The 2011 Rev3 Triathlon in Knoxville is almost upon us and we spent a day filled with sunshine and a few showers checking out the venue.

Al images are © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com

The morning swim started at 8am and the water temperature was a bit nippy.

Charlie Patten the man behind Rev3 is a very popular man.

Amanda Lovato and Courtenay Brown from the Rev3 / Trakkers team after the swim.

No wetsuits for Cameron Dye and Matty Reed, but they did not swim very long.

Package pickup started on Thursday, but most were picked up on Friday.

Ironman Florida runner-up Pedro Gomes is bib # 26 in Knoxville.

A rain shower made the US Pro Team booth very popular with their sponsor Geico poncho giveaway.

David Greenfield and the Elite Bicycle crew had quite a bit of work with bikes to repair.

Jack Black is a Rev3 sponsor and the sunscreen was more often needed than umbrellas and ponchos.

Last instructions from dad for his daughter for the Rev3 kid's adventure race.

Followed by the official details for this very cute event.

And the kids with some of their parents are off.

This man will make sure that you are not cheating.

A big smile on the face of Magali Tisseyre after the Pro meeting.

Earlier in the day Magali and a few other Pros had made contact with the asphalt, but in unrelated incidents.

Eric Bell with Joe Gambles with Julie Dibbens having fun in the background.

Julie Dibbens will be sporting her British helmet in Knoxville and had decided to leave the LSU version at home.

As a tribute to Sally Meyerhoff who died in a cycling accident in March of this year, bib # 1 was reserved for her.

The free Geico ponchos found good use in the transition area too.

Brad Devaney from Quintana Roo brought this very cool Illicito singlespeed to the venue. But it is an reversed paint scheme of the one QR will actually release.