Chattanooga 70.3 2024 Race Info/Report

By Coach Helen & Coach Dom

 

Pre-Race:

     Only issue before race day is parking and walking!

     Garage and lot prices are wrong, they charge a ton!

     Supposedly they are free on Sundays, but we didn’t check.  We rode cruiser bikes to race start on morning of race, and it caused different issues – but made for a much easier morning!

     We drove Friday and arrived around dinner time, ate at a pretty good Italian/Irish restaurant called Stevarino’s.  We stayed at the Comfort Inn, only 2.2 miles from race start but not in a great neighborhood.  It was perfect for the price!  Lots of hotels and Airbnb’s in downtown area, but we booked too late to get a place downtown.

 

Race morning:

     Stay close or bring cruiser bikes or have Sherpa drop you off - parking is spread out and lots of hills!

     Arrive early because of the long wait time to get onto the bus. Don’t stand in the first line for the bus…go to inside lines for less confusion/line cutting.

     Tons of porta-potties at the start (after bus ride). Not many open at transition area before the race.

     Line up close to the front! We lined up in 30 min group, and had to swim around SO many people, and there were even people hanging onto the very first buoy and breaststroking, etc!

Swim:

     Swim doesn’t feel like there’s a current, but it’s there – the last 500 you can finally feel it. But swim times definitely indicate river current.

     Buoys were much closer to the shore than we expected - swim to the right if needed. Swim in the middle of the river, avoid the edges!

     Swim exit was super congested, especially later…not enough exit spots, and the first step was too high. It was hard to get out!

     ‘Easy’ swim, but long – it’s 1.4 instead of 1.2.

     We both finished right at our predicted times.

T-1:

     Transition distance is a bit long and windy, with 2 super steep ramps up the hill. 

     They have awesome wetsuit strippers after the first short ramp, and lots of spectators and cheers.

     Swim in is the same arch as run out.

 

 

 

Bike:

     Bike out and bike in are the same spot.

     Lots of people wrecking at transition - on the way out and at the finish. 

     The rough roads are no joke and not just in town - hazardous because of the debris. Make sure your bottles/cages are secure! We use Xlab Gorilla & have never had an issue,

     Within the first half mile, a minor climb and then a fast downhill. 

     Rough roads first and last 6 miles in town, then again after mile 20 for about 5 miles. Then again 35-43ish was rough roads, steep climbs, and lots of car traffic. Couple of rough railroad tracks too. Make sure you practice fast descents while riding around other people!

     SO many choppy hills. Not many close rolling hills, but if you pedal hard enough going downhill in anticipation you can capitalize on the momentum - practice this technique!

     There are 3 cat 4 climbs:
Mile 16.5 for .29 4% 64’
Mile 26 for .26 7% 99’
Mile 43 for .25 4% 53’ after a sharp left turn

     Hill on mile 26 was after a turn, not sharp but you had to brake - took away the downhill momentum to get up the hill.

     Lots of wrecks

     Crowded course

     Really good intersection cops and traffic control

     Full course is very similar - lollipop portion is 2x, plus a little extra at the end to account for the difference.

     Around mile 40-45, long gradual uphill/false flat. Thru Chickamauga. Slow speed and high power zone.

     Even though it’s hilly and a bit twisty, we were both able to spend the majority of it in aero. Practice climbing without standing.

     On the second half, you can easily get small breaks on the first part of downhills - get off saddle and coast. Then push to get up the next one.

     Dom had lower power and slightly slower speed than predictions; Helen had higher power and slower speed than. We used our data, WKO5 & Best Bike Split to come up with our predictions.

T-2:

     Simple but of course long again.  The transition area is just so big to accommodate so many racers.

     More crashes from bikes not slowing down enough at dismount. 

Run:

     So many spectators and volunteers lining the run course around transition – helps to boost morale for the hot run ahead.

     Almost immediately - big uphill on Aquarium Way. But this hill is only on the first loop. Start of 2nd loop is almost at the top of that hill.

     Almost 2 miles of each loop is on Amnicola Hwy - full sun.

     First mile on river greenway path is two-way traffic and very crowded. The rest of the river greenway is beautiful and shady. Mostly a concrete path will a little boardwalk section. 

     2nd major hill is around mile 5, then a short steep down with a right turn before you go over the bridge. 

     Veterans Bridge - full sun but great breeze. 

     Course does not go up Barton Hill, even though course map shows it going up and u-turn to go back down.

     The u-turn is right across bridge, then run goes under the bridge.

     Full course goes up Barton 2x and thru country club area on that side of river. 

     Pedestrian Bridge is a bit uphill and rough surfaces. Can be draining – hot and still.  Dom struggled on the bridge, Helen liked it.

     Lots of spectators and good energy at the end of the pedestrian bridge, then a left turn to start the 2nd loop.

     2nd loop is tough, especially that big hill before the Veteran’s Bridge.  But it’s nice to know what to expect, and where to put your energy and when to back off and rest.

     Big downhill (from the first uphill) to the finish! 

     ’False finish’ arch before the start of the finish chute made for a long final stretch to the finish line.

Other things to note:

     Everything is outside and hot. Pre-race, during, and after party - very little shade!

     Chattanooga is very friendly and welcoming.

     Volunteers are awesome – and there were 1,100 of them!

     As of this year (2024), this is the biggest 70.3 in the world - 3,500 - it’s crowded everywhere around transition/finish/Ironman Village!

     Lots of great restaurants and breweries for pre and post race.