Skip to main content

IM70.3 Virgina Blue Ridge Race Report

 

Pre-Race

It is "top-off" season with the Jeep, so I really enjoyed most of the drive to Roanoke on Thursday.  I did have to dodge a bit of a storm that I caught the edge of, but I don't melt and I never had to put the bikini top on :-)  I splurged for this race and stayed at the hotel that was across the street from transition - If you are considering this race, I HIGHLY recommend staying at Spring Hills Suites because of the location and how amazing they were to the athletes.  They even had breakfast out for us at 2am on race day!!  On Friday, I drove the course and had dinner with Team IMF and a few other Tri-Friends that were in town for the race.  I was enjoying the company too much and forgot to take pictures at dinner.   


On Saturday, my awesome strength coach (Brandon Ostrander of CTG Endurance) lead the TEAM IMF athletes and a few other friends in some activating exercises to get us prepped for race day.  I did my shake-out run and safety bike check before dropping off my run gear and sending my bike with the staff to the Reservoir.  This aspect of the race made me nervous - but the staff did an excellent job of transporting and setting up the bikes.  

Swim: 1.2 miles/38.52  19th F45-49, 131st by Gender, 541st Overall


What a beautiful location.  We were bussed out to the reservoir VERY early in the morning, so we get to watch the sky SLOWLY light up with the mountains in the background.  Beautiful.  I found friends, took in nutrition, and just really enjoyed the rising sun before the start.  



The swim was very typical for me.  As a matter of fact, all of my recent 70.3 distance races have been 38:?? overall time.  There was a bit of a current that made the swim out to the 2nd buoy feel a bit like a washing machine (turns out water was flowing over the damn?) 







Bike: 56 miles/3:40:10  42nd F45-49, 221st by Gender, 1060th Overall



Let me start by saying that there are portions of this bike course that are beautiful and if you have read my previous race reports, you know that is normally important to me...

That said, I will not do this bike course again.  I am glad I did.  It was good information gathering for my upcoming race in St. George, but... it was miserable and I do not want to do it twice.  The ridiculously long climb from mile 25ish to mile 40ish was not fun.  I had to get off my bike 5 different times to stop my glutes from cramping.  Silver"ish" lining is that I know that I can clip back in going uphill.

I am also a nervous descender, so I did not let go on the downhills.  This will also be a concern in St. George, but that is OK.   For reference, in Lake Placid FULL Ironman in 2015, I averaged 15.4mph over 112 miles, the same as my average for this race...  


Run: 13.1 miles/2:35:46 66th F45-49, 329th by Gender, 1256th Overall


What I remember about this run is that it was HOT and hard.  Not because it was hilly or anything, but because my legs were fried from cycling.  The run course is mostly on a greenway with lots of opportunities to feel the energy of spectators and other runners.  Aid stations were hopping and fun.  My poor performance on this run course is all mine to carry.  At least I got a few good pics.  




Overall: 7:02:32 54th/68 F45-49, 255th/393 by Gender, 1075th/1545 Overall 



I will still (hesitantly) recommend this race to those thinking about it.  The community was AMAZING.  The swim location was gorgeous.  The bike is VERY challenging, and why I will still recommend this race.  Most of us racing at the distance are NOT looking for the easy way out.  We embrace challenges.  The bike course has got to be at the top of the "most challenging bike course" list.  I am glad I did and I can say I accomplished that challenge...  I will not do it again.  

My FAVORITE moment of the race was when I had finished and turned around to find my friend, Jeremiah!  This was his redemption race after a DNF at IMNC last year.  I was SO proud of him AND was thrilled that we were able to get a few of our finisher pix together!!


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IM70.3 Eagleman 70.3: Lucky #13??

  TLDR: An 11-minute PR in my 13th 70.3!!  It definitely wasn't Lucky #13, though.  I did the work, collected the puzzle pieces, and was able to put them together on race day!!   Pre-Race I drove to Cambridge on Friday, which was the first day of my carb-loading plan.  Having taken the Carb-Loading Masterclass in The Triathlon Nutrition Academy and practicing/ramping it for several weeks.  I wrote my plan, packed a cooler, and got on the road!  I made it to town in time to check in, do my pre-race run, and swim familiarization.  On Saturday, I got up to do my pre-race safety check bike ride and then met up with fellow Team Zooters as they did their pre-race shake-out run.   Race Morning As usual, I set three goals for this race, but I needed to protect my mental game on the run.  So I only set the 3 goals for swim and bike.  Instead of a goal for the run, I made myself a promise.  At this race, I was also going to be...
Post a Comment
Read more

IM70.3 Indian Wells 2022 Race Report

  Pre-Race On April 30th, Chris Kenon messaged me asking me to be her Battle Buddy and join her for this race.  If you know me, you know it did not take much thought before I was IN!  Travel + Triathlon = Happy Erin!!  Rumors were that this is a fast course with good chances for a PR.  I asked her to join me on Team IMF for this race!  She got to work right away and raised over $1800 for the Foundation!  We also traveled with fellow Team Zooter - Chandler Carranza, our Coach - Sami Winter, and Sami's Fiance (and bike mechanic) Charlie!  It was a quick trip flying to California on Friday, Racing on Sunday, and Home by Monday!  We stayed at a VRBO near the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which worked out perfectly! On Saturday we did our bike safety ride and then dropped off all of our things.  At this race, you have to dip your wetsuit in a chlorine bath and leave it at T1 along with your bike and bike bag.  The Run bag goes to T2, which...
Post a Comment
Read more

Race Report: IM70.3 World Championships (St. George, UT) 2022

  Shortly after racing IM70.3 North Carolina in 2021 as part of Team IMF (IRONMAN Foundation), I got a phone call from one of the Foundation staff members asking if I wanted to represent the Foundation in St. George at the IM70.3 World Championships in 2022.  Having raced IM World Championship in Kona in a Charily Spot (for Women for Tri in 2016), I was excited about the prospect, but a little nervous that I could still fundraise at that level.  The fundraising commitment for the 70.3 World Championships is $15,000 and I would have 10 months to get it done.   Before I can tell you about the race and race week, I need to say THANK YOU!!!!  As a community, we raised over $17,500 for the Ironman Foundation ! Whether you donated directly, sponsored or participated in my indoor triathlon, participated in my Top in Topsail Raffle, or Sponsored a Mile for one of my many races - THANK YOU!!!  I would not have been able to get to this start line without your g...
Post a Comment
Read more