Revolution3 Olympic Triathlon : Official Thread

Can you tell me anything about the course, about the race in general?   Are you ready?

Swim will likely be like last years, in the water, down and back (past the entry point) the only problem last year was getting UP onto the dock when you were exiting... it would have been very easy to rip your wetsuit if you weren't careful. The river is pretty nasty too

Bike is fairly hilly / really hilly depending on where you live/train. I didn't think there was anything just dominating, but a lot of people from FL and such thought it was nuts. The course will probably change a bit too, as the Henley Street Bridge will be closed for the next couple of years.

Run is pretty nice, oddly there were some stairs we had to climb last year (not many, but still, it was odd)

Thanks everybody for the info. please keep it coming!

How far upstream do we swim before returning down?

Is the run doable with no shoes? I like to run w/out them, but the surface obviously dictates that.

Thanks.

Like, no shoes at all? NO. East TN  (and UT Campus specifically) is not all that clean a place. Lots of broken beer bottles / etc.

Something like Vibram's or such and you'd probably be fine though.

If I recall correctly you jump in the water around Calhoun's and then turn when you get to the river boat and swim down to the boathouse.  Don't know if the riverboat is a permenant structure or not

Last year the current was pretty fast back down river, my swim time was way faster than anything I have ever done.

Like Chris said bike is somewhat hilly, some short steep climbs around the campus and when you get out in the country they are longer more sustained climbs but not nearly as steep.  I do remember the downhills being fairly sketchy, lots of turns where you couldn't see through the turns due to overgrowth and cars on the course.

Run is pretty flat with some stairs to navigate right in the middle.

I've never done an OLY, how much, what, and when does one eat/drink? Suggestions? Also, when one says the downhills are sketchy as they evolve into obstructed turns, what is the strategy? THANKS. Getting pumped!

Is 3:10 a reasonable goal for a first OLY? I completed 5 sprints last summer and train about 7 hrs a week.

depending on your fitness, 3:10 sounds very doable. An Oly is a very odd distance... it's short enough that you need to be pushing HARD the entire time, but not so short as to just go all out the whole way.

As far as nutrition goes, I'd get my breakfast in, probably a gu right before the start, and maybe some sport drink during the bike... then if you need anything extra get it on the run. It's not so long that you need solid food.

So far as the hills go, the #1 suggestion is get here a day or two early and ride them at least once to get a feel for it. There are only 2 courses of action in them otherwise... 1.) take them easy and lose time. 2.) Believe in your handling skills and go balls to the wall.

2.) Believe in your handling skills and go balls to the wall.

bingo!

Need - Probably not

Want - Yes

Some guys swam last year without one, and this year it should be warmer, but the water WILL be cold in the morning, even if the day promises to be scorching hot. It takes a long time for the river to warm up around here.  But, if you are a lumberjack, bear wrestling manly man, have at it!

Thanks Chris

Not a crazy person.  would rather wear one.  I have a sleeveless and one with sleeves.  The sleeveless will probably work ok.

What are the temps like that time of year?

Thanks

Tom

water temps or temp outside?

The last week or two it's been hovering in the upper 70's low 80's by noon or so outside. Water temps will be pretty cold in the morning though (as will the first of the bike ride likely), especially if the day before isn't hot and sunny. It's still currently too cold for me to swim in the lake minus my wetsuit.

That helps.

Thanks

Tom

Two questions for you:

1. What is the weather like, and any reports for race day- or too early?

2. Can I add you as a friend on my page?

1.) It went from high 70's to low 60's yesterday. Right now it's about 60 and supposed to warm back up to 70+ tomorrow (80+ Sunday) Too early for a good guess next weekend.

2.) Go for it

I had dinner at Calhouns (where we put in for the swim) last night, everything looked ok to me.