Last year I made the decision that 2018 would be my "Year of New Races". I was tired of running in the same places and seeing the same sights. This world we live in is just too big and has too many amazing sights to stay within the same areas all the time. My wife and kids love to travel and see new places. Other athletes said they liked this course and I liked the fact it was just over a 6 hour drive to get there.
We decided to leave Friday morning around 7 am. We had a few stops along the way, but I75 takes you straight to Chattanooga. We got there a little later than expected and realized that Rock City closed at 6pm. I had purchased tickets to see Rock City, Ruby Falls, and ride The Incline Railway before we left. Our original plan was to see Ruby Falls first. Due to the time crunch, we went to Rock City first. The views and scenery is just gorgeous.
one of the first views in Rock City
so blessed to share this experience with my love, my best friend, my babies momma
Savvy liked the swinging bridge
Heidi didn't like me bouncing on the bridge
waterfall on top of mountain
pool in middle of mountain
incredible views!
The path way has parts where I had to turn and walk sideways to fit through the rock formations. The trees and flowers were beautiful. The swinging bridge was fun to cross over. Then you get to the over look where you can see 7 states. Simply amazing. Then you continue the path and get to see all the different fairytale settings that were carved and put inside the mountain. The lighting and scenes are spectacular. We all loved Rock City and highly recommend it to everyone!
"Fat Man's Pass"
Lover's Leap
My beautiful wife!
We were tired and hungry from the long drive and Rock City. We went to Tony's Pasta and Trattoria for dinner. I found this place in my search for gluten free pasta in Chattanooga. There was a 45 minute wait, but it was so worth it! The view of the mountains was awesome while we ate and everyone enjoyed their dinner!
Heidi at Tony's Pasta
Saturday started off with a trip to the Tennessee Aquarium. Ironman had set up their village right next to the aquarium. We had gotten there early, so I went and got checked in for the race. I always get that chill when the coveted IM wristband is put on me. Only the IM athletes get these. The location of the village is great for families because the aquarium is 2 separate buildings. You can come and go to each building as much as you want. There are a lot of restaurants in this area also. The aquarium is separated into Oceans building and Rivers building. Lots of animals, lemurs, sharks, turtles, stingrays, penguins, otters, snakes, fish, if it was an animal that lived in or around water, they had it there. Very easy to navigate and most of it was air conditioned.
My girls at the aquarium
Lunch time came and we hit up Puckett's. This place was delicious also. They had a brunch buffet set up that had eggs, bacon, pancakes, chicken wings, sausage, Little Debbie Honey Bun bread pudding, lots of fruit...No one left hungry! After lunch I checked my bike into transition and tried to figure out where I would be coming into transition from. I didn't stress about this too bad. I figured the next day there would be plenty of people to follow.
Vengeance was ready to rock!
Finish Line is the goal!
Got to meet Marcus Cook! Super inspiring guy!
Off to Ruby Falls we went. The weather was HOT on Saturday. That worried me a little for Sunday. I don't run all that well in the heat. We stood outside in a long line for about 30-35 minutes for Ruby Falls. A worker came outside to inform all of us that the elevator that takes people underground to see the falls, had broken. No timetable on when it would be repaired. Change of plans! We went to The Incline Railway.
First view of the track of Incline Railway
You can start at the top or bottom. I just happened to go to the top. When we went to the loading area, Savannah saw the tracks that at one point are at a 73% grade... and freaked out. She was crying and saying she didn't want to ride the train. She had no idea how slow this thing actually went. When you first see the incline, it is intimidating. There was a boy about 9 years old who was trying to help, but really needed to quit talking to Savvy. He wasn't helping by saying, "You stay in the train, or people would just DIE!" We load up into the trolley car and quickly realize this is a slow mover. But it is really cool and the view of the mountain is spectacular.
Car was specially built for this track
me and Heidi bear!
At the bottom of the incline, there's an ice cream shop. We each got a scoop and got back in line to go back up the incline. It was a fun experience, but not one I need to do again.
view of the track from bottom of hill
We decided to get a quick dinner that we could take back to hotel. We tried getting Chick Fil A. Apparently the only place in the Kentucky/ Tennessee area to get Chick Fil A is a college campus. On our drive down, we toured the University of the Cumberlands looking for it, then in Chattanooga, The University of Chattanooga had one in their student union, which was closed for summer break. Oh well, Wendy's came through for us. After eating, I got my stuff ready for race day. Another swim with the kids at the hotel pool, then some time in my Air Relax boots, then it was lights out!
Race day! I set my alarm for 3:30 am. Race starts at 6:50 am. Our hotel started breakfast at 4 am to accommodate the race and athletes. I needed calories, but didn't want to over do it on sausage. The hotel had Udi's gluten free blueberry muffins! Total bonus for me. I had 2 of those with some eggs and 2 sausage links. Just enough to feel full, but not feel bad before my race. I walked the mile to transition and got set up. Katie found me and she was already set up. Once transition was set, I got body marked and then Katie and I took shuttle to swim start. The swim line was self seeded. I knew this was supposed to be a fast swim, but I didn't want to over estimate my ability. I started in the 33-35 minute swim place in line. Nerves were flowing through my veins. I probably should've went to an athlete briefing, but couldn't change that now. I tried keeping calm and talked to a few other athletes. 6:50 am and the pro men started. 6:55 the pro women field started. 7am, the rest of us started. I jumped off the dock at about 7:13am. The swim upstream was pretty easy. Then across the river we went and that was no problem. Then I made the turn to go down river. Everytime I took a breath, I could feel the current pushing me down river. This was great! It was just like Louisville where I sight off bridges and just keep swimming until I see people exiting the water. Very little contact with other swimmers and no issues led to a 29 minute swim! I was ahead of my goals. I heart you river current! I got out of the water and found 2 wet suit strippers who had no problem getting my wet suit off. The path to my bike felt like it took me forever to get there. But once there, I made sure I had my nutrition and helmet, shoes on and let's go!
I've seen to many people try to start too fast and fall over on their bike. I take my time, breathe an extra breath and then jump on the bike. I got rolling and soon enough, I'm out on open roads with mountains as my view. Their was very little traffic on most parts of the bike course. I passed my friend Matt Fadely about 2-3 miles on the bike course. At about mile 5, a female athlete bib #425, passed me and motioned to her right. I took her motion as kind of a snub, like she was out here to own this course. I passed her back and not a minute later she was ahead of me again. That started a thought in my mind that I would not leave her sight. She could stay ahead of me, but every time she turned around, I would be close. I wasn't drafting, I was 6-8 bike lengths back, but she knew she couldn't drop me easily. Then she approached an area where she had to go around a group of cyclists. I was catching up. She decided to burn a match, stood up and started cranking. I stayed where I was and stayed consistent. She pulled way ahead. I was ok that I wasn't in her view anymore.It was fun while it lasted and I knew this was a long race. I also figured that her bib number was lower than mine, so she was All World Athlete also and I didn't feel bad with her kicking my butt. Then we hit the first aid station at mile 15. I took a swig of Gatorade and put a little in my front tank. I tossed the bottle and continued on. Not one minute past the aid station did I catch #425. She looked back, and looked defeated. I rode up next to her and said, "You left me! I felt so alone!!" and smiled. She laughed as I passed her. I never saw her on the bike course again. There were rolling hills and then one steep road, Andrew's Lane, at about mile 26. I knew this was coming, I researched the course, so I geared down and pedaled right up it. My legs were feeling great! I never looked at my watch for speed. I just kept crushing the pedals.
averaged over 20 mph on bike, still posing!
After the steep up hill, we got to fly down and around some long country roads. I hit 39 mph and was having a blast! There's a short false flat section that you have to work a little harder to maintain speed and I could feel my effort. I didn't want to push my legs too bad as I still had 13.1 miles to run, but I tried to stay consistent on the bike. I finally checked my bike time with 2 miles to go. I was rocking this out. I finished the bike in 2:41 which was faster than 20 mph average over the 57 mile course. The bike course was a little long, but thats the way it goes sometimes. Sure enough, a guy who passed me with less than a half a mile to go, crashed at the dismount line. Fell right over on his right side. All that rushing I thought, now you're on your side and possibly hurt. I sailed in, mentally talked myself through the proper dismount and was back in front of speedy Gonzales who was still on the ground. I racked my bike, switched shoes, and got sunscreen sprayed. Off to the run I went. I knew I was crushing this race and had set myself up for a PR. All I had to do was get through the run. My hamstrings weren't thrilled right away. They needed to stretch out a little. I slowed my run pace, used my 4 minute run 20 second walk interval and stayed steady. I could feel the heat rising, there are parts of the run course that has zero shade. One small stretch goes through a parking lot, that was only part I didn't like. A big part is on the bike path that is shaded! I loved that part.
first loop, still having fun!
The run is 2 loops. I started the 2nd loop still feeling good. I was catching some people who had passed me on the run earlier. #425 caught me around mile 7 of the run and told her good work. At mile 10, the heat started to take over. I tried taking in more fluid, I tried mental tricks, cold sponges, my body started over heating. My legs were sending cramp warning. Hamstrings and calves dared me to keep running. I walked way more than I want to admit. I tried running a little bit at a time. We cross over 2 bridges at the end of the loop. There was zero shade and these bridges took forever for me to cross the 2nd time across. I kept telling myself that my wife and kids were waiting for me at the finish line and that kept me moving forward. Just get there Matt, just get there. This is the mental battle that endurance athletes get to fight at the end of races. I finally crossed that last bridge and made the turn to the finish line. I didn't think I'd ever get there. But then I heard Heidi say, "DADDY!!" Oh man, that made me smile!
my girls patiently waiting for me
the face I wanted people to believe
how i truly felt...exhausted
I took off my hat and sunglasses to see my girls. I tried looking happy. Brittney caught a pic of how I truly felt. I was exhausted and over heated. A quick kiss from Brittney and a hi to my beautiful daughters, then I finished what I had started. I was so happy to be done and have the ability to get out of the sun. A volunteer rushed over and grabbed me by the arm. Asked if I was ok. I said I thought I was good, just a little hot and tired. She handed me an open 20 oz water bottle. I took it with my right hand and took a drink. She then said, "How about your medal from Andy Potts?" Andy Potts is a pro triathlete and his name is on my long sleeve wetsuit. Andy said "Congrats Man!" and put my medal on me. Then he went for a fist bump. I struck fists with my right hand which crunched the water bottle causing water to shoot up! Andy said, "Whoa! That was cool!" I agreed. The volunteer asked if I wanted some water over my head. Yes please. 2 other volunteers doused me with cold water. It felt amazing and yet my body was in shock at the same time. I then made my way through the chute and found Brittney and my daughters.
soaked but still standing!
Brittney had Five Guys burger and fries ready for me!! She's the best wife ever!! It was 1pm and there was a long slow line to get into transition to get my bike. We decided to head back to our hotel room. We had been given a late check out of 2pm. I got a shower and started re-hydrating. We packed up and went back for my bike. On the way home, I looked over my stats. I was on pace for PR for 67 miles. That last 3 got me. 5:45 was my overall time. Brittney said it was 93 degrees when I had finished. I was roasted. I am really happy with my effort and results on a course I'd never seen before and heat that was ridiculous for May. Now comes the final push to prepare for Ironman Canada!!!
I can't leave out Coal Creek Smokehouse. On our way home, I researched towns we were about to hit. Rocky Top, Tennessee is a small city. Not too far from Tennessee Kentucky border. I found Coal Creek Smokehouse online that had rave reviews! I got to choose dinner since I raced. We pulled up to an actual house.
I'm thinking people lived upstairs and the restaurant was downstairs. There's one bathroom on main floor. There's a patio out back and 4 tables that fit 4 people each inside. This place smelled like barbecue heaven! The food was delicious! The server was incredibly nice and the cook came out asking how the food was. That guy knows how to make dry rub ribs and pulled pork! If you ever find yourself in Rocky Top, Tennessee...get the CANDIED BACON...thank me later.
The trip was a huge success. No real issues other than not finding Chick Fil A and not seeing Ruby Falls. People of Chattanooga are super friendly. Lots of things to do. I can't wait to do it again in 2019!!!
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