were never more than 25 yards from someone in a kayak ready to help. Although it took me 23 minutes to complete it (the fastest time in my division was 12:18), the swim was a lot of fun.
Transition #1/Bike: The distance from the shore to the transition area was maybe 300 yards, so enough time to catch your breath and adjust to being out of the water. My transition time was bad (3:25) due to poor planning and execution. A recommendation for future competitors: buy triathlon shorts! Once changed, you were directed out of transition and to the bike mount line, then on your way out of the park grounds and onto the road. The bike course was very well marked with police and volunteers at each hard turn to guide you. Terrific scenery throughout the 14.2 miles (my favorite house had a beautifully manicured garden with a full sized cut-out of a cow planted right in the middle) made for a really enjoyable ride through Lakeville, Taunton, Berkley and East Freetown.
Transition #2/Run: The bike loop eventually guided you back into the park grounds and to the transition area where you dropped your bike at your station, waited for your legs to adjust from the Jell-O feeling, and then headed back out of the park for the 3.1 mile run. At this point I found myself less focused on my surroundings and more focused on getting to the end (I’m sure I wasn’t alone in this thinking). However, the event team did a great job of setting up timely water stations that also had energy gel packs and sports drinks. Each station had 3-4 volunteers eagerly and conveniently offering the drinks to keep you on pace. The last .1 of the race brought you back into the park through a short woods trail where you could start to hear the DJ announcing each finisher over cheering spectators along the final 150 yards. Upon crossing the finish line I was met by a volunteer handing out medals, a full water bottle with a cold towel wrapped around it, and a buffett spread of oranges, bananas, energy bars, and coconut water . . . just about everything my body was craving.
Summary: There were people of all ages competing in the Cranberry Trifest. It catered to a broad group ranging from the fiercely competitive to the leisurely enthusiastic. The location was great, the staff was friendly and helpful, and I never felt like anything was missing from the day. I would highly recommend the event so if you're considering signing up, get in touch and we can start a team!
