Swim
Comments: I finished the swim and my watch said 7:20 so I was stoked. The only thing I'd been training for during the past 2 months was the swim so this was the only area I really cared about on this race. Come to find out later (when I saw my 10:05 time) that the timing mat was up the hill around the corner. I walked...lollygagged...took in the sights, smells...what a lazy sack effort up the hill in hindsight on my part. I have NO IDEA what I was thinking. I should have run up the hill as I wasn't really tired after the swim. Anyway...the fun gets better :) Overall...fun swim. I stayed WAY outside the fray and probably swam 500m but I avoided everybody in the kicking frenzy for the most part. What would you do differently?: start closer up front in the fray RUN UP THE HILL FORREST!!! RUN pay attention after I exit the water don't wear a wetsuit, didn't need it IT WAS FUN overall. Transition 1
Comments: After my sidewinder tourist stroll up the hill from the swim I realized I needed to get my act in gear & get on the bike. I had my area set up and actually got out of T1 pretty quickly. Helmet/glasses set up on bars. I stripped the wetsuit pretty fast it seems. Already had TRI shorts and jersey underneath. What would you do differently?: quit acting like a tourist and RACE! Bike
Comments: I really hadn't trained at all for the bike since this was only my 2nd TRI. I'd ridden some FLAT training rides at about 21-22mph so I thought this would be easier than it was. After mile 3 I have no idea what I was thinking. Tinkering along, I think I must have decided to stop, set up an easy up, lawn chair and sell lemonade to passers by...I was going so slow. COME ON BILL...this is a race, not a Sunday stroll...MOVE SUCKER! I had a blast but just tooled along. Again, I have no idea what I was thinking. Low effort, just tinkering along enjoying my 2nd TRI. Traffic got a little dicey and I had to rip behind a Cadillac SUV that ran the police blockade and stopped in the middle of a pack of us. Some of us went behind him, some in front and the COP ripped the guy a new one for pulling that little stunt during the race. I think my heart rate actually went up at that point :) What would you do differently?: actually set up my bike, I just got it and there is no way it is set up right yet next time...put it this way, I started training today on the bike for next season learned a lot, had a blast on the bike portion...can't wait to do this part again next year Transition 2
Comments: I might well have sat down, poured a Guinness and pulled out my complimentary copy of TRIATHLETE magazine. Taking in the sights I just tinkered into T2. I'm new to the whole TRI thing so I'm still just HAVING FUN at this point. I came from 20+ years of SOCCER and have TRULY ENJOYED the past few months starting to train for these TRI events. I can't wait to do more next year. What would you do differently?: actually ride my bike which started TODAY as part of my new daily training routine since I started training 3 months ago to venture into this sport I've been focusing 90% on swimming to get in better shape, working in a few runs here and there. I've done almost zero on the bike and it showed in this race. Lot of work to do...can't wait! Since I take off at 2:30 everyday to workout I have plenty of time to train with the new schedule. Put it this way...today I swam my 400m warm up, did 20 min on the bike and ran a mile or so warm down. Both the bike and the RUN will be the focus of my winter training with the SWIM as a warm up here and there. Run
Comments: Well, on the run I did it again. On the run it appears I decided to set up camp with the nearby campers, pop up a portable studio, put on my Bob Ross wig, "utter happy little trees" and teach art classes off to the side. Again...come on Bill...it's a race, get moving! I can't believe I ran this pace. I typically pace about 7:30min mile so this was pretty poor overall. What would you do differently?: keep training on the RUN part and run it like a race, not a Sunday stroll Post race
Warm down: I wasn't even tired since other than selling lemonade and teaching art classes I really didn't expend a ton of energy. What limited your ability to perform faster: did you read my report...hello :) Event comments: I love this sport! Soccer has been in my blood for 20 years but being married with 2 children has squeezed the "soccer margin" out of life's schedule. I played soccer at Auburn and the Silverbacks Amateur League until 2006 and REALLY miss it. Finding TRI has been a true JOY. This sport has an amazing blend of PERSONAL drive and COMMUNITY emphasis. One can be as "public" or "private" as one wishes. The people are supportive, helpful and encouraging across the board. I look forward to many, many years of learning this sport and seeing the truly amazing landscapes many of the races are held in. Grace and Peace. Bill Last updated: 2008-10-06 12:00 AM
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United States
Georgia MultiSports Productions, LLC.
71F / 22C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 305/900
Age Group = 34-39 CLYDE
Age Group Rank = 0/
woke up at 4:30am, ate oatmeal, banana, hot tea
left Alpharetta for an easy drive to Emerald Pointe
I had to be one of the first people there, easy to park.
This race was my 2nd TRI ever and I found it very organized. The transition area was well laid out and easy to navigate. I set up my area and talked to some new folks.
Stretched and made my way to the beach area. I ran into a guy I knew 18 years ago in high school, that was wild. The race started late but it was well organized. Standing, hand over heart, I listened to the light hum of participants following along with the star spangled banner playing in the background...goose bumps.