I arrived in Nashville around 10:45 and had to get to Knoxville by 6pm for the mandatory bike check-in. I was mislead again in Chicago and was told that Knoxville was 4 hours away by car. After getting to the rental car agency and plugging into the GPS where I was trying to go, the total time was 2hrs 20mins. Knew that I was def. going to make it to Knoxville on time. What a relief!
Meanwhile, the GF gets to Chattanooga about the same time I got to Nashville and informs me that I would have been able to get on that flight if I waited. If I had knew that, I wouldn't have had to rent a car. Was not happy, but you get over it, because you are just happy that you are going to be ready to race and that your whole party is there in one piece.
So in my rented white Mitsubishi, I finally make it to the Knoxville airport where I still need to grab my bike that has now been in the Knoxville airport for a whole day now. As you might anticipate, I was a little nervous to find the condition the bike might be in. Walked in, and there it was, as if no one had touched it. Thank God!! Now the bike needed to be unpacked and assembled. Finally, arrive at the race check in. Grab my packet and its off to the assembly line, all with 3 hours to kill. Perfect! With some stress taking off of finally being checked in, I start my race preparations. I was unable to make the practice swim that morning, which I was really looking forward to, and did not have time to get a ride in. So the one thing I had left was an opportunity to run.
Knoxville is a small town, maybe about half the size of Nashville, and does not really provide a mass amount activities. But if the WNBA is what your looking for, the Hall of Fame is there. The race layout was a great one, in my opinion, with the swim in a up and down stream battle, and the bike route moving in the cascading hills or mountains, however you want to describe them, and the run along the river. I was definitely feeling the course as I felt it laid out will for my skill level.
Checked in, and the rest of the party finally arriving, it was time to get some food down, and off to bed to wake up to an early start.
Day 2 in Knoxville came upon us very quick, as I felt I wasn't even there for more than 12 hours. 4:30 a.m. wake up to start the routine with a bowl of oatmeal and some hydration. When you are getting up this early to race, the events that take place tend to blend together. It was next time to get my race attire on and get out the door. Got to the race site at 6 a.m. and was ready to the get show on the road. Still had almost two hours til my start time, but still had some last minute adjustments to make to the bike and transition area, and then off for a warm up run of about 2-3 miles. This really gets my blood going and mentally focused to accomplish what I came there to do. Post a good time. That is what this year is all about!
As time quickly passes by it is now time to make my way over to the water start. I am ready, focused, and ready to take on Knoxville. I had a friend ask me the other night, "What is going through your head before you jump into that water and take on the race?". I looked at him and said, "I clear my mind, because nothing else matters and think, "I want this"! GO FAST! I want this life! I know I have something here and will crush it! I want to be a Pro, So PUSH!!". The REV3 Knoxville event starts with your wave jumping into the water and waiting for the horn. Everyone in my wave with the same colored swim caps pile in with anticipation. The horn sounds, and we are off. Kick, kick, paddle, paddle, breathe, faster, faster. Bodies are everywhere fighting for position, some swimming over each other. I reach the dock in approx. 00:25:00 , jump out, ripping off my wetsuit as I make it to T1 and right back out onto the bike portion. I steam forward on the bike, climbing and descending like a mad man. I move up 44 positions on the bike section with a time of 1:05:00 or so. T2 is empty as I am one of the first athletes in. Its always a bit scary being out in the lead group, because you are the one being followed. And I am already out on the run, the final section of the race. Concentrating on not pushing so hard in the beginning I find my rhythm and excel forward, gaining speed toward the second half. Only two guys passed me in the very beginning but I soon found them later on the course. In with a running time of about 00:45:00 I finish Knoxville, REV3 in a time of 02:19:00, a personal best and great start to the season. Pleased and feeling great, it is now time to head home to Chicago, as I would assume.
All packed up and checked out, we wheel it down the road to the airport only to find once again that we will not get out. But the GF and I wait it out. The airline employee was right! Go figure. Its another day for the couple in Knoxville, TN. And the Bulls game is on! (side note, as the GF would kill me if she didnt see D. Rose and the Bulls). Checked in for another night in a airport hotel, we have one last dinner at an Applebee's and find the game. We wake the next morning and hurry back to the airport with out fingers crossed to get on the first flight out. We succeed and its home to sweet home Chicago!
Looking back on the weekend, I would have to say, I will never flight stand by. HAHA.
The weekend was a huge success for racing and am pleased with everything REV3 Triathlon Series has to offer. Really had a warm welcoming and made you feel like a star. I will definitely be back next year!
Now en route to CapTexTri in Austin, TX. Going to be a hot one!
Be Fast,
Jeff
