I thought my swim was ok coming into the race but know I've never been speedy in the water. I think I did phenomenal given my swim experience, etc... The borrowed Ironman wetsuit may have had a little to do with it - SWEET!
I started at the back of my wave, the 3rd or 4th wave. I tried somewhat to catch a couple feet but still haven't really figured that one out. I can never seem to find the right pair of feet. Since I couldn't find a draft, I tried to stay to the left and out of traffic so I could just get clean water to get in a groove and swim.
The only problem I had was some confusion with the buoys. I kept thinking I was supposed to swim between buoys so I would find myself way out in the middle where the lifeguards were floating in their kayaks! After several corrections I got it in my thick skull. For future reference - guide from the trees! The turn went smoothly and after I made it, I actually caught people from the earlier waves! They had started at least 8 min in front of me - very cool! Felt great when I got out of the water.

Site off the trees, not the buoys. Start a little futher up in the pack at the beginning of the swim so I might find some feet on the right pace.

Loonnnggggg transition area here. My age group was way at the end of it so a long jog in and out. Fortunately, I had eyed a couple of nice landmarks and found my bike without issue. A little dizzu coming out of the water but nothing major at all. The wetsuit came off nicely and everyting went on well. The only thing that sucked was throwing my wet, muddy (transition 1 is very muddy/dirty) wetsuit, towels and other junk into the bag I was going to hand to my wife on the way out. Since there are 2 transitions here, you've got to bag up your stuff to get sent to the finish line - mild bummer, but everyone has to do it. In the heat of the moment, I forgot to put on the arm warmers I bought the week before the race while I was in transition. Once I got up the hill out of T1, I pulled over and threw them on.

Put the arm warmers on before I started riding.

The first half of the bike was probably around an 18mph average, which is much faster than I normally ride on the rolling hills around Atlanta. But, I was feeling awesome! The ride was cool at first, so I was glad I had the arm warmers. It wasn't too crowded at first, but I think that's because my swim wave was so early.
We passed soooo many wineries and vineyards. The scenery was awesome - mayne if I was a better rider, I wouldn't have noticed. Although I felt good, I wasn't able to get enough wind to feel good eating my clif bars. I wasn't able to eat any clif bars at all during the ride. By mile 42, my quads started cramping. When I got to the hill at mile 45, I couldn't stand on the pedals because my legs would sieze up. I couldn't push on the pedals because my legs would sieze up. So, I had to pull the pedals to get myself up that damn hill. It sucked, but eventually, I got up there!
Once you get over that hill it is 99%flat or downhill to T2. I was just trying to conserve what was left of my legs.




EAT, EAT, EAT. My downfall was probably not getting calories earlier, or at all, on the ride. I also plan on training more on the bike for next year or future races.

Once I got off the bike I was in survival mode given all my cramping. I walked the bike to the rack, took some time at the rack to stretch out the quads, and then hit the head before I got a cup of gatorade and headed out for the run. This transition has a long distance from the dismount line to the bike racks and once again, based on my age group, I had about the farthest distance to go.

Have more gas so I didn't have to walk.
I put my gear at T2 next to a guy who had taped a Canadian flag to the bike rack so he could find his stuff (esp since we had to drop off T2 stuff the night before the race). Thought his flag was a great idea to find his stuff.

My cramping was horrible and relegated this not to a run, but a walk interrupted by multiple stretching sessions on the side of the road! I couldn't shake the cramps no matter how many godawful Mango gu shots they gave me. At mile 1 I wasn't sure if I'd make it but just kept the pace at walking, very slow jogging and stretching and kept moving. I hated walking as much as I did, but was just glad to finish. The transitions at each mile were great - everyone was very supportive and some were quite entertaining.

Eat on the bike, eat on the run, and hit a few salt tablets throughout. Then I might be able to actually run the run!

Plop down on the grassy knoll, stretch the quads, drink a bunch of water and tell my wife about the race.


Not enough run training. Poor nutrition on the bike and run.


phenomenal race!!! unbelieveable setting and very well run. Also very cool to have the pros and their cameras there racing. Only downside was 2 transition areas, but I'm way over that.
If you go and are a rookie to the area like I. We did the following wineries around the race:
Benziger: GREAT tour - start with this one.
Mayo: Sucked
Mill Creek: small and personable - good unfiltered Cab
Davis Bynum: The best experience we had - great pourer who spent a lot of time with us.
Hop Kiln: My wife loved their Chardonnay - very sweet if you like that.