Augusta 70.3 Part 3 The Run

Augusta 70.3 Part 3 The Run       

The Augusta run consists of two loops though the “main” street of Augusta.  It is all paved route and the road conditions are good. 

Me day dreaming about a beer.
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The race support was great.  The typical ice, water, Poweraid, gels, etc were handed out (although they were being pretty stingy on the ice).  The really nice item being handed out was the cold sponges.  They were great to shove down your shirt and keep you cool.

The weather during the run was probably in the low 90s.  It was overcast almost the entire run which kept the heat down.  When the sun did pop out if got hot quick.

Me with a dumb look on my face.
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It did start to rain later in the race after I finished.  I made the mistake of keeping my phone in my race bag without being in a ziplock bag.  So after I was finished I quickly ran 1.2 miles back to transistion to put our cycling computers and my phone in a zip lock bag.  As soon as I did this it stopped raining (go figure).  I than ran another 1.2 miles back to watch Bonnie finish her first 70.3.  It then started raining again so my adventure paid off.

With the above 2.4 mile phone saving adventure, the 1.2 mile walk to the swim start and a 1 mile bike ride to the car my 70.3 really was a 74.9 :-).  Would that qualify as a HIM Ultra?

Bonnie's Tri With Sway coach having fun.
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There was a great deal of the Augusta residences that came out to watch and support the runners.  It was nice to do a HIM that had people cheering you on during the entire run.  It is really hard running to a silent or non-existing crowd.  That’s when you really have to dig deep if you dislike running. 

Several Orlando based tri groups were in the area cheering people on.  Bonnie’s group stayed the ENTIRE race cheering for everyone.  

Triston dress up as Buzz Tri-Year.
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Mr Buzz Tri-Year

Another strange Augusta-ism (other than the showgirls, church and bar) was a 24 hour barber shop you pass during the run.  If you think Walmart is strange at 3am, I wonder what types of characters show up at a barber shop at that time.  I found a story about the barbershop on the internet here.  It sounds like a man working hard to make an honest buck in a tough economy.  I respect that…but I still think it is a little strange.


Mr YMCA chearing us on.
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The weather did turn for the worst near the very end of the race (near cut off time).  There was a tornado warning in the area that forced the race officials to close the race early and pull runners off the course.  One of my friends was one of the runners pulled off the course with only 1 mile left.  She did get her medal but was really upset she did not truly finish the race. 

I look like I am flipping off the cameraman with my left hand.
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The run started off with my legs dead.  They were very heavy and it took about 1 mile to get them back into running condition.  I tried to stay in the sub 10 min/mile pace.  My PR on a plan 13.1 is 1:56 so I was hoping to get around a 2:10 finish.  I walked just enough to get the feeling back into my legs.  I pushed through the pain and monotony of running and finished the run in 2:18:01 10.32/mi. It also helped that one of Bonnies team member's husbands had two cold Fat Tire beers waiting for me at the finish line.

Overall Augusta was a great 70.3 and I would gladly do this race in the years to come.  Everything about the race was great.  I really have nothing I could say negative about it.  I would highly recommend this 70.3 to others.  It is a speed course with very little challenges.  It is a great first 70.3 for anyone. 

I finished the entire race in 5:57:18 (a sub 6 hour 70.3).  That was my goal.

Looking good and feeling strong
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Bonnie and some team members showing off the bling.

The hard earned bling