The waves started on the beach. This river bed is SHALLOW, walked at least 200-300 yards before it was deep enough to swim. Started off with all sorts of butt grabbing and contact but just settled into a rhythm. The swim mantra I found yesterday was my focus : LONG AND TALL. I just focused on keeping a long stroke with a "tall" position in the water, paused momentarily to site once in a while and swam.
Just before the first turn buoy I realized I was tangled with swimmers from a wave or two ahead of mine. Was I having a really good swim or were thy having a horrible day? Didn't have any clue, just keep swimming.
Felt like it took me FOREVER to get through the long side of this rectangle. More entanglements. In particular with a gentleman from 2 waves ahead of me and a really large woman from Team Z that just seemed to constantly be in my way. Finally rounded the second turn and headed in. The chop is just crazy, literally have to pause the stroke to site cause I can't see over it.
I was getting so freaking tired by the time I hit that swim in. Kept looking up at the swim exit sign thinking I would NEVER get there. Saw a man stand up and thought "hallelujah" cause I could stand up. Looked at my watch then and was at 37:25 or so......lady walking near me asked the time......I was all happy thinking I had this huge PR swim to find out this poor woman was in the pink wave of the HIM that went off 20 minutes ahead of me and had a crappy day.

Post race, I learned how many people were pulled from the river....all the more proud of my swim. I NEVER reverted to any other stroke or hung off a kayak. This is HUGE for me.

Not much, I am not a strong swimmer and I am pretty pleased with my effort in the water today. Never panicked, never flipped to back stroke or breast stroke and no kayak hugging.

They claim 1/4 mile run from the river to T1.....This is the same venue that SetUp uses and I think it's closer to half a mile with a little hill mid way up.

Yesterday the swim in / bike out were planned to be different than what we had today. Not sure why, maybe the RD looked at the crappy chip seal road leading from the park and decided that it would be unsafe since it was wet....

Learn to get the wetsuit off faster.

Tried to ride "within" and not push my limits too much but I did push as much as I could get away with.
Starts off on the same course as the Set Up races but there were a few different turns to change it up. I was glad to see that--would have sucked to do a new event by a different race company and have the same course.
Some passing and re passing of the same people for quite a while. Settled into my pace and just kept pedaling. Fairly well marked, but there were a few intersections that I only saw the HIM markings and I was afraid I was on the wrong course for a bit.
Alternated between gatorade and water, took in a Gu around the mile 8-9 area. We finally turn off onto Jolly Pond Rd and the road is ANYTHING but a jolly road. Freaking pot holed, narrow bumpity bump mess and I have a bladder screaming to be emptied with more than half the course to go.
Was more than happy to turn off that road back to Centerville Rd where the HIM course mixes back in with the Oly. Passed someone pulling a trailer for a physically challenged racer--so inspiring. Got passed by some of the pros like I was sitting still.
Few miles later and we turn off to Monticello which is closed to traffic--nice. Couple more turns and it's T2 time. Quickly run in and rack the bike--asking the transition volunteer if there are portapotties on the other side of transition cause there is NO way I am going to survive the run with this full bladder.


Set up the trainer cause of the rainy weather....just could not bring myself to do that

PORTA POTTY stop was demanded

Head out of T2 and am soooo relieved to finally empty the bladder....Felt pretty good for the first couple of miles. Then mile 3 hit....the up hills were making my left calf cramp up. Since I am moving into marathon training this coming week I was not about to overcook my leg today. Took a few walk breaks to get up the hills as needed and ease the calf cramps. Grabbed gatorade at every aid stop and poured water on my head at them as well.
Hit the turn back and realized at about the 4 mile mark that I was on a course set to PR so I really tried to keep running as much as possible --again if the leg cramped I would walk about 100 yards to ease it then get moving again.
You have to run past the finish chute to go down the hill and back up for the final mile. It's almost mental cruelty to run past a finish line--but at least I only had to do it once. The HIM racers had to do that twice.
Almost started crying as I ran into the chute. I knew I had PR'd the day by about 2 minutes and that's all I could think of.

Wear the calf sleeve.

Met up with my husband, Kristen and her monkeys who had been cheering Matt (Kristen's husband) grabbed food and hung out with my friend Susan a bit.


Choppy swim--that was a good effort for me in those conditions

Rainy spring with not as much bike volume as I would have liked

Calf cramps from my leg that previously had a torn gastrocnemius so I wasn't pushing that leg too much.


I would most definitely do another Rev 3 race. Other than the serious lack of morning shuttles from T2 to race start site I have no issues with the organization.
Every volunteer from check in to finish line was FANTASTIC. Positive and encouraging.