Rev3 South Carolina Half Rev - Triathlon1/2 Ironman

I hate beach starts. It involves running. Running across rocks and muck. I was far too timid on this start and ended up in a lot of slow swim traffic and crazy chicks who couldn't swim straight. I kept getting elbowed in my rib cage by the girl to my right cuz she kept swimming into me. I finally stat up a second on got on her left side. That took care of Elbow Wench. Usually by the first turn buoy things spread out and there is room to swim, but not today. I was very surprised. There wasn't that big of a women's field in the half, but we must have all started out at the same pace. At the second turn buoy , I finally found room to swim and could settle into a proper rhythm.

Be more aggressive on the start and run in on the front row.

Yeah, I suck at getting my wetsuit off. At least I didn't fall down like I have in some races. I really must work on this.

Race only non-wetsuit legal races:) Nah. Practice transitions more, silly.

My bike is my strength. And, unfortunately, I have been off pace a lot since August. My training has been sporadic due to selling our house and buying another one. I came into this race about 200 miles undertrained. Add the brutal winds and my strong bike just wasn't there today. I tried to ride smart because you can't fight the wind and power through it. You will lose because the wind doesn't get tired and unlike a hill, it never ends. So I did the best I could with the fitness I had and the race day conditions.

Not miss so many long training rides. Not do a half ironman while selling a house! Of course, I would have needed a crystal ball to see that this was going to happen back in March when I registered for this race. I feel pretty happy with my bike performance, all things considered. I had a positive, relaxed attitude and enjoyed the race knowing that everyone else had the same brutal weather conditions to contend with.

I like T2. Shoes on grab number belt and visor. That is all.

Practice more to get faster

My run was really coming along nicely in training. I had high hopes for this segment. I planned to take short, walking fuel breaks at miles 2, 4, 7 & 10. That was my mantra. Do not walk until those aid stations. Relentless. Strong. Keep going. This was working well until around mile 6 when my hamstrings cramped. I stopped for a moment to stretch them then my feet felt like they were on fire. I walked to the closest aid station and ate and drank. Then I tried to run again. It actually felt better to run than walk to I tried to keep up a hobbling jog. The next 2 miles were a mixture of shuffling, jogging and walking. I did not think I would every reach the turn around to head back toward the finish. I met a guy on a Christian racing team and we walked and hobbled together for a while. Finally I saw the mile 8 turn around. I vowed to run til mile 10 and attempt to get back on track. I successfully ran til mile 10. Took my finally fluid and nutrition break. I started seeing some of my friends heading out on the run. They were all smiles at this point and I didn't want to spoil there mode by telling them what kind of hell lay up the road with this course. I could hear the music of the finish line. I was feeling better. I looked down at my watch and realized my goal of 5:30 had come and gone. I was determined to get across the line in under 6 hours. A volunteer direct me and this very nice 56 year old woman to the left and says "you are almost there!" I am expecting to wind through the parking lot of the convention center. No. We are greeted with a short, steep hill leading around the park. I walked. Sigh. Wimp. The 56 year old lady trots up the hill with a fire in her step that I genuinely wished I possessed. At the top of the hill I started running again. Finally knowing that I had less than half a mile to go. 5:45 has come and gone. I crossed the line at 5:50. Not my goal, but a victory nonetheless. I must say to all the folks racing this half, if you can do this one on those conditions, You can do just about any race out there.

Not walk so much. Wear my heavy trainer shoes with my orthotics instead of my racing flats. Never give myself permission to walk outside my pre-planned fuel breaks.

Got an ART massage. It was either that or find a wheelchair.


Sporadic training, weight, weather and my inner wuss limited my performance.


This was not my best race, by far. REV 3 puts on a great event. I just wasn't my day. I would say that this race was more difficult than my ironman. The weather and my lack of consistent training were the reasons for this. I would like to do another REV 3 event. If I do this one again, it will definitely be the Olympic distance and not the half.