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Rev3 Knoxville - Olympic Rev - TriathlonOlympic


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Knoxville, Tennessee
United States
REVOLUTION3 Triathlon
60sF / 0C
Precipitation
Total Time = 2h 47m 10s
Overall Rank = 129/355
Age Group = M25-29
Age Group Rank = 24/42
Pre-race routine:

Drove down to Indy Friday night. Didn't get to the hotel until 1:30 because of an over booking so we had to backtrack to another hotel. Oh well! That's my luck! Got to sleep around 2 and then up by 8 and out the door by 9. Finally arrived in Knoxville at 3 and hurried to get all the check-in stuff done (hotel and race) so I could make the race meeting. It rained the whole time which was a good precursor for race day. Left the meeting a bit early to go meet the wife's aunt and uncle whom live in Knoxville. They were excited to see us and to do the whole triathlon thing. We drove the bike course and then went out to dinner. Got back, put on my tags and timing chip, and hit the hay.
Event warmup:

Woke up around 5:15 and just layed there for a while. Finally got restless and got up around 5:30. Ate some Raisin Bran and then headed to transition at 6. Did the pre bike tire pump and got all my gear layed out. I didn't even think to look for Stu in the transition are which would have been perfect. Had his number and everything, but my brain just has lapses sometimes. Went down to the start dock and stood around for an hour, talked to a couple people and definitely got acclimated to the cold.
Swim
  • 34m 43s
  • 1640 yards
  • 02m 07s / 100 yards
Comments:

Walked down to the dock and hesitated about 3 times before I finally jumped in the water. I knew it was going to be cold and wasn't disappointed when I finally took the plunge. I figured we had about 10 minutes to warm up a bit since that's what previous waves had. Swam towards the start and just as I got to the crowd the gun went off. Wasn't ready, but here we go. Started great! Breathing was good on every right stroke. Breathed towards shore since there was less chop/current and then I could see a bit of scenery. The good lasted about 100m when I sighted and discovered I was about 20m off courses. This freaked me out and so I switched to backstroke. It seemed to take forever to get to the first bouy. I swear the current got stronger as we got closer, but I finally made it. And then rounded the second bouy to begin the swim back with the current. Backstroke all the way except for when I flipped over to sight. The bridges actually helped because I could set myself perpendicular to them and know I was swimming straight. Actually passed 3 people from my wave on the way back and then got to the exit where a man pulled me from the water. 34 minutes sounds like a good time, but with all the rain in the area the river was flowing and the downstream portion was awesome. I think at one bridge I took 4 strokes to pass under a 4 or 6 lane bridge. At the end I survived and that was my game plan.
What would you do differently?:

I definitely need more OWS training. I have the stamina, but the confidence just isn't there. The cold water didn't help and the current would push me around at times which was a bit unnerving. Saying the swim was average compared to my usual OWS experiences.
Transition 1
  • 06m 9s
Comments:

It's a long .2 mile run from the pier at the boathouse to G10 parking garage where the transition was held. There was an opportunity to put shoes on since the run was on blacktop, but I chose to skip this and run barefoot. Everything went well. I just took my sweet a$$ time. Decided no socks while cycling to save my only pair for the run and also decided to wear my jacket since it was raining hard. Ate a mini banana and then off I went.
What would you do differently?:

Under the conditions nothing. I just took my time to adjust from the swim so I could be comfortable on the bike.
Bike
  • 1h 12m 50s
  • 24 miles
  • 19.77 mile/hr
Comments:

The bike started well. I did the stop, kick my leg over the bike and hop on method. Actually passed 5 people trying flying mounts since they didnt get up to speed before trying to put their feet in the shoes. Then it was just about staying smart the first half before the big hill. I didn't want to push too hard and then kill myself on the big climb. There was water all over the roads so I took it easy on the downhills. One guy kept flying down the hills past a bunch of riders and then we would all pass him back on the flats/climbs. This guy decided to pass a guy on the right as a passed on the left. The guy getting passed freaked out and swerved toward me getting pretty close to taking me out. As I passed the idiot right-hand passer I told him not to pass people on the right because it is dangerous and he almost caused an accident just before. He laughed at me so I hammered for a bit to get clear of him. Then I just tried to take it easy up to the big hill. At the bottom of the big hill I decided not to hammer and I just spun up. Passed a couple people and then stayed conservative on the decent (lots of blind turns) then began hammering a bit on the ride back to transition. The water on the road definitely was a drag, but i would say the road condutions for the most part were good. I took the conservative route all around. I didn't want to push the bike too hard and suffer on the the run, but now I know I can push harder and still run fine.
What would you do differently?:

I would push a bit harder. Had I been more comfortable with the water on the road at the beginning and if i knew the course a little better I would have pushed more downhills but I chose to race another day since in all reality I wasn't really racing for anything. I would drink more. All the rain made everything difficult - from seeing to thinking about hydration. I just wasn't thinking about drinking and only drank half my bottle - about 10 oz.
Transition 2
  • 03m 8s
Comments:

I was flying on the way back on the bike and the lady was yelling at me to stop before the yellow line. I did...barely I did a little fish tail and stopped 2 feet from the line. The lady told me good ride, I thanked her and then ran to my rack.
What would you do differently?:

Nothing given the circumstances. Took my time putting my socks and shoes on. I ate a mini banana and took one last drink before I took off for the run.
Run
  • 50m 20s
  • 6.21 miles
  • 08m 07s  min/mile
Comments:

Started the run and about 300m into it I got a mean hamstring cramp. I could barely even walk and was scared I might not finish. I found a utility pole and used it to stretch out. Then I started walking and then slowly got back to running as the hammy loosened up. Lost probably 3 minutes total and then I just found that happy place - not an easy pace but the one the body just knows and can maintain.
What would you do differently?:

I probably should have drank more on the bike. I think the banana probably helped a little because as I got farther into the run I kept feeling better and I kept pushing the pace a little more.
Post race
Warm down:

Just met my wife and aunt at the finish. Went to the timing tent quick. Then we were tired of being wet so we headed back to the hotel to clean up and then get ready for brunch. :)

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Swim - experience/confidence

Bike - the rain and inexperience. I think I probably could have pushed the hills a lot more and then been my more daring self on the downhills without the water on the roads.

Run - bad nutrition and insufficient fluid intake. Cramping at beginning and the. I wanted to finish so I just stayed in my comfort zone for the rest of the run.

Event comments:

I wish the weather would have cooperated. The venue would be awesome. I love Knoxville and every part of the race is scenic and challenging. Before the race the MC (Steve). Was having electronic troubles so he moved underneath the roof by the bathrooms. He was great and kept everyone positive. Other Rev3 "bigwigs" walked around and Steve would point them out. They too would stop and talk with athletes which I thought was awesome. Steve played music and danced and joked around which helped me wait in the cold. I think everything would have been awesome, but I think we got about 3 inches of rain Saturday and Sunday which was a total buzzkill for extracurricular activities. Giving it a 3 but to be fair I had a blast and I could see all the friendly atmosphere that Rev3 puts out. Without the rain I bet everything would have been an easy 5


Profile Album


Last updated: 2013-05-07 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:34:43 | 1640 yards | 02m 07s / 100yards
Age Group: 34/42
Overall: 277/355
Performance: Average
Suit:
Course: Medium current which got stronger in the middle of the channel and I swear it got stronger as you went upstream. 500 upstream right turn and then out 50 to another right in the middle of the channel and then cruised back with the current.
Start type: Deep Water Plus: Waves
Water temp: 59F / 15C Current: Medium
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Below average
Breathing: Below average Drafting:
Waves: Navigation: Below average
Rounding: Good
T1
Time: 06:09
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
Wetsuit stuck? Run with bike:
Jump on bike:
Getting up to speed:
Biking
01:12:50 | 24 miles | 19.77 mile/hr
Age Group: 25/42
Overall: 128/355
Performance: Good
Wind: None
Course: Course was a loop with a short out and back mid-loop. Lots of rollers with two or three real climbs.
Road: Rough Wet Cadence:
Turns: Good Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Not enough
T2
Time: 03:08
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal
Running
00:50:20 | 06.21 miles | 08m 07s  min/mile
Age Group: 24/42
Overall: 129/355
Performance: Good
Course: A fairly easy run. A couple small hills but nothing to be scared of. A simple out and back with much of it on a greenway along the river.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 3
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities:
Race evaluation [1-5] 3

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2013-05-07 7:47 AM

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Regular
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Chicago, Illinois
Subject: Rev3 Knoxville - Olympic Rev


2013-05-07 9:43 AM
in reply to: #4730774

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Veteran
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Houston, TX
Subject: RE: Rev3 Knoxville - Olympic Rev

Still a great race!

Just think of your run like this: You stopped for 3 minutes, took an easy pace, and you would still crush me!

2013-05-07 10:11 AM
in reply to: #4730774

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Master
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ann arbor, michigan
Subject: RE: Rev3 Knoxville - Olympic Rev
Way to stick with it in brutal race conditions. That is a tough course and it was reportedly a pretty tough day.

You are telling me you backstroked the whole swim and went 31:xx? You are an animal and I need to learn to swim faster.
2013-05-07 9:08 PM
in reply to: #4730774

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Master
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Royersford, PA
Subject: RE: Rev3 Knoxville - Olympic Rev
Nice job! Had a great time at the race despite the rotten weather. Had a few nutrition issues since I was rather unwilling to take my hands off the handlebars with all the wet conditions, but it wasn't that bad in hindsight. Great job especially with the cramp on the run!
2013-05-07 9:13 PM
in reply to: #4730774

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Expert
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Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: Rev3 Knoxville - Olympic Rev

Great job, Anthony!  I must have arrived in the transition area about the time you left to go down to the swim.  Funny about using the bridges for sighting... that worked really well.  I stayed on my back a bit longer than I normally would because I knew I was going straight.  Plus, it was really cool to look up at them - nice distraction from the cold!  I bet the bike course would be great in good weather... reminded me alot of the roads around where I live, but I just didn't feel confident pushing it in that rain, though I never had even a hint of a traction problem.  Ah well, miserable as it was, I feel like we're part of a club that "survived Rev-3 Knoxville".  One thing that always amazes me about triathletes is how upbeat they are... there was some grumbling about the weather, but most folks laughed it off and wore it as a badge of honor.  I could do better on that front... lol!  Congrats again!

Stu

2013-05-07 10:04 PM
in reply to: #4730774

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Bronze member
Subject: RE: Rev3 Knoxville - Olympic Rev
Nice race in some less than perfect conditions. Congratulations!


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