Rev3 Part 2of2: The numbers!

YAY!!!! Rev3 was able to recover my numbers! Here is my race report of race day and some splits!

The day started when our alarms went off at 4:30. Jose and I did our usual prerace routine, coffee, breakfast, and headed out the door. It was COLD!!!! We set up transition, chatted with some of my Trakkers Teammates and went for a warm up run. My legs felt great, but my hip was killing me and way out line (bad news for my bad foot) from the spill I took on bike the day before, which had me concerned.

As I was heading down to the swim start there was a crowd of about 20 pros I had to walk through. About half way through, I hear someone say, "Hey Savannah, Good luck today!." I was shocked, what pro would know me by name? I looked up to see Michael Lovato talking to me, he is one of the pros on my team and I had met him briefly at the team dinner Friday night. I couldn't believe that he recognized me in my wetsuit, swim cap, and goggles, but it was a great start to me day.

It came time for my wave to get in the water. I lined up next to a couple of my teammates and jumped in as this was a water start. We had 5 minutes between waves, so I did a quick warm up and positioned myself on the start line. The swim was nice, fairly calm, didn't get too many elbows thrown at me nor did I catch a draft. Swim time 31:40, a PR, I'll take it.

Time to head out on my bike. First, I cannot even begin to explain how awesome this bike course was!!! Just beautiful, technical, and challenging, I highly recommend it. Did I mention, it was COLD. I had set out gloves and arm warmers to put on, but for some dumb dumb reason I did not put them on. This ride was so cold. I have NEVER been this cold for this long in my life. For those of you that know me, you can attest to how easily I get cold and how much I hate it. I thought many times about bailing, and at the coldest point wondered if I was going to go hypothermic. Luckily, that was just before the temperatures started to warm up. Ultimately, I was a not too excited about how I rode, I was just to cold and felt out of control of my bike from being so tense. Not to mention my heart rate was just way low. Even though I was uncomfortable I enjoyed the change of pace from the flatlands, I loved the bike course!!! Bike time 2:52:02.

YES YES YES!!!! Time to get off this bike and get warm. My feet were numb coming off the bike, so running felt kinda funny. However, my legs felt fresh and good. I started out running around 8's the worked into some 7:30's. My run mileage has been pretty low so around mile 9 or 10 it started to hit me and my pace gradually slowed. The run course was very nice, shaded and well aided with great volunteers. I headed to the finish line, almost there!!! No wait, turn left???? what??? Ok.... OMG a huge, hill! That's cruel and funny at the same time. Up the hill (they had volunteers on the hill cheering for you), down the hill to the finish!!!! Run time 1:43:12. A 15 minute PR!!!! I will take it.

Total Time: 5:12

A few thoughts on the race.
1. Great great course, best I have been on and I will do it again
2. Amazing volunteers and very well stocked aid stations
3. Extremely family oriented, if you have kids this is a race you should do for sure. There is so much for the kids to do
4. Yes, my timing got messed up, but ultimately the eventually found it. I have had this happen at other races so I don't hold it against Rev3. It happens, I know people who have had it happen at Mdot races where kona spots are on the line. Generally if you give the race director some time he/she can figure it out.
5. Finish line. The finish area was also very nice and exciting, a jumbotron, huge stage, face painting for the kids, and lots more!

Next up, my nutrition report. stay tuned.

Rev3 Knoxville Race Review (part 1 of 2)

I have so much to say about my weekend in Knoxville, it was a great weekend!!!!

We arrived in Knoxville Friday afternoon and headed right to the race site to pick up our packets. The expo had just opened when we arrived, but they were ready to go. The parking and directions were well marked, registration was well staffed with knowledgeable volunteers, the jumbo screen was set up, and they had all the big inflatable slides ready to go for the kids.

One of the major things I noticed about this race over the weekend is how geared they are towards family and the athlete having a great race experience(yes they are still fine tunning some of the timing and gps units, but I have raced several races where my timing was wrong. Not to mention how many race results I have looked and noticed that some of the participats results were clearly distorted).

Rev3 has so much to do for the kids, they had a play area set up with large slides, a child/parent adventure race(which made me wish I had kids just so I could do the race), family movie night on the jumbo screen, and they let you cross the finish line with your family/kids!

On Friday night I headed to the trakkers team dinner while Jose meet up with my aunt for a Gluten Free dinner! Team dinner was a blast, I meet some of my fellow teammates. We had a special treat when some of our team pros(Richie Cunningham, Michael Lovato and Amanda Lovato) stopped by to say hello! Of course pro and team manager Carole Sharpless was there to hang out with us all night and make sure we didn't get too rowdy. They were all so nice and each took the time to talk to us individually about our race season, training, homes, ect.

Saturday it was up bright and early to head back to the expo for team pictures, a fun run with our team pros, a First Endurance giveway at the Trakkers booth, and bike check in. I ended up hanging out in the Trakkers booth for awhile with fellow teammate and 2009 Kona Amature Female Champion, Kathleen Calkins. This chick is seriously fast and super down to earth and humble. Thanks for the race tips Kathleen!

After the expo Jose and I dropped our bikes off at transition and checked into our hotel. I did my traditional prerace nail painting while Jose got our nutrition ready for race day.

Then we meet up with my Aunt for a prerace dinner(and maybe a glass of vino) at Outback! Yum!!!
After dinner we headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep before race day. Part 2 of 2 coming soon!!!!

Rev3 Goals!!!

I am so excited to race Rev3 on Sunday. I love the half distance races and know that this course and event are going to be a great experience no matter what the clock says when I get to the finish line. Therefore, I have intentionally not set any time goals. I really want to enjoy the day!

Here are my Goals!!!

1. To actually be able to run the run and to get to the finish line without my foot bothering me.
2. To hit my Heart Rate Zones on the bike and run.
3. To stay calm and focused no matter what the day throws my way.
4. To hit my nutrition well. No bonking!!!!

Number 1 is probably the most important to me. I have been struggling with my foot now for over a year and am just now able to train on it and I don't want a big setback.

Taper Time!

My taper for Rev3 officially started at 12:43pm Saturday. By 4:00 I had hit sushi for lunch, barnes and noble for a magazine, and of course starbucks for coffee. Then promtly found this chair open at the pool!

Yes it was 85 degrees out and I am was drinking coffee, but.... I was recovering with this good stuff.

I managed to sit still for about 40 minutes before, I couldn't manage any longer. We headed back to the condo and by 7:30 I had cleaned everything, finished laundry, and cooked enough food to feed an army for a week.

Now I only have 6 days left of my taper week, what is left to do? Tracy and I plan to perfect an energy bar recipe, and I might start packing......

Oh, yeah,and other than a tremendous amount of time on my hands during taper week, I also seem to wake up at like 3am, which Jose loves!!!!! Gotta love the TAPER.