I was fortunate enough to train enough over the summer to be capable of completing a half ironman triathlon in Georgia on September 30, 2012. This race is a favorite for first-timers because the swim is downstream in the Savannah River and the mild current provides a nice bit of assistance.
I won’t bore you with a full race overview, but basically, I completed all three events at a slow pace, but faster thank I planned. I was also lucky enough to have the company of two good friends and we had a blast. The people in Georgia were truly hospitable and the countryside was beautiful.
Top 5 Lessons Learned from the Trip
- Augusta is the Home of James Brown (who still tells a great joke), Ty Cobb and multiple signers of the Declaration of Independence
- Once you have completed a swim of 1.2 miles and bike ride of 56 miles, it is ok to sit down and rub your feet every couple of miles during the run
- A Waffle House is visible in some direction from every interstate exit in GA
- NEVER attempt to take TV remote from Zrain Olivencia … especially when he is asleep
- When reserving room for three grown men to share for three days, confirm that restroom ceiling fan is operating
Excerpt from My Blog “Cheto Aqui”
Stats for the day
Time
Event | Chet | John |
---|---|---|
1.2 mi | 00:31:51 | 00:34:00 |
56 mi | 03:11:07 | 02:58:27 |
13.1 mi | 02:51:58 | 02:28:04 |
70.3 mi | 06:48:22 | 06:11:41 |