Quassy Half RR
First, it must be noted that the Nation collected another podium spot this weekend. Congrats go to EN’er Mike Allen of Nantucket for bringing home the blingablingbling. Mike was 2nd place Clydesdale on a very challenging bike and run course. Nice work, Big Mike!
The race was the Rev 3 Quassy Half, in Middlebury, CT. It is a great venue, at the little old Quassy Amusement Park on Lake Quassapaug (Algonquian for "bitch of a course"). 
The Rev 3 people are taking this whole tri thing to another level with choppers in the air and moto cameras out on the course tracking the pros, lots of pros, big prize money, live feeds, jumbotrons and a serious expo, etc. The hype and pro money aside, it is also an extremely well run race with tons of volunteers who all seem to be cheerful, supportive and well directed.
When my season plan was staked out it, this race looked like the thing to do. But 2 weekends removed from Tour de Cali was cutting it a bit close and I didn't want to travel again. But, sticking with the game plan to use this as a work and execution opportunity we arrived on Friday and did packet pick up. A volunteer heard Margaret asking about being able to swim the course and being denied same, so she nicely offered to take us around the corner on the lake to her sailing clubhouse where we could access the swim. Things were looking up. The swim was amazing, and we went all over the lake checking out the houses and getting a look at the course that was already set up.
Saturday was bike adjustment day, ride the course a bit and check the bike in.
Sunday was race day. It rained overnight and was steamy in the morning. We drove in and there was a woman by her car in the parking lot on a bike trainer, pushing hard. I made some snarky, nervous pre race comment about it, like "What, she’s not going to get enough work today on this course?". Then I realized it was Natascha Badmann. 
Let’s talk swim.
Swim:
I’ve not had good swims this year as I usually take the first 5 minutes struggling to get my breathing together. I don’t know why this has occurred this season but this time there was no problem. I attribute the difference to more open water racing/practice of late and maybe more importantly a quick jog around the grounds before suiting up. I think this really helped my heart and lungs to get a warm up so the swim start would not be the first “interval” of the morning. It took the edge off, got the blood flowing, opened things up and I highly recommend it to anyone who experiences the early hyper ventilation on the swim. (Maybe this Natascha they speak of knows what she’s doing.) I had a smooth uneventful swim of 37. I remember in the midst of it thinking, okay THIS is fun. Sighting was easy. On the way out it was buoy to buoy and on the way back in I just pointed towards the Mad Mouse Roller Coaster.
Bike:
A smooth T1 and down the road. The bike course is hilly and technical, with about 3000 feet of climbing. Throw in wet pavement and bad pavement and a lot of fit folks who ride aggressively but with sketchy bike handling skills and it’s an interesting ride. Still, I thought it was a challenging and never boring course with some fast descents.
I rode IM intensity, right around 70%. I paid close attention to nutrition and hydration and was testing out going with water and the EFS 400 cal bottles. Aside from it tasting nasty, I think it worked well. I used 2 bottles for the ride and lots of water with Nuun. It simplifies things. With one stop to help a Virginia Tech Hokie pull on his tubular spare the bike was 3:04. I was pleased with this as I thought given the terrain and my lack of intensity it could have been longer by 10 minutes.
Run:
Lunch and a catnap in T2 and off on the run. I don’t have the real elevation numbers but the run is nothing but hills. As with the bike course, I thought it was great. It’s not the kind of terrain where I’d challenge my PR, but it’s not boring, is shady and a good hydration/nutrition test with all the humidity.
I went out at a 9:15 pace (which is smoking for me) and at mile 4 I was at 11:15. There is a long uphill through about mile 6 and that was all about just keep chugging. From there on it hhh- hills, humidity, and heat all the way. I hit every water station, and just kept slogging up everything in between. 2:26
Entire race: 6:15, 7th in Clydesdale Division, 25th in 45-49.
This was my second slowest time for a half distance, and yet it was one of the most rewarding and fun. I accomplished exactly what I set out to do. I executed well, learned some things and had a good fun day of hard work. I’m ready to pick back up on the training plan this week. Today though, a massage.
Thanks for reading.
Comments
CM,
Nice work. To be able to bang out a 70.3 on the heels of ToC is just plain impressive. Well done! Quite of season you're building thus far.
Did you put some electrical tape of the rear wheel that Brian sliced like deli meat?
Dave
Congrats to Mike on the podium spot! He totally deserves it- what a strong and cool guy.
How did Margaret do? How was her knee?
Any more info on the Rev3 race itself? I could see the transition area had those ITU box things instead of bike hanging racks- nice!! any other really cool perks? I gotta put a Rev3 race on my calendar for 2011.
Great race and great race report! Can NOT fathom doing a hilly HIM 2 weeks after ToC---way to get out there and throw it down.
How did Margaret do?
Good work. Heard from some of our athletes that is was muggy! Great effort.
@ David- Thanks, and I raced my old school wheel that I should have had in Cali so Brian couldn't WRECK the other one and then drown his sorrows in Double Stuff Oreos.
Thanks, Bryan. It was very sticky.
Congratulations on a great performance and being able to stick to your execution on a course (and day) like that. I was out there as well and cannot imagine doing a tougher HIM.
P
Hey Chris,
Great job! I'd be interested to hear about Margaret's race also. She sent me a very nice note after ToC.
Enjoy your down time!
Rich, Marg is still not running but says she'll see you at the Everest Challenge. P, keep healing and keep an eye on Monsta Mike Allen. He's gunning to dethrone The Hooligan, I think. He also just won a TT on Nantucket. He is strong like bull on the bike.
@ Carie- Thanks and congrats to you if you were at Quassy. Long day.
Nicely done, Chris!
Mike & Chris,
Nice job getting it done on a tough course so close to ToC. I bet you just pictured the sock-selling girls at the top of every climb and that got you through the bike so smoothly.
What? No Love for the EN Podium Girls?
Trent, Nemo,
If I had thought of the Rim of The World High School sock selling girls during that race it, uh, could have gone either way....
They will make nice Podium Girls in a few years. Let's move on. This is a family board.