Rev3 Wisconsin The Dells Race Report

Rev3 Wisconsin - Olympic Rev
2012-08-12
Dells, Wisconsin
United States
REVOLUTION3 Triathlon
78F / 26C
Overcast
Triathlon - Olympic
Total Time = 2h 37m 52s
Overall Rank = 42/174
Age Group = M40-44
Age Group Rank = 6/18

Pre-race routine:

A long drive up from Royersford so I packed up and started drving on Thursday which was a good move. I was wave after wave of rain and thunderstorms both days right up until I hit Chicago where I got to listen to a Cubs game as the traffice just stopped. Finally got to The Dells About 8pm so I went for a run and ran to Tommy Bartlet's and then did the part of the bike course.

The next day did the practice swim and met up with a bunch of my Rev3 teammates. Checked Facebook before I left and the report was the water temps were 77-78, so I left the wetsuit at home. Well all the rain I passed on the way up helped bring the temp back down to 71. Water was great and I swam the HIM course and felt good but I could swear there was a current in the lake. Hit the expo and checked in and got my race stuff and then got my Wisconsin State Fair Cream Puffs from Lauren! So I already had my trophy before the race (though I did resist eating them under after the race). Went out to dinner with some of my teammates at the Pizza Pub and then hit the sack.

Event warmup:

Decided to walk from the hotel to Tommy Bartlet's in the morning which served as a good warm up. Had to clear out of transition at 6:30 but the Olympic start wasn't until close to 8am so had alot of time to kill. Hit the bathroom then watched the pros and Half Rev get started. Went down to the staging area and then eventually shuffled off across the stage to the Time trial start.


Swim
00:33:32 | 1640.42 yards | 02m 02s / 100yards
Age Group: 15/18
Overall: 119/174
Course:
Time trial start from dock and then a square route in Lake Denton finishing on stage.

Comments:
First race ever doing a time trial start. Moved very quickly, started 2 people at a time sitting on dock to shallow water starting every 3 seconds. Start quickly to get wet and warm and charge to the turn, from there I settled into a rhythm and felt OK. But then I just started getting passed left and right. I knew not having a wetsuit was going to make a difference but not that much. Felt like any other swim, didn't have much contact, but I was only catching the person doing the backstroke. Was hitting the buoys dead on and only swung a bit far inside towards shore on the way back and got shepparded back out. Got to the stage and came out.


What would you do differently?:
Bring my wetsuit just in case the water temp drops and swim more.

T1
Time: 04:15

Comments:
Long run up a hill to transition, then a unhurried transition getting my swiftwick sock and bike shoes on, and was one of the last people from my rack which was depressing.

What would you do differently?:
Transition wasn't bad, but wasn't good to get depressed about the swim and go slower.

Bike
01:12:26 | 24.85 miles | 20.58 mile/hr
Age Group: 8/18
Overall: 55/174
Splits:
First 10.8 miles 29:56 (21.65 mph) Next 14.0 miles 42:30 (19.76 mph)
Course:
Fun ride starting with a loop around Lake Denton then heading out of town and doing a loop on some nice rolling country roads. About 840 feet of climbing with 1 catorogized climb at around mile 20.

Comments:
I got going a bit slowly winding through town, but as we headed out of town on the first long hill I finally started moving forward, I was crushing the hills today just moving past whole lines of people pounding in the big ring. Felt great. I had a short back and forth with a woman in long pink calf sleeves where I would catch and pass her on the hills and she would cruise past on the flats (ended up she was 5th place overall female). After she finally broke away I had a similar back and forth with a guy in my age group and a guy in the 50-54 ag wearing a team USA uniform. Again I would get them on the hill and they would get me on the flats. The 50-54 guy even said to me, "don't worry I'll see you on the next hill." He was right but it was fun.
Just before the last 6 miles (50 mile marker for the Half course) a motercycle or two came up and then here comes the first pro male and then I get a "GO REV3!! GO Andrew!" From my awesome pro teammate Richie Cunningham who was running second. A group of 6-7 passed us by and it was really cool but I did lose focus and just coasted a while. I snapped to as we started the Catorigized climb and as my 50-54 buddy predicted I passed him and my AG friend. "Knew you'd get me on this hill!" Fortunately for me it was a long hill and I built up a good lead on him but my AG rival was able to bridge back up to me in the downhill and ride back into town. The roller coming back around Lake Denton weren't long enough for me to reel him in but I caught him coming into transition and actually did cross the timing mat ahead of him as I got off my bike quicker. Good ride. 5th fastest split in my AG

What would you do differently?:
Think my tires were a bit soft so some fully pumped up tires may have bought my some more speed on the flats and downhills. Was happy with the ride as I move up from 16th (Coming out of T1) to 8th in my AG and 112th to 55th overall

T2
Time:01:11

Comments:
I was now racing my rival AGer and it gave me help getting a quick transition and the iso transition are some fast to get on and out. One of my best transitions and my rack was not extremely full so I felt good.

What would you do differently?:
Sunscreen

Run
00:46:27 | 06.21 miles | 07m 29s min/mile
Age Group: 6/18
Overall: 42/174
Splits:
First 3.18 miles 24:05 (7:34) Second 3.03 miles 22:23 (7:23)

Course:
Leave Tommy Bartlets and cross over to Noah's Arc park then down to the bike loop around the lake but then headed into town to the Highway 12/13 junction and turn around and back. Several good hills in mile 2,3,4, and 5.

Comments:
Got going and had a collegate guy in front of me and then shortly had another pass me but by the turn by Noah's Arc my legs came to me and I worked the downhill and got the guy who passed me back. From their I just got into a fast tempo and went after it. My legs felt great and I pushing it. Work the long uphill after mile 2 and catch my friend in the pink calf sleeves and kept working forward looking to take out anyone with a 40-44 on their calf. Hit the turn then right into the other big hill and I ran down another person in my AG. Pushed it hard on the way home. Saw the woman pros coming the other direction on my way back. In fact the only people who passed my and stayed in front of me were 2 pros doing the Half. The finish is the same easy downhill I got rolling on early, but of course it was now uphill and my progress moving forward stalled there as I was trying to catch the 2 guys in front of me. But I saw Laura and her purple hair at the turn for home and I cruised into Noah's Arc and to the finish. Great run!

What would you do differently?:
Not much! Would have drank more and never did take my gel to load in my jersey but it was a cool day and I didn't bonk but it might have helped. Was the 4th fastest run split in my AG and brought me from 8th to 6th in my AG and from 55th to 42nd overall. Finished strong and felt strong!

Post race


Warm down:
Visited the NormaTec tent and used the boot for 20 min and had Richie come in and win the pro race right behind where I was sitting. Then grabbed a gatorade and a Muscle Milk and walked back to transition to get my bag and then walked back to the hotel since I couldn't take my bike out of transition until afer noon. Walked back to the hotel took a shower packed up the car, checked out and then drove to Tommy Bartlet's and loaded up my bike and headed out to Omaha Nebraska and ate my cream puffs!

What limited your ability to perform faster:
My swim and T1 really put me in a hole. In the end it certainly cost me a Olympic distance PR, and at least one AG position, but I was very happy with the bike and estatic with the run. Plus my 6th place AG finish is my best ever and met one of my Short Term Goals for the year.

Event comments:
Once again Rev 3 did an outstanding job in its first year at The Dells. Great atmoshpere, fun staff, had the pros cheering me on, and a great location. The Dell is advertised as the waterpark capital of the world and it sure looked that way! Great event to do with the whole family!

Rev 3 Maine-Old Orchard Beach Race Report

Note: I'm in the background from 1:50-2:05 on the beach!

Rev3 Maine - Olympic Rev
2012-08-26
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
United States
REVOLUTION3 Triathlon
75F / 24C
Sunny

Triathlon - Olympic
Total Time = 2h 33m 10s
Overall Rank = 58/300
Age Group = M 40-44
Age Group Rank = 5/27

Pre-race routine:

Friday morning I got to get up early to bring Adrian to XC picture and then come back to watch their "scrimage." Was going to leave after that. Well the scrimmage turned out to be about 12 teams and over 200 in the boys race, then the team got to clean everything up after. Basically it was an Invitational without any medals. So I didn't get packed and loaded up until after 12:30, and then I forgot my computer and my dop kit.

The ride up was fine until I hit Mass and I290 which just stopped at mile marker 22. Crawled forward for next few miles as the sun went down. The highway was down to one lane for a chemical spill plus in the one lane was a broken down car. What a mess! 2.5 hours for 2.5 miles. Finally got past it and got to Portland aroung 10:30, got some McDonald's and then to the hotel and bed.

Got up headed to Old Orchard Beach and caught the tail end of the swim and gave out some TriSlide and Foggle. At least I had my wetsuit and the water was perfect with it. Swam out to the HIM buoy and back. Slight chop and waves at beach. Good swim. Then to the expo, checked in and then put the stickers on my bike and dropped it off in transition. Met up with a bunch of my Rev3 teammates and then heaed back to the hotel before a tem dinner at the Great Lost Bear Tavern. THen back to the hotel watched Bristol and used the NormaTec Boots for an hour and hit the sack.

Got up at 4:25, got dressed and headed to OOB. Set up transition and had to get out by 6:10. Walked out to the beach and talked to some folks about Rev3. Then sat on the beach and watched the half waves head out and then the Pros before being summonded to the start area.

Event warmup:

No warm up other than the long walk to the beach. As some as I got to the beach they were pulling everyone out of the water. Could have gone well down the beach to swim but would have missed the start of the Half and my teammates.


Swim
00:29:50 | 1640.42 yards | 01m 49s / 100yards
Age Group: 15/27
Overall: 133/300

Comments:

Big wave of 101 people all M&W 35-44. Started in back and right side. Waded at the start past the first breakers. Got some space right off the bat and was a fairly clean and courtous start. No contact and drifted outside to get more space. Felt good and quick and it seemed like I was at least holding my own but I was adding some distance zig zagging my way to the turn buoy and across the bay. Diamonded the crossing leg which got me well away from everyone but at least I stopped zig zagging. Had a few folks from the wave behind be try and swim over me. The last leg back I finally started to see more folks as i stayed in the main traffic lane siting on the Ferris wheel. Felt like a good swim but again was fairly slow. Was faster than Wisconson though.

What would you do differently?:

Need to swim more and work on swim during off season. 15/27 in AG and 133/300 OA.

T1
Time: 05:40

Comments:
Long run up the beach to the road and up a block then down to and around the transtion and the in and all the way down to my rack. About 1500 feet or 500 yards or jogging barefoot. Transition itself wasn't bad. SUit stuck a bit on left heel but came out fairly easy standing. Noticed I didn't set out my gels,Oh well wasn't going to dig for it. Grabbed my helmit and bike and clomped off to the mount line on the beach side of Transition.

What would you do differently?:

Set up transition better. Left my gels in my bag as well as my Hat which was in a pocket and forgot it. Could have gone quicker but overall was OK

Bike
01:08:49 | 24.85 miles | 21.67 mile/hr
Age Group:9/27
Overall: 73/300
Splits: 35:55 for first segment and 32:55 for second seemed like each segment was about 12.42 miles since was on the top loop. I believe the negative split as it was more downhill on way in and I was pushing harder on way in.

Comments:
Started out a bit slow clipping in and getting up to speed with the hill out of OOB. Got myself right and started to get into a good tempo and started moving forward. Was doing well on the hills and got into a good pace on the flats. Did a set of three back and forths with one of my Rev 3 teammates (Beth) and passed Kristen. Saw Josha and Mike coming out of the turn loop. Passed Beth the last time coming out of the turn loop and put my head down and went to work on the way back. Rode past a number of folks and caught a 27 year old on a road bike and we leapfrogged each other all the way to the Transition pushing each other to catch a bunch of riders ahead of us. Good ride.

What would you do differently?:

Took a while to get into a steady hard tempo and felt I wasn't in race mode the first half. Beth helped snap me into race mode passing me back several times but was a PR for the Olympic Bike and the 5th fastest split in my AG and went from 15th to 9th in my AG and 138th to 73rd OA on bike.

T2
Time:01:27

Comments:
Had some isses dismounting especially compared to my riding buddy with a flying dismount. Little trouble to rack due to the bike next to me turned to my side blocking me. Quick shoe change and off I went. Good transition thanks to the PI Isotransitions.

What would you do differently?:

Not much I could control after the dismount which wasn't very coordinated.

Run
00:47:24 | 06.21 miles | 07m 38s min/mile
Age Group: 5/27
Overall: 58/300
Spilts: Out 23:43 (7:39) and back 23:40 (7:38)

Comments:
Took off at a good pace and #405 passed me. Let my legs come in which took about a mile and then start pushing the tempo as we climbed the first long hill. Started to keep pace with #405 about 30 yards ahead of me but I was passing folks inclng 2 in my agegroup. Then down hill and to the trail and then down to the turn around. Tried to up the pace. Caught another guy in my AG at mile 4 and the saw another on the hill up to mile 5. Caught him right at the top of the hill and went past him to 4th but he made it to the downhill and lactch on to me. Tried to drop him but he hung on loudly. Coming home a 27 yr old guy passed us both on the road to downtown and he went with him. At this point my hamstrings started to tighten and I didn't have an answer or a sprint. So I stayed steady to the end. Good finish. Beat the 4th guy by over 3 min on run split but helped him to a big last mile and a huge negative split all due to the last mile. He thanked me for coming along at the right time.

What would you do differently?:

Very disapponted I wasn't stronger and pushed up and pat him earlier on the hill and broke him, wasn't able to shake him and finsihed a bit weak. Should have drank more Perform on the bike to better hold off that cramp. Still great run 4th fastest split in AG (1,2, and 20th places better and from 70 to 58 OA. Good run

Note: I'm up on the big screen as well in my finisher's photo. :)
Post race

Warm down:
Walked around to porta potties, then got some Muscle milk and visited the NormaTec tent for some boot time. Then got my bike and stuff loaded up and loaded my car and got changed. Then came back for the lobster bake! Awesome! Stuck around for the PRO and Olympic awards and saw Tim and Jordan finish the half both in 4:38s.

What limited your ability to perform faster:
Should have drank more on the bike and really need to work on my swimming this winter.

Guess 5th place in my AG is better just missing a podium spot and a USAT Nationals berth finsihing 4th but i had 4th in the bag and didn't close the deal which also hurt. Some pick your poison. Overall the lobster eased any pain and so did the 3:12 PR so felt good about my perfromance. Really felt good about it before looking at the results.

Event comments:

Great first year event. Old Orchard Beach is such a cool place and the town loved having us as much as we enjoyed being there. Great event with She Jams Women's race with a race and the Pros were great especially Xterra legend Conrad Stolz making a road tri appearance. Very cool people hanging out with the AGers. ANd the Lobster bake was awesome 2 lobster, potatoe salad, corn on the cobb, and a egg. Best post race meal ever!!!