17th Annual Jack’s Generic Triathlon Sees Sizzling Times

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17th annual JGT featured massive finish line festival, beer garden, and Brad, the water-spraying unicorn

Fleet Feet Austin's Ari Perez hangs out with Brad, the water-spraying unicorn, at the 17th annual Jack's Generic Triathlon.

Fleet Feet Austin’s Ari Perez hangs out with Brad, the water-spraying unicorn, at JGT. Fleet Feet Austin is the Official Running Store!

The 17th annual Jack’s Generic Triathlon (JGT) took place this past Sunday, August 25th, at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park in northeast Austin. More than 700 triathletes from all over Texas and 11 states registered for this beloved Central Texas triathlon. Hundreds of spectators arrived early to cheer on friends and loved ones. Overcast skies provided excellent weather for fast times and PRs by everyone who crossed the start line.

“I loved every minute of Jack’s Generic Tri, especially the amazing atmosphere created by the volunteers,” said Jordan Martindale, who completed his second ever triathlon (1:21:10). “JGT made me challenge myself and is something I will definitely do again!”

Pablo Gomez took the overall victory with the time of 57:15. Second and third place overall featured a close race. Peter Murray (57:58) edged out Adrian Cameron (58:03). The women’s podium was topped by Kearci Smith with a winning time of 1:05:35. Second place finisher Mina Pizzini (1:06:27) and third-place finisher Brandi Swicegood (1:07:44) rounded out the women’s field. Marcus Cook, who once weighed 500 pounds, traveled from Houston to finish in 1:49:30. All participants cooled off from the Texas heat underneath a 6-foot tall inflatable unicorn that sprayed water.

Professional triathletes love Jack’s Generic Tri

“The half distance is normally my focus, but it was a ton of fun to race a sprint triathlon in Austin,” said Smith, who is currently coached by former professional triathlete Paul “Barny” Matthews. “I’m proud to be the 2019 JGT female champ. There’s nothing like race day, you can’t simulate it!”

2019 Jack's Generic Tri champion, Pablo Gomez, crosses the 17th annual JGT finish line.

Pablo Gomez, 2019 Jack’s Generic Tri champ.

Participants received a commemorative 17th-anniversary shirt, sunglasses, reusable water bottle, swim cap, finisher’s medal, post-race food and beer, and the signature swag toss. Professional timing, a wonderful volunteer crew, hundreds of supportive spectators, and an electric finish line festival made the 17th annual Jack’s Generic Triathlon one to remember. Jack’s Generic Tri was created with the participant in mind and is well-known as one of the more participant-friendly triathlons.

“JGT is a summer favorite for me and I’m super pumped to take the overall victory in a competitive field,” said Gomez, who also won the 2019 Rookie Triathlon (45:28). “High Five put on another great event and this will help me begin the second part of my season.”

Jack’s Generic Tri would like to thank all of the volunteers for coming out and making yesterday’s event memorable. Their willingness to arrive extra early, lend their time and energy, and cheer on every participant truly made the 16th anniversary unforgettable. JGT would also like to thank sponsors City of Austin, Travis County EMS, Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff’s Department, City Limit Cycles, Ascension Seton, Fleet Feet Austin, nuun hydration, RunLab Austin, CampGladiator, Oskar Blues Austin, and Z’Tejas. Jack’s Generic Triathlon participants can see their times here. Participants and spectators can relive race day on JGT’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

5 Easy Ways to Calm Your Pre-race Nerves for Jack’s Generic Tri

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Pre-race jitters are bound to happen on race morning of Jack’s Generic Tri. We have 5 easy ways to calm your pre-race nerves

Even if Jack’s Generic Tri isn’t your first triathlon, you’re more than likely going to experience some pre-race nerves. This is totally normal, so we’ve created a list of 5 easy ways to help you overcome your pre-race jitters and focus on what’s important at Jack’s Generic Tri: swimming, biking, and running!

calm pre-race nerves by getting your tri gear together the night before

JGT participant setting up her gear in transition!

Get All Your Gear Together the Night Before

Hopefully, you’ve already completed a full bike tune-up to make sure your ride is good to go. Now, layout your tri gear (e.g. helmet, running shoes, cycling shoes, goggles, sunglasses, etc.) as you would in the transition area to have an idea of what you’re going to do. It’s a great idea to set up a practice transition area for yourself, to know you can execute your transition game plan with ease. Pro tip: Make sure you put your JGT wristband on the night before. This leaves one less thing to remember early on race morning. 

Carpool with Other JGT Participants 

Having friends who are completing the tri with you is a great way to get rid of any pre-race nerves and replace them with excitement! Being surrounded by other triathletes about to take on the race is a great chance to discuss any last-minute hesitations you may have, but more importantly,  get each other pumped up to finish what you’ve been working so hard for! Turn on some tunes, and jam out to your favorite training songs to remember why you originally fell in love with the sport!

Remember Your Training

Doubting your abilities is the last thing you should be doing on race morning. You did the research, you found a training plan that you stuck with, so don’t choose now to forget all the hard work you’ve put in for this! Instead of focusing on what’s ahead of you, remember all the miles you tracked, hours in the pool, and the brutal (but always worth it) brick workouts you’ve completed to get you to the Jack’s Generic Tri start line. Take a deep breath to calm your nerves, you’ve got this!

Invite Some Friends to Cheer You On! 

Knowing your friends and loved ones are there along the course to cheer you on every step of the way will give you the extra boost of confidence you need to keep pushing yourself. Having a support system is a great thing to focus on during the race AND you know they’ll be waiting for you to cross the finish line. 

 

JGT pre-racw warm up with Camp Gladiator

Camp Gladiator trainer leading the pre-race stretch!

Take Advantage of the Prerace Warm-Up 

Camp Gladiator will be there to lead a group warm-up for all the JGT participants. Take advantage of this time! Steady your breathing and get your blood flowing. If you still find yourself feeling nervous, really focus on the stretches you are doing at that moment to put all your thoughts into that. This should give you a moment to quiet your anxious thoughts and relax your mind.

 

Even with all these great tips in mind, we’re all human and the nerves are unavoidable. Best piece of advice: take those nerves and focus them into some positive energy for extra motivation to do your best! You’re going to do great, and we’ll be there at the finish line waiting to congratulate you! 

Welcome to JGT

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Welcome to the 2019 Jack’s Generic Triathlon! We are so excited to have you joining us as we celebrate 17 wonderful years of triathlon.

This year may be the 17th Annual JGT but just because we’ve been around the block, doesn’t mean we don’t know how to party! This year’s finish line festival will be stocked with food, drinks, awesome vendors, and cake.

This is our second year at Decker Lake and we are excited that everyone loves the new venue as much as we do. Back by popular demand, is the time trial swim start. Less congestion on the swim and the bike = faster times for everyone! We will also be beating the heat with aid stations stocked with water, nuun, and ice cups. Remember, go green, and don’t litter.

We hope you enjoy this 3rd event of the Texas Tri Series.

As always High Five Events would like to remind you that at JGT you’re more than a number, you’re a barcode!

Jack’s Generic Triathlon Builds 17th Edition for Hundreds of Triathletes

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17th edition features triathletes of all levels, from pros to first-timers

High Five Events, one of the largest privately owned event production companies in the United States, continues their 2019 triathlon season with the 17th edition of Jack’s Generic Triathlon. The event will take place on Sunday, August 25th, at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park in East Austin. More than 700 triathletes will participate in this beloved Central Texas race, including professional triathletes Kearci Smith, Brandi Swicegood, Peter Murray, and Pablo Gomez.

“I am really excited to race Jack’s Generic Triathlon for the first time,” said Smith, who placed 8th at the 2019 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. “With the option of an open wave I look forward to the opportunity to race some great local competition.”

Smith was also the 2016 and 2017 Texas State Sprint Triathlon Champion. Swicegood finished second female at 2018 JGT. Peter Murray and Pablo Gomez finished 2018 JGT first and second overall, respectively. Drunk Athlete has put together another super team featuring Patrick Pressgrove, Stewart Mickler, and Cat Adkins. All athletes have been featured on the Austin-based Drunk Athlete podcast.

Generic details

Jack’s Generic Triathlon will begin at 7:30 a.m. It will feature a 600m swim, 11.2-mile bike ride, and a 5K. The aquabike will consist of a 600m swim and 11.2-mile bike ride. Relay teams of two or three can complete all three disciplines. 

Jack’s Generic Tri has three different divisions: Open, age group, and Athena/Clydesdale. The Open Division allows participants to begin regardless of age, with a mass swim start. Everyone else will start based on their age group, with two participants entering the water every few seconds. Jack’s Generic Tri is also returning the Athena and Clydesdale categories.

Participants receive a commemorative 17th-anniversary shirt, sunglasses, reusable water bottle, swim cap, finisher’s medal, post-race food and beer, and the signature swag toss. Professional timing, a wonderful volunteer crew, hundreds of supportive spectators, and an electric finish line festival will ensure the 17th Anniversary of Jack’s Generic Triathlon is one to remember. Packet pickup will take place at Mellow Johnny’s in downtown Austin.

Jack’s Generic Triathlon was created 17 years ago with the participant in mind and is well-known as one of the most participant-friendly triathlons. Registration is open for Jack’s Generic Triathlon. Volunteer positions are available as well. Triathletes who can’t make it to Austin can participate in the virtual Jack’s Generic Triathlon.

Tips You Need To Know For a Faster Transition During Your Next Triathlon

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You need to know these 7 time-saving tips for a faster tri transition!

The most important thing is to practice in advance and bring the fewest number of items. If you have a game-plan in your head of what gear you need to remove and replace first, the less time you’ll spend in the transition area throughout the tri. Use these tips for faster transitions, and tackle your next tri like a pro! 

Run with Your Bike Out of Transition

JGT Participant running out of transition with his bike in hand

Headed for the bike portion of JGT, running with your bike in hand!

You won’t be allowed to get on your bike until you are out of the transition area with your helmet buckled. Depending on how big the triathlon is, the distance between the racks and mount line can be lengthy. Once you have your bike gear on and ready to go put one hand on the seat, and one hand on the handlebars to guide your bike out of the transition area. It seems simple enough, but it can be easy to lose control of your bike while running next to the other triathletes trying to get out of transition. Practice this in an open space during your training, either grass or concrete, to determine which side of the bike you feel more comfortable running on. The goal is to keep moving the whole tri, so practicing mounting your bike from either side will help determine which is quickest for you.  

Attach Stuff to Your Bike in Advance

Prep your bike before the race starts to save a lot of time dealing with the small stuff you need for the bike portion of your next tri.  Have your JGT water bottle full and in your bike’s bottle cage, along with gels taped to the frame if you want them. Also, make sure your bike’s tool kit is secured beneath the seat. Often including an extra tube, CO2, levers, multi-tools you are familiar with.  

Know the Layout of Transition

How to Remember Where Your Bike Is During Transition

Look for something that stands out to you for you to find your bike faster!

Before race morning, go check out a course map to know exactly where the transition area is, and its layout.  This will help you plan ahead to know how far transition is from the course so you can plan accordingly. Make a mental note of where both the bike exit and the run exits are located.

Have a System to Remember Where Your Bike Is

You’ll be assigned a bike rack according to age group. Transition area can look hectic once everyone’s gear is in there, so come up with a method of remembering where yours is for quickest access. Pro tip: JGT participants rack their bikes (on the assigned rack) of a first-come-first-serve basis, so the earlier you get to the transition area prior to the race, the more likely you’ll be able to get a spot at the end on the racks for easiest access and identification. 

Wear the Same Clothing For the Entire Race

Come to the race dressed in your tri suit. Granted Jack’s Generic Tri is in Austin, Texas at the end of August, we advise against wearing a wetsuit. Plus, any additional clothing changes will add a significant amount of time to your overall tri. 

Use Easy Laces for Running Shoes

You don’t want to waste time tying your shoes in the transition area. Either have your shoes already tied and ready for you to slip your foot into with a secure fit, or try out these Lock Laces or ‘speed laces’ to eliminate having to tie your running shoes at all. The elasticity of the lace will make sure your running shoes stay in place throughout your run portion of your triathlon. 

Use Race Belt for Bib Number

Attached bib number to race belt for easy access

Attach your bib number to your race belt before the race for a speedy transition!

Attach your bib number to your race belt before the race start. When you’re heading back into transition after the bike portion, grab what you need and go to get out of transition as quickly as possible. Keep your eyewear on, grab your race belt and go! Put your race belt on as you head for the run start. Next step, finish line! 

 

Set up a practice transition area prior in the weeks leading up to your upcoming tri and run through it as many times as you need to to make your transition process quick as possible! By the time JGT rolls around, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can get in and out of transition and focus on the triathlon!

Packet Pick Up Like a Pro

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Picking up your packet is easy but does require certain steps to be followed. Jack’s Generic Triathlon is USAT sanctioned (you can read about what that means here) and has certain requirements to pick up your packet.

Important note for relay teams: Relay teams must come to the Expo together to pick up their packets and each team member must have a valid USAT license. If you come separately, the timing chip and bibs will not be released until all members have checked in and shown USAT membership & Valid ID.

1.When & Where to pick up your packet.

You must pick up your packet during these hours. To avoid the biggest line do not come in the first hour that it is open each day. Mellow Johnny’s is offering 10% off (excluding bikes) when you show your bib at checkout so plan some time for shopping

Mellow Johnny’s (400 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701)

Friday, August 23rd      12:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Saturday, August 24th   11:00 am – 5:00 pm

If you are coming from out of town, please see full schedule for Out of Town Packet Pick Up.

Image result for usat card

2. Have Your Photo ID

Only the participant can pick up their packet, not their spouse, child, parent, coworker, etc. The photo ID must be valid.

Youth athletes without an ID must be accompanied by a parent/guardian with a photo ID.

3. USAT Membership

If you purchased a 1-Day during registration we will have this on record for you. If not, you must show your USAT membership card. Those not having proof of USAT membership will be required to purchase a 1-day license for $15. There will not be computers there to print your proof, but there is a phone app!

4. Your Packet

Your packet will include an envelope with your bib, timing chip, stickers, a swim cap, and transition wristband. You have to have this wristband on to enter transition so be sure to put it on before you leave for the race site in the morning.

You will also receive your participant tank and limited edition sunglasses. Shirts can only be exchanged after the event. Your water bottle and finisher medal will be waiting for you at the finish line.

It is best to check your envelope to make sure that all of the numbers match. We are all human and though it is rare there are sometimes errors made while stuffing the packets.

5. Have questions? We are here to help!

We will have staff there to help answer any of your questions. Also, feel free to ask a volunteer, many of them are veterans of the sport and can help you with advice. If you are new to triathlon you can also check out these pre-race tips from The Rookie Triathlon.

Best Transition Area Tips for Your Next Tri

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Worrying about transitions is a thing of the past. We want you to feel prepared when taking on JGT, so keep reading for the best transition area tips for your next tri!

One of the first steps of any tri you participate in is setting up your tri gear in the designated transition area. If you are new to triathlons, the best advice for tackling transitions is to arrive at the race site as early as possible. Use this time to prepare your gear exactly how you want it during the race, and acquaint yourself with the transition area. You’ll find this will also ease your nerves as you become more familiar with the race site, as well as getting to know some of the triathletes in the process! Keep reading to check out the best transition area tips that are sure to make your tri the best it can be.

Questions about what to expect during transition of your upcoming tri? We've covered the best transition area tips you need to know before race day!

1.)  Rack your bike

Everyone will have an assigned rack for your bike in the transition area according to age group. The way you rack your bike while setting up has a big impact on how quickly you can get in and out of transition. Place your bike on the rack by either hanging the handlebars over the rack for security or place the bottom of your seat on the transition rack. Do whichever way works best for you to know your bike won’t fall or get damaged when in the transition area. Most importantly, remember where you racked your bike for quickest access. Pro tip: We have a first come first serve basis when it comes to where you place your bike on your assigned rack, show up early to opt for a spot near the end on the racks. 

2.)  Make sure your bike is in an easy gear

Tips for racking your bike for transition

Make sure your bike is in easy gear when walking out of the transition area!

Easily forgotten, but possibly one of the best transition area tips out there! When you grab your bike to walk out of transition, you want your bike to be in an easy gear for when you hop on. Whatever speed bike you have, set the gear to the easiest or ‘lowest’ setting before the race. This will help you get going on your bike without difficulty. The lower the gear, the easier it is to pedal. You don’t want to have your bike on the max gear after completing a 600-meter swim. Once you feel comfortable on your bike, change your gear to whatever you feel most comfortable with for the rest of the ride. 

3.)  Place your helmet on in the proper direction

When you lay your transition gear out before the race begins, you want to do so in a certain way. Think about what you will be putting on or taking off first, and lay your items out according to the order you will use them. Pro tip: Lay your helmet top down with the front end facing toward you. Along with being a time-saver, this will ensure you don’t accidentally end up riding through Jack’s Generic Tri with your helmet backward. 

Take it from us, these are the best basic tips for a trouble-free transition. After you feel like you have set up your gear in the transition area in a way that works best for you, grab your goggles and head to the water! For more Jack’s Generic Tri transition area tips, click here to read more!