The line of cars behind us to get into Sand Hollow at 6:00 in the morning. Apparently there were 1300 racers and their families at the Tri, so it was pretty crowded. And these were the people who got there early.
The transition area where you keep your bike, wetsuit, running junk, etc. Most people had nice expensive road bikes. I used a heavy, unwieldy mountain bike that takes twice as much energy to get moving, proving that I am much more of a man than they are. Or that I'm too cheap to spring 25 bucks for a rental.
Me at the Hollow with my tight, tight shorts.
We stood behind this guy and had to get a pic. Not only does his shirt say "Ninjas are sooooooo sweet that I want to crap my pants," but we found him in the Port-O-Potty line. Just an all around great picture on a number of levels.
The start of the race. You do a half mile swim, exit via the boat ramp and run to the transition area while stripping off your skin-tight wetsuit and trying your best to not fall over. Then you change into bike gear and ride for 12 miles along a road littered with water bottles, ambulances, and the shattered forms of fellow competitors whom defeat has already claimed (ok, I only saw one) Then you ride back to the transition area to drop your bike off and start the grueling 3 mile run.
The start of the Sprint distance men, ages 20-29. That's me in the middle.
Me after the swim doing the aforementioned running and stripping.
I didn't get any pics of the bike or run, so this is a fast forward to the end of the race where they set up this huge tent filled with oranges, grapes, water bottles, bread, and popsicles. It was almost worth running the race just for that.
My buddy Bret and I just after finishing. He's the one who convinced me to do it in the first place.
Well, I did it. Final time was 1:55:49. They said the average time for a beginner at that course was 2 to 2 and a half hours, so I did all right. It was a lot of fun, I'm definitely doing it again. Great atmosphere, great people, great experience. At first I was a bit tentative, thinking the tri would be filled with die-hards who ate nothing but granola and cottage cheese and who hated beginners getting in their way, but it wasn't like that at all. The only competition is with yourself. It was great to see all sorts of people; young, old, overweight, skinny, beginners and professionals, out there together having fun and supporting one another. I would highly recommend it.
Next one is the Xterra Sport at Snowbasin in August. Can't wait.
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