Again, like Peachtree International, the swim felt long. Since there was "confusion" at the start about inside versus outside I know the frist buoys was deeper than all the others so the course was a triangle if you can visualize with the shore as "C" and we swam "A" and "B". This was actually the most "active" swim Ive had. I started FOP, pretty usual and had alot of body drafting/beatings this time. So I guess I drafted well of the hip and in the feet. Swim felt good. Shoulders didnt really tire and sighting felt good. Did have some chop to the water-apparently the lifeguard boat kept changing positions creating waves. Did have to breath right side every time, tried once left and got BLINDED by the sun. I felt fast even though my time doesnt really reflect it. Im pretty much a 1:30 swimmer, Ive been slacking on the swim but thats where ive been, ah well. Oh and I actually saw a guy in a FULL wetsuit-in the NextERS group???

I guess swim faster. Everything felt good.

So here's why the swim looks so slow. Transition from the beach to the T1 area is easily a quarter mile-which is ADDED to your SWIM time. At the end of the run to T1 is a STEEP S hill. At the top is the T1 mat. Since we got choice on T1 area I was close to the swim exit and bike exit. Everything went smooth. Glasses, helmet and bike-gone. Mount dismount line was a little far from mat-maybe 50 feet.

rubber band broke early making left shoe a little "funny" to get going but didnt change anything. Stiffer bands.

So this was the first race with the complete new ride!!! REALITY BIKES Kestrel 4000TT with Sram force and Zipp 808's. and ohhhh boy I love it. Shoes banded in, even though left broke early. Out of the park and moving in a hurry. 3rd out of transition and just putting the bike and me to the test. 3rd by 100 feet by the way. Behind eventual winner Ryan. We played chase to third place finisher Joshua the whole bike course. Ryan and I battled the whole course, and thankfully neither of us drafted-much respect for that. I had one bad shift on the way back in where I shifted too early and got caught in a high spin, then corrected and got back on track-just irritating.

Stiffer bands, dont be in a hurry to spin-that much. Harder chase to get Joshua. He was in sight ALOT, just couldnt get him.

I dont ride with feet on top, size 13's tend to stick in the concrete running back to transition spot. And those that follow me know I like T times under a minute. Caviat of T spot being close to swim exit and bike exit is that its far from run exit. well far is a relative term. 900 expected competitors, some bikes were lined up along the edges so you picture spaec people were taking up nd sixe of transition area.

more glide/powder in shoes. They didnt stick like Peachtere International but would like a little more ease. I like em tight on the run. thanks yanks.

Left transition in 2rd (If you know me follow me-I finished 4th in this rae last year-behind brian ((coldfire)) so I'm already reliving last year). 2rd is better than 4th so I NEED to hold on!!! Leaving transition you run the back parking lot before really getting onto the course. I see joshua and Im like ok its on. The run is my bread and butter ompared to my bike and my swim. ALOT of offseason running has been done. So I hit the road and hes a good 1/4 mile ahead. WE run past the road that has a tunnel to the water park and I get passed by Ryan-"great" -"go get him I say" Thinking its early, Ill get my legs and its on later. We 3 wind through the first mile 6:20. Im happy, no real hills, so good. navigate through the bak near the building-campsite building? I dont know the purpose of this building but its in the back, I turn the orner and see joshua HURLING off course. HURLING as in throwing cookies/pretending to be a momma bird/blowing chunks/getting chunky with it-insert your own here. So now Im in second-phew-I also REFUSE to look back. Those that do are dead in the water. Ryan and I run the turn around feet from each other. He speeds the downhills, something Im having trouble with. I "catch him" on the flats and close the gap on hills. Closest he let me get was maybe 5 feet before we hit the last parking lot. Out of the lot (old emerald point/october lake lanier race transisiton lot) he bolts downhill, across the tunnel road and uphill. I make a dent on the tunnel road and start to close on the hill. We get to the top and its a turn turn shicane downhill throught the woods to the 100m sprint finish. since hes been doing the "over the shoulder" look the whole race I know hes saving, I would be. He does one last look at the first turn and GOES. Im within 20 feet and I push hard to finish. CROWD SCREAMING-I finish 5 seconds back. Great race Ryan--I FINISHED 2nd OVERALL!!!!!

Hmmmmm, this was the first race I pushed the bike hard with the intent of NO saving for the run-so it was interesting. Do different.......dont let the gap get created-1st place Ryan was a built in rabbit and I let him go, thinking what-that thats all he had-strategy error. Its a race-vomit at the end if you have to. I pushed hard, dont think I had but a TINY bit more-but 5 seconds? and that 5 seconds is on the theory he was DONE-whih I doubt. So do different-nothing. Great race, run hard finish strong-smiling. I had fun. the 2 seconds into 20 stings but Ill blame the course-that and get back to work.

walk, stretch, talk, talk , talk. Joshua said he drank too much on the bike. Now the wait for awards. which was ONLY 2 hours this year. watermelon, bananas, warm coke, cold water, cold powerade.


nothing


Ok so I do this race because its close. And I had high hopes this year after talking with directors with brian and others last year. I also heard they added some experienced help.
Problem 1: Looooooooooooooooong line to get into the park-we had to pay 10$ to get in. 4 stations letting us in ALL jammed full. We were told we'd get 10$ discount on next years registration. I really dont want to do this rae again with next set of problems. Jim Rainey WHAT!!!???!!!
Problem 2: Free for all in transition set up. If this is to teach first timers how about you act like its a REAL race. laminated cards designating transition cant be that expensive.
Problem 3: no pre-race packets and loooooong speeches at the start isnt the most professional way to do it.
Problem 4: Swim where? lifeguard director confusion doesnt really build confidence.
Problem 5: Awards. Last year we waited forever only to have confusion about order, placement, and giving out. This year there was no podium for FIRST TIMERS or anyone for that matter and WE LINED UP at tables, told volunteers our name and they handed us our medals. This could have been done ALOT earlier, and we were told it was dont THIS way cause so many people left early last year. I'm sorry but how does handing them out 2 hours later show any respect of change anything from lst year-sad. The podium was replaced with a girl and her keyboard-ugh-who sang during all race announcements and kudos being given to those still finishing. I felt bad for anyone with ADD or autism at this event. HORRIBLE.
Problem 6: The shirts were bad last year-I mean a blind sweat shop made them-they just fit WRONG-so we got the same shirt with a newer logo on the back-I guess NO sponsors.
Things done right:
Lifeguard support, Lake Lanier faility usage/race site, POLICE support,Chips for timing, RACESMITH results-by noon on raceday-sunday-by 11am raceday!!!
This event must KILL on revenue-or get robbed by Lake Lanier in site rental.
Come on people volunteer/visit any other race in GA, ask any nextER the differences in other races theyve done!