Geared Up

    My mind is continually looking ahead to September, trying to look at the event from all the angles. One thing that I have already started plotting out is the gear that I will need. This will be somewhat different from 70.3 event I did last fall. That event was held just a few hours south of me, in the same climate and terrain that I live in. The 250K is in Central Oregon, high desert, and the bike leg is two laps around Mount Bachelor, over the pass twice, long climbs, and long descents. In September the weather can be a crap shoot. It could be 80 degrees and calm, or it could be snowing. I will need to dress for cooler weather and hope I don't either cook or freeze. No matter what the weather, the combination of long climbs and long descents always makes for chilly riding: Get all sweaty on the climb, then chilled on the on the down side. I am leaning towards Under Armor Cold Gear as a base layer. During the 70.3 I wore Under Armor compression leggings under my wetsuit, knowing they would dry quickly as soon as I was on the bike. Since the 250K is at high altitude and the swim will end around 9:30am, I can be pretty sure it will still be a bit chilly. Do I want to risk being in wet leggings? Or struggle to get into them in T2? It is something that I will have to practice and decide on. Getting into any snug fitting gear when you are even slightly damp is always problematic, if not downright boa constrictor-like. More than once I've been trapped in the vise-like grip of a sport bra or compression shirt threatening to strangle me and cut off blood flow to my arms as I've wrestled it down over sweaty shoulders. And trying to do this after a 3 mile swim, in the middle of a race is not another stress point I really wish to add to what is going to be a long, arduous, potentially stressful day.

I do know a few things about what clothing I will need:
It must be comfortable for the long haul, because this will be a long haul.
It needs to be moderately warm without the threat of causing overheating.
It will need to wick moisture and dry quickly (hence, the Under Armor Cold Gear).
I need to be able to get in and out of it relatively easily.
Honestly, it all boils down to comfort. I want to minimize chafing, blisters, and sunburn (sunburn is NOT allowed with my history of melanoma). I want to be able to maintain a decent body temperature, not too hot, not too cold. I need to be able to take it off and put it on in a hurry while possibly being a bit trembly from fatigue. So much to consider, but I have 5 more months to dial it all in. 5 more months?!! Only 5 Months?!! Shiiiiit! That does not seem like enough time.