Callaway Gardens Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

Started to the far left to avoid the crowd. Was near the front of our wave. Decided to stay on my friend's feet as he is a faster swimmer. Made it to the first turn with no real problems. Did have one guy that came out of no where and ended up on my back. Never saw him before or after that.

Made the turn on the back stretch and started catching swimmers in the first wave. Several were on their backs doing a breast stroke kick. Worked around them. My buddy started pulling away from me. At the next turn it was crowded and slow going. As we turned for the home stretch I felt fine, but didn't pick up my pace. Should have kicked it in the last 200 yards but decided to take it easy.

This was my first tri of this distance and just wasn't sure what to expect. Next time, I will have to push more on the swim.

Took my time running across the parking lot from the swim. Lots of little rocks on the pavement. Didn't feel it that much while running but sure felt it later in the day. Feet still have small bruises from those rocks.

Put on helmet, glasses, ate a fig newton, slipped on shoes without socks. Grabbed bike and headed out. Got past the mount line and jumped on and took off.

Move faster! In my first two sprints I was under two minutes on all transitions. This one was not that different in the set up, I just need to speed up.

Also, don't try to eat. I am always starving after a swim so thought I would try to eat something small. Couldn't swallow the food! Had to spit it out and just drink water.

I have ridden this course several times over the last two months. My problem is the long inclines. I like to build up speed down hill and use the speed to get over the next hill but here I struggle on the inclines. Being familiar with the course helps me mentally, but I still need to ride faster to get faster. Both laps I did at the same speed.

I did have my left calf cramp up at the beginning of the second lap. I have not had a calf cramp for years. Not sure what I did different but took a while to stretch it out as I continued to ride.



My training rides are usually at 16-18 MPH, distances of 26-32 miles. I just need to increase my speed and add more miles. For my frist tri of this distance I am ok with my time. I know I can and will get better.

Geez, I guess I stopped and took a nap in T2. Not sure what took so long. The first time I racked my bike it started to fall so had to re rack it. My wife was trying to get my picture and I remember talking to her so that is my excuse for being so slow.

I jogged very slowly out of T2 and my bike was on the opposite end of the parking lot from the run out. I also put on my socks since I rode without them. I have ran some without socks this year and need to do that more so I will be comfortable doing it in a race.

My leg was still feeling like it was about to cramp again like on the bike. I ran about a half mile and then walked and tried to stretch some. Ran to the water station and walked as I drank. Ran to second water station and got gatorade. Wow. Not sure who mixed it but they certainly didn't taste it! Passed up anything at the next station and then had water at the last station around 3.5 miles. Tried to keep a steady, yet slow, pace. Had a lot of energy left and did a sprint to the finish.

I had too much energy left at the end. My wife asked me how I felt at the finish line and I told her I felt like going for a bike ride and another run. Now I know. I had done some brick workouts, but didn't push myself like I should have. Having done the race distance I know what to expect next time.

Ate an apple, drank some water, watched others finish. Stretched some.


My first tri other than sprint distances. I am looking forward to next season already! I need to increase my intensity of my training; longer distances and a faster pace in all three events.


Need someone monitoring the turn around on the run. I didn't see anyone do it but you could easily turn around far short of the distance as there was no one checking to see that you went to the turnaround point.

The bike needs a marked dismount line. You are riding along and then there is the timing mat.

Callaway Gardens is a great venue but the traffic continues to be a safety issue. One biker was injured by a car pulling out in front of him. Others complained of cars slowing them down because they were blocking the roads.

The mile markers were not accurate. Mile 2-3 was short, mile 3-4 was long.

Transition area has bike racks. Some were using trees to lean their bikes against, right beside the bike out. Maybe there is no rule about where to put your bike as long as you are in the transition area but that just seemed odd.

Beautiful place that I will continue to use for running and biking.