Rev3 OLY Knoxville - Race Report

i've been delaying posting this hoping that Rev3 will clean up the results a bit, as they are a bit confusing now, but whatevs. My times are based on my math and subtractions (ie they are only providing cumulative times at this point), so they may be a rough estimate and change by a few seconds at some point.

Quick Version:

Swim 18:48
T1 2:08
Bike 1:22:55
T2 1:29
Run 45:44 (10k PR!)

Total 2:31:06
3rdAG

Went through all the normal race morning prep. The hotel was about a 1/2 mile walk to transition, and we were actually was able to sleep in a bit. The race was relatively small, only about 800 total in transition, so it was quite a relaxed start to the race.

Swim

I was in the second to last wave of the OLY race. The OLY and Half waves were a bit mixed up, but all I knew was I was starting with the 40-49Men, Clydesdales, and women 29under. It was in-water start. I got up front and center, tried to ignore the larger men around me- just found some open water, zenned out a bit, and focused on hammering the first 200-300 yards. I got a bit disoriented with the sun in the first little out and back, but once I got in a groove and hit the turn around buoy, I felt great. Saw my super-stud roommate with me at the turn around, which meant I was in the race. Swam a little too aggressively around the turn buoy, and found myself swimming straight into the oncoming swimmers - whoops! After I corrected my line, I found some feet that were probably a touch too slow and settled in. It felt strong and effortless. The swim finish was a bit odd, it was actually a floating dock that you had to pull yourself up onto (think: beached whale), but I hopped right out and didn't see any other royal blue caps around and felt good about my swim. There was a bit of a run up into transition, across a road, but at the bikes, I confirmed roommate and I were 1-2 out of the water in our age group. Felt good, quick transition (wetsuit came off with NO issues! first time ever).

This was the first time that I was able to really put my head down, find some feet and push the entire swim (ie no quick breaststroke breaks). I believe it was a combination of being in better swim shape than years past, a wetsuit that is comfortable and the river swim. I do think there was a bit of current, and that the course was a bit short.

Swim: 18:48
T1: 2:08

Bike

The bike course took you through the University Tennessee campus (I think) for about 4-5 miles then out into some beautiful country roads for a loop. The bike course was TOUGH but fair. It was tough (for me) in a few different ways: there were only two (maybe some people would only say 1) big climbs, but the entire thing was rolling, I can't remember one straight, flat section. I was proud of myself for staying in aero as much as I could, keeping on my gears, and pushing the pace. Also, on the few large downhill sections, there was switchbacks and some tight turns, so you really had to pay attention. I have a tendency to let my mind wander and not focus mentally when I get tired on the bike, and this happened a few times. I am working on getting my nutrition down and not waiting until these points to hit the Gu with caffeine - It's a work in progress.

There were a quite few women in the older age groups passing (they had started 5 mins ahead), as well as those competing in the half (it was the same course for about 10 miles), but I saw 1 person in my AG had passed during the bike (turns out, 2 did. damn). I really felt like I was losing steam at the end of the bike. The bike course comes back into town for the last few miles, and I was having trouble finding the last extra push or any power in my legs after the rolling course. I was playing cat and mouse with an older guy (SO annoying) and a few women passed me at the very end and just zoomed by. Looking back, I wish I had sucked it up and tried to stay with them - lesson learned.

My one complaint about the course comes at the end of the bike. The course crossed the run course a few times, in some dangerous sections (ie at the bottom of a downhill going into a turn). It was not well marked, there were not enough volunteers and it was quite dangerous. Looking at the course maps published on the website, I know they had to alter the bike course a bit due to construction, but I also think the run course was changed, causing some of these issues. It is a first year race, and I think the course and support overall was AMAZING, but this needs to be worked out.

Also the Bike In/Run Out transition was very poorly designed, also crossing runners finishing the race at about mile 5.5, and was a bit of a Klusterf*$k. Dangerous and confusing. I entered transition with a few girls who had passed me at the end of the bike, slipped on the new racing flats, prayed my legs would agree with them, and was off.

Looking at my bike results, it is hard not to be disappointed when looking the time and average alone. But I KNOW that if I had biked this course on my bike fitness in years past, it would NOT have been pretty - on the bike OR the run. The climbs would have been killer, and even more so, I would have been scared out of my mind on some of the more technical sections and downhills on the course. I am proud of myself and know that each course is different and you can't compare times and speeds across races. More importantly, looking at the times in my age group that finished around me, I still have some work to do on the bike. I lost some definite steam on the last section and need to work on nutrition and mental focus, but I am happy and proud of myself.

*Note, my bike computer, along with a couple other teammates, read 26.0 miles for the course.

Bike: 1:22:55 (17.94mph)
T2: 1:29

I am SO happy I had clarified the day before where run out was (as many were confused and trying to run out of the 'bike in' - there were no signs), and I passed one women in transition. Passed another about 1/4 mile into the run, and focused on settling into a comfortably aggressive pace. I was pretty sure I was in 3rd in my age group, I knew 1 girl had passed me on the bike, and super-stud roommate was smoking the course.

There was a lady about 10-20 seconds ahead of me, and I decided to try to pace with her, rather than burn myself trying to catch her in the first mile. I realized after my heart rate settled down that I felt GREAT. The heaviness in my legs from the week had disappeared and I focused on quick turnover and being light on my feet. My soleus' on both legs were VERY tight, and I was hoping the new shoes weren't to blame, but I tried my best not to let my mind wander and focused on keeping pace with the women in front of me.

First mile chirped at 7:17, I smiled, then dug deeper and just hoped I hadn't gone out too fast. The course was an out and back, and at the turnaround, I realized I had been reeling in the girl in my age group who had passed me towards the end of the bike. I had a small mental debate about passing vs. pacing off her for a bit , as she had clearly seen me as well, but decided to pass aggressively and promised myself NOT to look back. I ran scared from about mile 3 to 6, thinking she was on my heels, even thinking I could HEAR her foot steps and breaths (in reality, there was absolutely no one behind me, ha). I passed a pro male who was walking at about mile 5.5 (and apparently had been hit by a car during the bike), and he reminded me to stay light on my feet and I re-focused on my turnover. The last few miles were a gradual uphill, but I knew that the 45 was in my sights. I finally allowed myself to glance over my shoulder at about mile 6 and realized there was no one behind me.


The finisher's chute was amazing and I allowed myself to enjoy the finish. I may have let a sub 45 10k slip away in the last mile, but I couldn't have been happier. I also could not have been happier to stop running, as at this point, both my soleus' were PAINFULLY tight. I was greeted with open arms by my roommate, who seemed genuinely happier for me than she was to crush her race and our age group. Little did I know, as she informed me, I had run myself onto the podium. I thought I had run myself into 2nd, but missed the one other girl in our age group passing me on the bike, and this honestly made me even more proud of my run. My splits (started my garmin about 10 seconds after timing mat out of T2):

7:16
7:27
7:22
7:26
7:37
7:38
0:52 (7:20 pace)

Run: 45:44

Unfortunately, the gloating about my 10k split to my coach I planned to relish in was short lived, as he had taken a spill on the bike and wasn't in the best state. All in all, the team had a GREAT weekend, with successful first timers and multiple people on the podium for both the OLY and the Half. I am VERY excited for the last few weeks push to Eagleman, with some major time spent on the bike between now and June 13th.

While this is not my best OLY time, this was for sure the most challenging bike course I have ever raced, and I think the most complete triathlon I have put together to this point. Yay.

And, as a side note, I got a plaque and a pretty pink fuel belt for placing 3rd. Very exciting. Until I got home to NYC on Sunday night and went to test out my pretty pink fuel belt and it DOES NOT FIT AROUND MY WAIST. Way to burst a girl's new found confidence....HA! Who knew fuel belt come in sizes!??! ahahhahaha.

Lastly, despite a few first-race kinks, I loved this race- I think Rev3 did an amazing job all around, and I am almost disappointed I'm not going to be racing in the Quassy edition, as it is the weekend before Eagelman.