Rev3 ROCKS!

Holy WOW!  Rev3 Williamsburg was awesome!  I am very glad that I chose to race only the Olympic distance after having done Raleigh 70.3 a mere three weeks ago.  The huge difference between Ironman Raleigh and Rev3 Williamsburg was the feel of the atmosphere.  Rev3 has an age group team and as many of you have already read in previous posts +Tara Martine is on this team and she was an amazing hostess with the mostest!  I think she made it a point to introduce me to every team member there and now I think I have gained at least ten new Facebook friends and Twitter followers.  Loving the craziness vibe Team Rev3 has!!

Lauren Goss!! aka @lauren_goss

I got there a little late, but made it in time for the Friday expo festivities.  (Yes, there was an ample amount of Beet Juice being drunk.)  A major highlight of the expo, aside from meeting a ton of badass Rev3'ers, was meeting pro triathlete Lauren Goss.  She was super cool and took time to pose with The Sarge and me.  Tara informed me the evening before the race that the best finish line photo gets a free race entry.  I was tempted to make a "Lauren Goss, Will you Marry Me" sign to carry across the finish line, but that did come to fruition.  (Probably for the best.)



Friday Night/Saturday (The Calm before the Storm)

Kool and the Gang

So we stayed at the Days Inn that was a mere quarter mile from T2.  It was a dump, but close to the race site.  Friday night started with a massive cluster at Carraba's, a killer Glow Run sponsored by Rev3 and then turned into awesome when The Flints showed up (Kool and Nadine are a travelling party.)  We visited one of Tara's old stomping grounds and found an old soccer team picture of her on the wall.  We then took the party back to the Days Inn and hung out for a while.  Tara rightfully went to sleep.  Saturday we woke up went to check out the swim.  It was beautiful!  There was a bit of a current, but otherwise I was feeling comfortable in the water.  (Unfortunately, this same sensation did not occur on race day.)  After swimming, we met up with the Flints and Kurt's folks at the Williamsburg Winery.  A bachelorette party was tasting wine and Kool decided that I should serenade the bachelorette.  (Who am I to let Kool down?)  I obliged.  Before hitting up the winery, Tara and I rode the run course on our bikes and discovered that there was a massive hill with switchbacks at the turnaround.  Really?!?!?  A hill in Williamsburg!!!

That evening we went to Olive Garden.  (Hey, gotta CTFU before a race!)  I was very happy that my mother, grandparents, aunt and uncle were able to join me for dinner.  Granddad paid for dinner and we caught up on life.  I haven't seen them in a while and we got to discuss all the changes that have occurred since graduating from High Point University.  Mom and Aunt Becky said that they wanted to come to part of the race.  (They wound up making the run portion and it was so cool to see them at the finish!)  While at Olive Garden I got to meet Tara's Coach, Sharon who is now officially known as "The Coach"!  She came to race the Olympic and guide Tara to what would be a procard performance!

The Coach, Ed and I in close quarters

Bonkbreakers for Breakfast!

Free Advice from "The Coach"

Race Day!

The Morning

It was raining and we were all just SUPER EXCITED to walk to T2 to set up in the rain.  After setting up my Hoka One One Bondi Bs in T2 we loaded up on to a yellow school bus for the trek to the James River beach site.  I adjusted T1 at the site and got some air in the tires and then the long wait for my wave began.  I had some tunes going in my ear trying to focus myself on the task that lie ahead.  (I was playing some Eminmen mixed with Wagon Wheel, yes quite the combination, but I had to have some downhome NC tunes in the ear.)  Sean English, the Rev3 man on the mic was providing constant updates and trying to keep the mood light.  

The Swim

The pros went off and wound up sprinting to the first buoy.  A few were trying to dolphin dive, but to no avail.  I watched all the half waves go and then it was my turn to rock out.  The horn went off and I did high knees and a few dolphin dives.  My heart rate was through the roof at this point and I was trying to get things under control.  I began to swim and breathe every other breath just as instructed by Kurt.  I honestly felt as if I was swimming backwards!  The beautiful conditions of yesterday were gone.  I simply was going buoy to buoy trying to survive.  After about 35 minutes, I emerged from the water with a fierce determination!  I sprinted nearly a half mile to T2 through the fields.  (And grad a Gatorade on my way.)  I fumbled to get my shoes and helmet on and stuffed my swim gear in the swim bag.

The Bike

As I began to pedal off, traffic had been stopped for us and some guy yells at us as we charge forward in disdain.  Sorry, dude we're racing and bringing major cashflow into your local economy, I think you can wait a few minutes.  I tried to keep things under control.  I would cheer people on as I passed them.  We were on a wide greenway that had some wicked turns.  There might have been an aid station on the bike, but to be honest I cannot remember.  I had recently been refit on my bike at the Greensboro Trek Store to see if it would help would some achilles issues I had been having, so this was really the first time I had ridden it with the new fit.  (I DO NOT ADVISE YOU DO THIS!!)  I felt a bit more aero and the legs were responding well.  I began to play a game of cat and mouse with another cyclists until I dropped him on the last hill.  We had a laugh about it as I was passing him.  There was a man who was in his late fifties hammering away from me towards the final miles.  The big surprise for me was that I got to mile 18 and thought, "Damn!  I almost done!"  I was still in a 70.3 mentality.  I went 1.5 mph faster than in Raleigh.  I arrived at T2 and fumbled to get the Hokas on and walked out trying to get my Forerunner on my arm so that I could keep track of my pace.  Well, the strap broke and I wound up having to carry it in my hand.

The Run

Hoka One One Bondi Bs are AWESOME!  I was booking it on the run averaging 6:45s for the first three miles!  As stated in a previous posted, I felt like Tigger!  The dreaded hill climb came and I went up, up and away.  I was moving surprisingly well.  There was one more major climb before the end and I caught a guy who dropped me on the bike.  BUT wait, near disaster!  As I am climbing the last hill (and just noticed that my mom and aunt were cheering me on) I begin to cramp in my right hamstring.  I do the classic grab and try to keep things moving.  The cramp subsides enough and I start to push it up the hill.  Today was going to be a good day... NO PAIN!  I finally make it to the finishing chute and remember what Tara said about the photos.  I try to moonwalk into the chute, but the hamstrings and calves had other plans.  I cross the line and hear Sean call my name.  The day was done!  I saw Mom and Becky and NORMATECH recovery boots.  What up, Rev3?!?!?  This was awesome!  Ironman didn't have these wonderful recovery gems!

The Wait

Tara crushing the finish!

My day was done, but Tara was still on course.  I saw her come for the first loop and she looked all right.  I waited with Mom and Becky and was explaining tactics and what possibly was going through Tara's mind.  (She was currently in fourth position.)  We waited and waited and Tara emerged again.  She was hurting.  It did not look good.  She was twenty-five seconds back from the third place female.  It was time for TriGuy powers to activate!  My legs were done, but my friend, my coach, my adopted sister was in need of some encouragement.  I walked down the hill and passed Kool and the gang.  Tara managed to move into third place, but only by a few seconds.  As she came up the final hill I started to run with her.  I began cheering her on and encouraging her.  I was giving her time splits to how far back the other girl was.  I began saying, "This is just Gallimore Dairy back home!"  (A rather hellacious hilly road!)  I would not let Tara quit or settle into a pace a procard was at stake!  Tara came through the finishing chute with me yelling at her the whole way!  She took 3rd place amateur female and qualified for the procard.

Thank You's and Developments

Thanks to the Martines and Lampells for coming to the race and supporting our crazy habit.  Thanks to Becky and Mom coming to cheer us on race day.  Huge Thanks to Team Rev3 for making me feel incredibly welcome and like part of the Team on my first Rev3 race.

The Palladium Funner Runners are progressing well.  I am so proud that some of the Runners have progressed to be able to run three miles without stopping to walk.  We had a great time with guest speaker Michael Vance giving a shoe talk.  I hope you all enjoy this recovery week.  We are going to hit it even more "Funner"after the fourth!

Now, a major bomb was dropped at Carraba's.  Kurt has been accepted into the Wilmington Fire Department.  He and Tara will be moving to Wilmington in a week!  This is a quick turnaround.  I will miss them greatly.  They have become family to me.  We have had many adventures on the roads and trails of the Triad.  I hope that LaHa and Chipotle will be able to handle them leaving because many tales of training have been told at these places as we refueled from epic runs and rides.  So, to my Brother Kurt and Sister Tara, I am sad that you are leaving, but know that there are still new stories on the horizon!

Our First Race back in 2009
Team "TriClave"