Don't know about the temperature but I heard the snakes are pretty bad this year

I don't think anyone KNOWS at this point, but everyone seems pretty confident the temperature is gonna be close. Unless something drastically changes I am planning on heading to the swim start with my wetsuit and swimskin.

Ya, I don't think anyone knows for sure, but if someone local knows anything from experience would really help.

Cheers

Since my new wetsuit just arrived today you can count on a non-wetsuit swim.

The OWS group there said early on that they seriously doubted that it would be wetsuit legal that time of the year. Last I heard, the water was low 80's. That was a couple of weeks ago. The evenings have been cooler and I don't know the temp of the water they release from the dam. It should have dropped, I will bring both a wetsuit and swimskin….but am doubting it will be wetsuit legal.

WTC usually finds a way, if its close

Well, since it is an all-downstream swim, you should be able just to float along w/o the wetsuit and finish w/o even swimming more than a few strokes:)

"IRONMAN Chattanooga will begin with a point to point, 2.4-mile swim in the Tennessee River with ample spectator vantage points alongside the city's famous Riverwalk. Athletes can look forward to a fast, down-current swim."

Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/...a.aspx#ixzz3CmZsKXhr

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Come on, I hate snakes. Is this supposed to be in pink like the snakes at MOO?

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Last year, I think someone here on ST went out and checked the river the day registration opened last year and it was 76 or 77 if I remember correctly. If that is the case, they will find a cold spot somewhere.

My pool in Charlotte is already starting to fall with the cooler nights and shorter days. With the forecast next week dropping into the mid 50's at night in Chatt, the water will start cooling pretty quickly.

They have races and OWS in the river throughout the summer. People have reported wicked fast time, but that's with the dam flowing at it's normal rate. They've already said that the dam will be shut off during race day. This is not to say that there won't be any flow. It's a river after all. Anyone expecting to just float down stream ala IM NY will be in for a big surprise.

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My marathon PR is "under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something."

I can assure you that Ironman has about as much say with the Army Corp of Engineers and TVA as I do. If they need to release water they will. If they don't, they won't.

Don't be silly. No one is saying that WTC is telling what TVA what to do or what it can or can't do. All of the agencies have come together to make the shutoff decision, way ahead of time.

1. TVA has already agreed to shut down the dam
2. The race occurs during the period when TVA normally does its yearly maintenance. TVA is not going out of its way or doing anything out of the ordinary to shut down the dam for this race. If this race didn't occur, the flow rate would still be minimum.
3. TVA will release water if there is a run of rainstorms that requires it to increase the flow

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My marathon PR is "under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something."

to your #3 point...like I said, "If they need to release water they will. If they don't, they won't."

This thread from ST last Sept 28th someone posted swimmers pulled the water temp at 78 that week. I don't know the weather leading up to that and don't care to research it, so I would guess it will be within a couple degrees +or-.

Wetsuit will be legal to wear most likely but it will be close if its legal for awards and KQ.

I wont be placing or KQ'ing so I'm not sure yet if I will wear on over 76*.

I've said this before, but after what happened at 2013 Raleigh 70.3, I'm taking my wetsuit and swimskin to the race start that morning no matter what anybody says, anywhere, at any time.

That being said, I do hope they use the Augusta 70.3 thermometer (it only goes up to 76.1)

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Proud Member of Chris McDonald's 2018 Big Sexy Race Team "That which doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger"
Blog-Twitter-Instagram-Race Reports - 2018 Races: IM Florida 70.3, IM Raleigh 70.3, IM 70.3 World Championships - South Africa, IM North Carolina 70.3

My guess is they will find a cold spot if it's close at all, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a sudden and slight need to "release" some water on race day. With all the uproar about 4 extra bike miles and less time available to complete this course it seems like the smartest business decision for all parties involved, WTC, Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee. It seems like IM's with well documented fast swims are much easier sells, just my .02.

The well being of individuals all along the river basin will be the deciding factor for TVA. The fact that there is an Ironman race in Chattanooga will have a miniscule effect in the decision making proces, at best.

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Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

If the Russians can have a mold inside the CIA ... WTC can have an intern working at the dam :)

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My marathon PR is "under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something."

Russian mold inside the CIA? That's serious stuff!

Yes, Raleigh 2013 definitely taught me the same lesson. Never give up hope that WTC will do whatever it can to make a swim wetsuit legal.

Any updates on water temp?

Cheers!

No. But a buddy of mine who is a 90 minute flat water swimmer did it in 64 minutes on Sunday.

Seriously? What time of day?

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What time of day? Was it during the dam release? http://www.tva.gov/lakes/chh_o.htm

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Janyne