Lake Lanier Islands Triathlon (Emerald Pointe Triathlon) - TriathlonSprint

I figured it out after the race yesterday.... I have absolutely no plan when it comes to the swim other than survive. I have a plan for the bike and run but just seem to splash my way through the swim and the times show it.

Started at the back on the inside line and was actually moving pretty good at the start I was actually the guy swimming into people legs instead of the other more frequent scenario. Get to the the trun buoy and literally have to tread water to get around there was a serious log jam at the buoy to include a couple of dudes just hanging on for a break. So I get a round and the first stroke take a nice drink of the lake and it was over at that point, breast stroke, side stroke 100, swim 25 repeat till I mercifully land on the beach. I kept looking back ( its easy to do in side stroke) and saw purple caps behind me and knew that I would not be last but got a little bummed when I saw 2 red caps from the wave bhind go zipping by so I swam the last 50 to the beach and it was over.

Need to get a plan - I don't swim aggressively, I just seem to try to pace and that just does not make sense for 400 yds. Going to work hard in the pool and OW in the off season to get the swim to be an part of the RACE instead of a mere precursor to the fun stuff.

A little slower than planned - 2 limiting factors were the big ole hill that everyone knows about and this was my first time "clipping" in for the bike. I walked the first 2/3 of the hill then jogged the rest and to the rack. Had to put the new bike shoes on and having never ridden without socks needed those too. I also was a little unsure of myself jogging with the bike shoes on so it was a more of a calculated fast walk than anything.

Run up that stupid hill - I gave up too much time on the swim to be tired, and practice with the shoes on the bike.

I jumped on and knew that there were several little hills with some decent grades out there so just tried to grab some speed to get going. Felt good throughout and passed a lot of people on the way up the hills, gave up spots to the nice bike guys but generally felt good about the ride. I was mostly out of the saddle on the climbs but even though everybody says to stay in your seat I felt good for the short bursts up the hills and kept the burn to a minimum. Saw the officials several times on the ride and it was work to not draft, there were a lot of people out there and I watched as the motorcycle pulled up to group in front of me and the guy was looking at his watch. I let them do their thing then took off to pass as many of them as I could because again it would have been easy to draft without really meaning to.

Through the whole ride I was contemplating getting out of my shoes before T2 and was just about to do it when I realized the the ton of speed I tried to carry down the last hill was going to have to be sacrificed on the turn and climb into transition.


I am still working on bike skills and the engine so I was pleased with the ride I don't think I left much out there and I felt like this course was more difficult than PTC and I had a better time.

Keep riding and spend the off season shopping for a sexy bike!

I little skittish with the bike shoes on but think it was not bad for 2 shoe changes. Grabbed my hat and put the race belt on while running out so pretty good and kept my total T time under 5:30 which was ok considering the mountain climb from the water.



Dismount with shoes on bike - practice, practice, practice

1 simpple goal - DO NOT WALK - I accomplished that and crushed my previous run times. I am now acustomed to the tree trunk legs coming off the bike so I just tried to get going knowing that it would subside and I would feel better. I did have anew sensation with the front half of my feet being numb from the bike, but as with the heavy legs i knew i would go away eventually. What I did not know was that it would feel very odd as it did. I at one point thought I had a tie lever in my left shoe... ( I had thrown one into my bag and while on the run as my feet started to thaw it felt like it was in my shoe?) So I am running along checking my watch and know that my pace is good and did not want to stop for anything, but a lever in my shoe, that would suck!

The feet thawed, no tire lever and it was the best run I have had to date racing or training. I grabbed some water as I ran through the aid station the first time and about choked to death. Breathing and drinking water just seem to be difficult for me...dumba$$. So needless to say I ran through the second time and with no need for water or choking so I passed.

It was kind of cool to be the guy offering encouragement to the other big fellas that were struggling a bit instead of vice-versa. It was interesting as I talked to people while running my paced picked up each time I and felt really good.

Needless to say to shave 3 minutes of my run time was a huge rush all by itself and I DID NOT WALK A STEP..... woohoo



Not much - I worked hard on my running since PTC and it paid dividends. I think it is mental breakthrough more than anything but to run at an 8:30 pace and feel the way I did makes it seem like cracking 8 may not be so tough as long as I put in the work.

Grabbed some water and and almost ran through the finish line to the porta potty - had to go since before the race started. Ate some pizza and cheered for my fellow YMCA tri crew and then the big moment watching my 12 year daughter come running across the finish line for a 1:38 in her first race.

Its been great training with the kid and being able to share the experience with her - yes she crushed me on the swim but I got her back on the bike and run. I don't think that will be the case for long but I will gloat while I still can.


Need a plan for the swim - and just keep working at it. This was my first season and 3rd race. I fortunately improved each time with the exception of the friggin swim but all can be fixed with work.

I was a bit disappointed after PTC but knew that I had not put in the work to be successful but that was not the case with this race I put in a lot more work and felt much better for it and beat my PTC time by more than 5 minutes and cannot wait until next year.

14 minutes off the podium pace so I am going to grind it out hard this winter and Big Smoothe is goin down! I got 14 minutes in me......


Well run -it was my first Gamultisport and now I get the bias for these races. Volunteers, swag, food, expo all good stuff. The kid also walked away with a new Rudy helmet for being the youngest competitor, and I made off with a T-shirt for being a Clyde! Not to mention about 5 cases of Active water that the active guy did not want to put back in the truck so he was giving it away. The weather was perfect if they can order that up for every race count me in!