Rev 3 Olympic Knoxville – The Run

First of all, do any of you know if Rev 3 had photographers on the course for this race?

The Rev 3 Knoxville Olympic Run

Fresh off the bike, with frozen feet, I sat on the cold concrete and fought to slide on my new Pearl Izumi Tri N1 Racing Shoes.

I’d been wearing these bad boys around the house and while walking my dog, but never for a run.  Today would be the first.

They are very comfortable, but a lot different than the Pearl Izumi Streaks that I have been wearing. Honestly, though, I think I could have been wearing Uggs for the first few miles and not known the difference.

I just kind of chuckled as I slid my way up the rainy road out of T2.  I was a little disoriented and stopped for a second because I thought it was the wrong way.  I threw caution to the wind and kept “running.”  It felt like I had a tennis ball in each shoe right under my arch.  There was no thought of speed (and no watch to confirm) and I would have to be content with a shuffle.

After a mile and a half we entered a bike path that looked like a scene out of Katrina.  Every hundred yards or so it seemed like we were running through ankle to shin deep puddles from the overflowing creek.  Many runners ran on the grass, but I found the splashing water actually warmed my legs.

It was an out and back so we got to the turn at around 3 miles.  I still couldn’t feel my feet.

At around mile four I realized that no one was passing me, so my pace must have been pretty solid.  Then I heard the hoofs of a large man closing in on me.  I resisted temptation to look and he cruised by me like a gazelle.  Sure enough, I looked on his calf and this gentle giant was in my age group.  With just over two miles left, I suddenly had a war on my hands.

But evidently he wasn’t in the same trench because a minute later he was a hundred yards ahead of me.  I just shook my head and prayed for feeling in my feet.

Amazingly, as we exited the bike path, I spotted him ahead, still within striking distance.  He turned left over the bridge and I wasn’t far behind.  Suddenly I was on a very tight and flooded sidewalk with runners coming from the opposite direction.  Something didn’t feel right.  I looked up and my challenger had stopped.  I caught up to him and saw the confusion in his eyes.  Then there was confusion in my eyes.  Then panic.

We both turned around and went back over the bridge and out onto the road.  I was right on his tail, but upset about the transgression.  It wasn’t long before he created another cushion between us.  I just didn’t have my legs.

About mile five, I started to feel my feet and legs again, but I’m not sure it was a good thing.  They were a little weak and I was a bit gassed as I closed in on the dozens of fans waiting for us to turn into the home stretch.  I saw my coach running toward me, saying something about a “podium.”  I put my head down and ran after Mr. Green Jeans, but it wasn’t meant to be.

I crossed the finish line in just over 49 minutes.  The Gentle Giant finished about 1:30 ahead of me.  He took third in our age group.

I wasn’t disappointed, but have a lot of work to do on the run.  I felt great after the swim and bike, but the run was kinda like, “Oh, and now I have to run,” more than it was something I felt like crushing.

Everything I read and hear and learn points to the run being the difference maker in triathlons.  It’s so true.  A week before I averaged 7:27 in a half marathon.  Sunday, my pace was around 8 minute miles for less than half the distance.

Not to self: Trust frozen feet.