Giant Acorn Triathlon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

mark r.
Cville, VA

  (10-04-2011)

"Giant Acorn Olympic Oct 1 2011
I was still struggling to recover from the brutal and exhausting Savageman race two weeks previous. I had made it up Westernport Wall ONCE in practice, but struggled on race day to just survive the long chilly race. My quads were sore for about a week after the race.
So between recovery and taper I hadn’t trained much—the Acorn was all going to be about previous training from the summer. I did this race in 2009 (2:10 finish) and 2010 (2:13—a PR Olympic) - so knew the course very well.
Standing in line for check-in—I was cold! People had on winter coats and wool hats. The wind was whipping across the lake and the sky was grey slate-like. The lake was turbulent. Wasn’t it always chilly and windy at this race?
My wave was way back—about 7th . The sun had come out but the wind was still brisk. The swim triangle was : 1) swim into the chop—easy sighting, 2) swim lateral to chop—couldn’t see beyond 100 feet and 3) swim with the wind- couldn’t see ANYTHING! The swim was difficult for me – I knew for others – big challenge.
Swim time 25 min/1500 meters— 3/30 in AG.
The bike course was reversed from last year - a good thing—all right hand turns. There was a lot of bike traffic but passing was easy. Cervelo p3 with reyolds strikes—speed rocket.I soon had my average speed up to 22-23 mph and kept it there. Ate one honey gel. This was a regional college championship race so there were many college teams—Navy, UVA , VT and more. Made for lots of young fast racers! And also—young novice riders!
Bike time 1:03—22.7 mph--- 1/30 AG.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118412248
The cool day made for great running- lots of folks out on course. Fun to read all the college and team uniforms. Pace felt good and I was hitting miles at about 7:xx. Fueled by collegues cheering; “ Rocket Robbins” Had water but wasn’t hot – nice.
Run time—44—7:05 min/mile----2/30
Finished strong—felt good.
Finish--- 2:17, 1/30 age group, 55/454 men, 58/712 overall. Satisfied with a strong race in a fast field stacked with young collegiate racers.
Also winning AG places—Amy Robbins (1st AG), Shannon (3rd AG) and Ken Nail—2nd AG. Ken is the same AG as me….
By the time we got to food tent pizza was gone. Talked to Coy B about his 1st Olympic distance race.
Mark Robbins


"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2011

Mark R.
Charlottesville, VA

  (10-05-2009)

"GIANT ACORN INT Oct 3 2009, Lake Anna VA
June 27 – UVA emergency room. The xray showed a displaced fracture of 1st metacarpal. When I looked at that I immediately thought my 2009 race season was done.
Now 3 months later, after 2 surgeries, a cast, a splint and recovery- I have completed a bike race, a century and 2 triathlons.
The challenge of an international distance tri is exciting when you have just done a half IM. The shorter race offers speed without those painful miles at the end of the run!
The Giant Acorn Tri ( setupevents)- is run at Lake ANNA , near Bumpass Virginia. You get off the interstate and drive for many miles on many small roads. Getting a bit lost seems the usual for my navigator and I.
The Transition is near a defunct marina. The lake is “warmed” by efflux from the Lake Anna Nuclear power plant (notice all the sirens by the road coming in?). Clear water, no three-headed fish.
The swim went great- I was in 5th wave (war vets and AARP) so passed lot of blue and pink caps.
Swim- 1500 meters—24 minutes
T1- big step out of lake- 2 big guys pull you up. Strip suit and run out. Heard my name over loudspeaker.
Bike- nice smooth rolling roads. Some hills – nothing long or steep. I was borrowing Rick’s cervelo- a speed machine. Passed many people. 1st loop- average 22.4 mph and 200+ watts. Powered thru second loop.
Bike 24 miles-- 1:03—22.5 mph
Run- thru the woods and out to road. We did 2 loops so saw all the other racers. Lots of young kids from Navy doing well. JMU and UNC there. Kept a 8:15 pace though the small hills hurt. Made some blisters ( no sox).
Run-6.2 miles-- 49
Glad to finish- 2:20--- about 40th overall and 2nd AG. Stood in lake to relax. Nice picnic with cville tri group afterwards and cville tri tent.
Got lost coming home after taking a wrong turn..Beaverdam-what? My navigator forgot her reading glasses!

Mark Robbins
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009