Let me first say I had such a divine moment during the swim, Picasso could not have painted a better picture. About 1/2 way through the swim the sun broke through the clouds and the rays shown down to earth which I noticed immediately but within seconds I noticed something even more beautiful, the sun rays penetrated the depts of the water and it was a glorious sight. I forgot about what I was doing and where I was and was in awe for a mere moment with GOD. I knew from there my day would be ok no matter what happended. I started in the middle and stayed there for most of the swim. I got hit from both sides but held my position and kept swimming and did not let it bother me, shame I can't swim with the 40-44 y/o chicks, it would be more fun geting hit like that! I got josteled a few times and swam into several more. 1/2 way through I veered left a little and was swimming away from the pack but immediately started to bring it back to the pack area. There were folks on my left almost in the middle of the river. I would breathe every 4 strokes 1x then ever 2 strokes the next, so 4 then 2, sighting every 6 strokes. It helped keep good air going and made me comfortable. 75% through I was in my own space w/o anyone around for 10 feet from what I could tell and out of no where a wave 23 guy ran right into me. Really, got the whole damn river and got to run into me. So I let it go and and kept swimmimg, ...he went around. I swam to easy since we had a current and wanted to save the energy for the bike. Overall, I had my best swim to date of any Tri. Easy, relaxed, beauty, bumps and kicks did not bother me, I was what you would say, just enjoying the moment!

I had not worked on the swim portion as much since it was wetsuit legal and I knew we had a little current. I do need much more time in the water to do speed sets and definately enhance the technical aspects. This is the goal through the winter months.

Coming out of the water I walked up the chute till I was on flat land then jogged through the chute into T1. I was behind some folks walking and had to get around them but it was crowded. I was trying to get my legs the first 100 yards still. Total distance from water to entrance of T1 was ~ 300 yards. I saw wetsuit strippers and guys were in mud, I passed. And damn..I had to pee so bad, so I used the bathrooom before touching the bike and it killed my T1 time. I also took more time making sure I had everything I needed. I knew I wasn't going to win so my goal was to properly be fueled and have a solid mental day for a good finish.

More mental prep. Run all the way from the water. Better T1 setup, prep, prep, and prep some more. But what do you do if you have to pee, you pee! This should have realistically been 2:00-2:45 based on how I was prepared.

Bike Issues started Thursday. I rented a Zipp Disk back and 808 front and went to pick them up on Thursday..umm, they were shipped to Charlotte. So the guy scrambled to find another set, no go. They gave me a Blackwell disk back and Zipp 303 front, both wee kinda beat up. Had to buy a tubular extra, no problem, I had considered this a must. So ok, I was befuttled but got my mind back right. The guys at Inside Out have been great and I chalk it up to a simple mistake and hey, I've made a few in my life. Friday was the first time I rode the wheels I rented from Inside Out, just due to family and travel. Opps! There is a major bump in the front 303. So I scramble to find a local bike dealer on Saturday morning. OutSpoken, in Augusta Ga, boys are the bomb! The hooked me up with a front wheel for a $10.00, rental. I didn't even try to get the tire on the 303 fixed, I was scared to run it. OK, so Im ride ready now.

From the point I mounted, for me, I was rocking. I was averaging about 21-22 up to mile 17 and then came the first real hill. It wasn't really the hill, yet it was me, I decided to reel myself back and make sure I would have some gas left for the run. The fact was the first 17 miles were really easy for me, no issues at all. Up to here I passed maybe 100-150 folks and got passed by about 20 folks. For the next 28 miles i'd say there were flats, rollers, and hills. I coasted the downhills and still passed lots of folks due to being 207. Uphill I used higher gears and spun more. Flats, I hammered but within limits and tried to keep the Hr < 160 which was my goal. On the pre reace recon I knew the last 11 miles had a 300 ft decline so I knew I could either relax or hammer, I chose to relax and have wheels for the run, which is my weakness still.

The whole ride I spent most of the time in the left to center of race lane passing folks. I was polite and didn't yell at folks but only 1 time. I was screaming down hill at 35 MPH and some guy was dilly dalling in the center and veering left while a car was coming and I had no where to go but the hood so I yelled at him left left left, he jerked right and I was safe. When I knew I was going to be passed or was being passed I tried to get as far right as possible, or when I passed, in a respectfull manner I got over to the right once I had cleared the rider to my right. But damn, some folks just were out for a frigging Sunday ride with grandma with there head up there ass! No respect for people that wanted to race. On my last 8-9 miles I knew I slowed down but I stayed far right and didn't double up riders.

I ventue to say I passed nearly 400-500 folks. I was passed by about ~ 40 guys and 3 women.


I could say I should slow down and be careful or perhaps utilize my legs and hammer more, either way i could live with. My goal was to have legs for the run. Here was my focus on nutrition and as much as I planned, I need a better plan for the week leading up to the race as well something different that so much gel! I had a Pb sandwich , 6 gels, 20 oz of Perpetuem, 20 oz Heed, 24 oz G2, 12 endurlotes, and 1 bag of chomps..which I almost barfed when I ate them. I felt like I hydrated well but could have used more water and less Perpetuem, yuck!

When I rolled in I knew my hardest part was next, I took way more time than I should have. I stared putting on my socks and remembered to vasoline my toes but damn, I had to rummage through my bag to get the v, socks back off the apply V, socks on, shoes on. Race belt, hat, wipe off shades, gel, yuck, NO MORE GELS! NO MORE!

1. Run with bike all the way
2. Leave nothing to chance, plan more and lay out better
3. Don't be a slow poke.

The reason I didn't rush, My crono said 3:37 minutes when I looked, and in my head i said, OK, you have 2:18 minutes to run 13.1, so I can get sub 6, so I poked around. Finally, I was off.

Now, as you can see I was running suspisingly easy, for me, at a 9:41 pace the first mile, about 300 yards of that was walking out of T2 resetting my Polar watch. I immdeiately slowed my run to stay within an easy pace, I had trained at 9 to 9:30 pace but knew I had 2:18. It was hot and the water stations were not every 1.2, I say maybe 1.5 miles apart, some longer. 1st 2 stations I got sponges and my hr dropped 15 beats. I was doing fine running easily till mile 5, out of nowhere the devil reached up and grabbed my right groin and never let go. I had not had this cramp since I played football in HS. I had to walk 200 yards and then started running again. Basically from there I had this problem the rest of the run so my time was out the window. I ran as much as possible then when the cramp hit I just walked it out and would immediately start back running. It was so frustrating beacuse I slowed down on the bike to not have this happen and what happend, this! Mile 8 and 9 were bad and my right foot was numb and the right groin cramp was continual. I drank 2 waters and 1 gatoraid at every aid station but the cramp was relentless.

The last mile I ran as much as possible and still had cramps. I even tried to run through them but I had to walk, so to ensure a run to finish I walked 200 yards with 1/2 mile to go and then the quad felt ok and I said, let me finish running baby. So I took off and ran, when I turned the corner and saw the finish I lost my man card and broke down JUST A LITTLE, immediately gathered myself and raised my arms to hear, Harold Liles, Apex, NC! My wife was right there and I huged her and DAMN, lost my man card again, shed a tear or maybe some sweat and gathered myself and went and got my medal!

Oh well, more running. I've only been running since Jan this year and to have only run about 400 miles up to this point and with 5 years of plantar fasciitis lingering in both feet, I think I did ok, but for those damn cramps. Figure out a nutrition plan, maybe weight training on the quads. But very simply, much more run training and some coaching. I was a 5:40 mile runner in HS and I know I can be a 6:30 mile runner with another year under my belt. Maybe run with a fuel belt like in training if I don't know exactly where the aid stations are?

Walked some , little stretching


CRAMPS! Nutrition? Hydration on the run? Lack of running, lack of proper technique while swimming, and though biking is ok for me, I should be a 22 MPH biker with my legs!


First and formost this was AWESOME, it was my first 70.3 plus an IRONMAN. On the flip side of that I was disappointed in the post race activities, as well during the run 2 water stations were depleted, 2 ran out of cups, many lacked ice, and on my second loop, no iced sponges. IT"S THE FRIGGING SOUTH DURING SEPTEMBER! IT"S HOT! Ok, if you have say 26 waves, please remember those in the last 25% of the waves!

I must applaud our men and women in uniform, US ARMY! These men and women were station 2 at each street, road, and intersection along the WHOLE BIKE COURSE. At some there were Sheriff and State Troopers but The US Army was deployed if full for our safety! FOLKS, if you read my report please write Brigadier General Jeffrey W. Foley, Commanding General of Fort Gordon Georgia and compliment his men and women on their OUTSTANDING duty during this event! As well, I plan to write a letter to the Governor of both SC and Georgia and compliment their law enforcement individuals. Not sure if I send the letter to the SC Governor to SC or South America??? Or maybe that hiking trail he was on?

Overall I loved the course. The swim was great. The bike couse offered everything with much scenery and the run was flat and took you by some historic homes of Augusta. Maybe add part of the run through the Historic Augusta Golf course?

So I missed sub 6 hours by 9 minutes 39 seconds, nothing beat that view of the sun rays shining into the water at the beginning of my swim, picturesque! All the hitting and splashing just stopped and the world stopped spinning and it was total calm, God showed me his was there with me on this day, and every day! He also said, drink more water!