Ups and Downs on the Chattanooga Choo Choo

So Friday, G and I boarded at Track 29, otherwise known as GA20 to I-75, and headed up to Chattanooga for the weekend.  Course Recon was on the menu, in addition to Mike racing the Chattanooga Waterfront tri on Sunday (along with about half of the ATL tri community - why have I never done this race before?!).  I forgot what a nice city Chattanooga is, and I am excited for my Mum and sister to be here for race weekend, as I know they will enjoy themselves.

Right. So. Let's get right to it.  First - the Bike Course.  Woke up bright and early Saturday morning to rain, which didn't really help us stick to the 7am wheels rolling plan.  But we weren't too far behind.  It had stopped raining by the time we got out there, and to be honest, the overcast skies were welcomed.  It was WAY humid though.  I was doing 2 loops, G only one since he was racing Sunday.  Off we went, with Coach's orders to take the first loop as 'sightseeing the course'.  About an hour in, I cautiously looked at G and said, 'geez, I know we are only an hour in, and I don't think we have hit the climbs yet, but I'm really liking this course so far'.  Apparently, our minds our connected, since this was to be the the first of many times he said 'I was just gonna say exactly the same thing!'.  I had mapped the course, but really didn't ever look at my phone or mapmyride, because not surprisingly, the course is VERY well marked.

There were definitely rolling hills, but none that you couldn't easily get up, and many that were small enough that momentum from the last one carried you mostly through.  I used to hate rolling hill courses, and I'm not sure when that changed.  In general, I would prefer to do some big climbs than a series of rollers, yet here I was quite enjoying this course, and not finding anything that concerned me.  What I was also finding was that it was very easy to stay under my strict (and low) hr ceiling - much easier than the routes at home.  At some point, we hit a reasonably longer steady climb, and then suddenly we were at Hog Jowl (or past it if your name was Mike).  I looked at Mike (after he turned around) and said 'uummmm, I think THAT was the climb everyone is talking about'.  Neither of us had thought it was much of a climb at all.  I agree that if you are a newbie, or a flatlander, it does require some exertion, however, if you ride any sort of hilly terrain, this is nothing.  The hill outside of my house is harder, albeit shorter.

Let me just also say here though, that after the turn onto Hog Jowl is where it gets REALLY beautiful.  I mean, absolutely stunning.  We continued along the route, waiting for the rest of the climbs, stopping a few times to take pics.  And, to our surprise, the rest of the loop really didn't bring any surprises.  The long slow climb at Chickamauga is not challenging, even if long.  Overall my impression of the course was one of 'downhill'.  Of course what goes down must have gone up, but truthfully there were no climbs, based on my typical riding, that were in any way challenging.  If you don't ride on hills, then yes, there will be some challenges for you.  The biggest challenge for folks that don't usually ride hills (and even some who do) is to remember that powering up hills doesn't win races.  I believe it was Chris Lieto I was just reading who said 'lots outclimb me, but I outrace them', and there's a ton of truth in that statement.  The closer you can get to an even output of power, the better you will race.

Back at the parking lot, G went off to check into his race, and I left for my 2nd loop.  We had stopped a few times on the first loop, but I took the second straight through, excepting one stop for a pic I had to snap for my daughter (the lover of sunflowers).

The temps were definitely hotter the 2nd time, and the sun popped out a few times where it got REALLY hot, but it was all manageable.

The second loop only confirmed my love of this course.  And again, I was left with the general impression of downhill.  Which simply tells me that the uphills were perfectly manageable.  As I look at the elevation profile you can see that the first half of the loop tends to the uphill side of things, and the back side tends to the downhill.  In general, this course is easier than almost everything I ride in North Alpharetta into Cherokee County.

As always, IM reports the elevation wrong.  I mapped this portion (double loop only) in mapmyride which gave an elevation gain of 4100'.  My garmin reports 4300'.  Pretty close.  Had I ridden the course without knowing the elevation gain, I would have guessed more like 2500 based on feel alone. The course is beautiful and the roads are mostly smooth.  Haven't ridden the lollipop stick yet, but I think in general it is relatively flat.  I felt so good on this ride, definitely the best I have ever felt after 100 miles of riding.  So much that I truly would have, and actually wanted to!, ride a 3rd loop.  All I needed was more calories, and I really feel I would've been good to go.  (Ya, G wanted to slap me...really, hats off to him for not).

And a special thanks to the fellas in the little shop we stopped in for finally giving me the perfect use for the word (s?) dag-gum.  There really isn't a better way to describe 7000% humidity.  "Nice day for a bike ride.  If it just weren't so dag gum humid."  (it is essential to say this with a southern accent, or else the meaning is lost).  He followed that up with "You're riding a hundred miles? on a BICYCLE?? Well God love ya."  Small little shop, just about 5 miles before Chickamauga, that doesn't really look open, but friendly guy behind the counter, and I'd stop there again.

literally all that was left of lunch

view from the pedestrian bridge

We had a FABULOUS late lunch at a North Side restaurant Beast and Barrel, and then walked around the waterfront.  Super cute shops and just a nice cutesy artsy place to be.  Enjoyed walking around, even though it was stinking hot and humid.  Welcome to the South.


Then it was off to early bed for both of us party animals.  We were literally in bed at 830.  Sunday morning came early, and we were up.  I totally owe G for bringing me coffee in bed both mornings.  You can room with me any time.  And then we headed out.  Me for my North Shore recon run, and G for his race.  Dropped him off at transition, I parked, and headed out to cross the river and run the 'hard side' of the run course.  

I made my way through the flat of downtown Chatt and it feels good (it has to be said - WHY did they not make the marathon course all in downtown??).  I was definitely a little tired from Saturday's miles, and just plain tired, since it was so freaking early, and it took a good 20 mins for my body to wake up.  I climb the stupid short 400% grade out of the riverfront park to get to Georgia St, and proceed to cross the river.  All is well.  And then I see it.  Barton.  O. M. G.  Massive hill.  But I try to pretend it's not there, and try not to look to the top, and I keep running.  It evens out a bit, and then keeps going up.  Then some downhills, curve around on Hixson, which is a deceptive false flat.  Just when it starts to flatten, you turn the corner to, you guessed it, keep climbing.  Then you proceed through a very very nice neighbourhood that is, literally, full of hills.  Rather reminiscent of the Knoxville neighbourhood actually.  But beautiful.  Maybe that will take my mind off the pain.  You come out of this neighbourhood and back onto Barton.  Climb up that, which seems steeper than the front side actually, and then unfortunately, down the other side.  Normally, of course, a downhill is a welcome respite.  This grade however is not conducive to that.  This downhill actually worries me a little more than the uphills to be honest.  Too much of a downhill grade is painful to run, especially when you've been going for a while, and at mile 24 (cuz yep we get to do this twice) it is gonna hurt bad.  And so, on it went, across the river again on the footbridge this time which actually has a fair incline on it.  The North Side loop portion of the course is actually only about 4.5 miles, which we do twice, but it is a long 4.5 miles.  And where it falls in the course is worrisome.  The good news is I didn't have to stop or walk at all, so I guess that's something.

My high of Saturday, definitely switched to a low on Sunday.  Thankfully I was able to put all of that behind me with a warm shower, and some cheering for all the athletes doing the race.  Saw lots of people I knew, and made a new friend too.  "Is your name Katrina? (ya!)  ...Every time I go onto facebook your name pops up as someone I should be friends with!"  Love It.

So yep.  I've got some work to do.  Thirteen weeks just doesn't seem like all that long, all of a sudden!  Time to fall in love with running hills.  :)  And I've already mapped out my route.  Stony Point Road here I come.  No longer will I shun you as something I would never run.

HUGE thanks to my buddy G for an awesome weekend.  Good times.  More to come without a doubt.  And congrats to you and everyone else for a great race effort!

We are gonna knock this shit outta the park dude.

Happy Hill Running
Kat