This was a great event. Lots of logistics with a double transition course set up and 0630 start. Clearly a lot of planning was done on the logistics. I can't believe they got all those bikes shipped out to T1 and then got us all out there in time for a 0630 start. Of course, that was the earliest I ever got up for an event.
I stayed out of the fray on the swim, keeping to the outside by 10-20 yards, and there was plenty of free water, drifting in occasionally to draft.
Bike: loved it. After a climb out of T1, lots of rollers, flats and downhill until the 5 mile climb. Once on the BRP, some rollers and climbs until a fun, non-technical descent. I believe tri bike was the right call: I gave up some time on the climb but more than made up for it on the rest of the course. Then flat-rolling with a minor climbing back to Roanoke.
Run: it was "IM Chattanooga hot". Not normally that hot, just a freaky weekend. Lots of suffering due to the heat. Agree with the need for ice and earlier first run station coming out of T2. Very flat run course with varied scenery. Run course very spectator friendly (no chance for spectators at the swim, but who in your family wants to get up that early anyways).
Volunteers and locals seemed very supportive of race. Roanoke: great host city. Great downtown market area to wonder around before/after race.
Drove home evening of race and was surprised to see I snagged a Worlds spot when I got home (11th in 55-59, didn't stay for awards, way too hot). Chattanooga and Roanoke are now my favorite 2 SE race venues and I am now trying to decide between those 70.3 events in 2022.
Tim Shea
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Blog: https://swimbikerunrinserepeat.wordpress.com
I stayed out of the fray on the swim, keeping to the outside by 10-20 yards, and there was plenty of free water, drifting in occasionally to draft.
Bike: loved it. After a climb out of T1, lots of rollers, flats and downhill until the 5 mile climb. Once on the BRP, some rollers and climbs until a fun, non-technical descent. I believe tri bike was the right call: I gave up some time on the climb but more than made up for it on the rest of the course. Then flat-rolling with a minor climbing back to Roanoke.
Run: it was "IM Chattanooga hot". Not normally that hot, just a freaky weekend. Lots of suffering due to the heat. Agree with the need for ice and earlier first run station coming out of T2. Very flat run course with varied scenery. Run course very spectator friendly (no chance for spectators at the swim, but who in your family wants to get up that early anyways).
Volunteers and locals seemed very supportive of race. Roanoke: great host city. Great downtown market area to wonder around before/after race.
Drove home evening of race and was surprised to see I snagged a Worlds spot when I got home (11th in 55-59, didn't stay for awards, way too hot). Chattanooga and Roanoke are now my favorite 2 SE race venues and I am now trying to decide between those 70.3 events in 2022.
Tim Shea
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Blog: https://swimbikerunrinserepeat.wordpress.com