100 Triathlons
Go to the early blogs to read how I got into triathlons. Click on any picture to enlarge it. "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly." Theodore Roosevelt 1910


Sunday, August 13, 2023

# 199 Clermont Sprint Triathlon in August

Triathlon #199 is in the books! Not sure if you saw earlier this week, that August 8th commemorated my 30th year anniversary of competing in triathlons. Today’s race was the third Sommer Sports Sprint Tri of the season and a big crowd showed up. The race director switched the starting order, so the Sprint started at 7:05 AM and the Olympic distance at 7:35. With the current heat wave (82’f at start) that was much appreciated. However, the lake temp was around 82’ also! 
I was in the Third Wave and had a good swim, steady and straight the whole time. I did have the Fourth Wave (fast women) swim over me several times. It felt good to get out of the warm water too. Bike ride was great, averaging 17.1 mph through the hills and hitting 38.6 on the big downhill. Passed lots of people on the climbs. Run leg was hot and I carried a frozen bottle, pouring the cold water over my head numerous times. Heat (90’f at that point) made my final time a bit off but I crossed the line in Second out of five in Male 70-74. 
Friends Andreas Moraitis and his wife Kerry Girona were Second and Fourth Overall. Others included Enrique Mercado, Bill Black (Second in Clydesdale class), Tom Hedman, and Lester Rilea. Made a new friend too, Justin Grofik, a Navy pilot from Tampa. Also, another friend, Hammer-sponsored pro triathlete Gabrielle Suver, won Female Overall in the Olympic distance race. Now to get out of the heat!


Bike racked early
Enrique, Kerry, and Andreas
with Bill Black
with Gabby warming up
Gabby on the podium

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