Working Triathlete Virtual Race 2020 (70.3 or Olympic over two days, 6/27-6/28 2020)

Click here for RESULTS!!

Race Info:

With near-term races cancelled due to COVID19 and the inherent risk of having 100s-1000s of athletes congregating in one place, many triathletes are looking for alternative ways to compete, test fitness and enjoy their sport. This drive is the genesis of the WT Virtual Race.

Olympic: 1,500 meter swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run

70.3: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

What is it?

The race is an informal, unofficial way to “race.” The main events will entail a 70.3 or Olympic distance triathlon spread out over Saturday and Sunday, with the Swim and bike happening on Saturday, June 27th 2020, and the run occurring Sunday, June 28th 2020. Athletes local to Nashville, TN, can meet and perform each leg at specific areas: swim at Percy Priest Lake, bike at Natchez Trace Parkway and run Shelby Bottom Greenway; however, anyone can participate from anywhere in the world virtually—this event is in no way official or exclusive.

The idea is simple: to accomplish each leg in the fastest time practical, and then add up your time from all three legs. The “race” is unique in that the components (swim, bike and run) are spread over two days and transitions are not included in total time. This means that you have time to recover between each leg, can do this race so long as you are capable of completing each leg individually (i.e., you don’t have to be in true half iron distance or Olympic triathlon shape), and can experiment with more aggressive pacing. Or, if you don’t want to let it ALL out there, you can simply enjoy a big weekend of training with a bit more “purpose” to your efforts and group camaraderie.

Where is it?

This is an informal event/meetup. It’s not an official race that is sanctioned in any way, so you can do it anywhere at any time. That’s why it’s called a VIRTUAL race. Athletes local to Nashville can meet at the following locations (while practicing good social distancing as required by local governmental guidelines) as “launching off points.”

SWIM: 6/27/2020 at 6:30 AM - Percy Priest Lake (Hamilton Creek Recreation Area) for a 1,500 meter or 1.2 mile swim. We will have an out and back marker for local athletes participating. If you’re not in Nashville, swim 1,500 meters or 1.2 miles in some body of water and track your time. Make sure you have data to back up your claims.

BIKE: 6/27/2020 directly after the swim at 9 AMish (or whenever you can) - Start at Natchez Trace Parkway (mile 440—first parking lot on right) for a 25 or 56-mile, out-and-back effort. Again, this isn’t a formal event, so track your distance wherever you ride. For local athletes starting at the mile 440 parking lot, the turnaround for the 25 mile ride is at Garrison Creek. The turnaround for the 56 mile ride is at mile mark 412 at Water Valley Overlook. (Olympic Bike Route) (70.3 Bike Route) or (Strava 56) and (Olympic 25).

RUN: 6/28/2020 at 7 AM - 13.1 mile or 10K run leaving from Cornelia Fort Airpark. For the 70.3 distance, run 6.55 miles out and around Nissan Stadium and back to Cornelia Fort Airpark. For the 10K, head out 3.1 miles and turn around (you can continue running around the airpark loop until your watch shows 10K or 13.1 miles). Or, you can run wherever you want at any time. (Olympic Run Route) (70.3 Run Route) or (Strava 13.1) and (Strava 10K)

Additional info: In case it isn’t crystal clear, in no way is this an official event. It is not sanctioned in any way. Go out, swim 1.2 miles (or 1,500 meters), bike 56 miles (or 25) and run 13.1 miles (or 6.2) somewhere. Alternatively, only do the legs you want to do. Many WT athletes are only swimming/biking or only running. And many are going easy/enjoying a big weekend of training while still taking part. It’s up to you.

important!!

If you want to participate, email theworkingtriathlete@gmail.com and let me know which event you wish to do. After completing the race, email your results to the same email. I’ll post the results on this page after the race.

prize

The male/female winners of each event (70.3 and Olympic) will win a 6-pack of Athletic Brewing Company Beer. It’s NA, but you still have to be over 21 to win.