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.
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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 |
Details
View PDFThe swim course is a point-to-point course that will start at 6th Street and the Savannah River at the Riverfront Marina. Athletes will enter the water and swim with the current for 1.2 miles along the shoreline until they exit the swim course at the Augusta Rowing Complex public boat ramp. Once athletes reach the top of the public boat ramp, they will run a short distance to transition which is located in a grass lot of the Augusta Rowing Complex.
View PDFThe single-loop, 56-mile route, begins at the Transition Area located at the Augusta Rowing Club. Athletes will exit downtown Augusta and head into the back country of Augusta, Georgia. Rolling hills, several long climbs, and some technical turns will greet the athletes along the way. Athletes can expect to be tested a few times on the course with some slow inclines and fast downhill descents, but the course also plays to those that like to hammer down with a number of long straightaways. Athletes should remember to take in the lush green woods of Georgia throughout their ride. As the athletes near the end of the ride, they’ll re-enter the downtown Augusta area, to return back to Transition Area at the Augusta Rowing Club.
View PDFAugusta’s 13.1-mile run course takes athletes through the streets of historic downtown Augusta for a two-loop, flat and fast, spectator friendly experience. Athletes will be treated to one of the flattest run courses there is to offer. Traversing through the downtown grid of Augusta streets, spectators will be able to easily navigate and see their athlete multiple times each loop. With a finish line located on Broad St., in front of the Augusta Commons, there is no shortage of spectators cheering the competitors on all the way to the last step through the finish line arch.
