# 217 Clermont Sprint Triathlon in June

Sunday’s triathlon, my #217, in Clermont, had 237 finishers today along with over 800 doing the 5K, so it was a busy race. My times were close to my first race in 2025 so it wasn’t too bad, but I’ve been training harder in the past several months, so I was slightly disappointed. Some new (faster) guys were there and I ended up 6th out of six in Male 70-74. I did see lots of friends and the day’s highlight was a fellow Hammer athlete, Gabrielle J. Suver, won Overall Female. You may remember she was severely injured by a hit-and-run driver in November 2025 and spent months recovering. The cheers when she took the podium were deafening!

# 216 Great Clermont Duathlon in Clermont, Florida.

Triathlon (well, duathlon) #216 today! I decided the water temp was too cold plus my training has been curtailed by our cold weather (excuse). The Great Clermont Triathlon had a big turnout especially in the Olympic distance. First race of the year is always an adventure plus I awoke (!) at 3:00 AM (4:00 AM DST) to drive out there. I had a good race and kept pushing myself and finished Second out of Two, Male 70+. I was the oldest guy in the race and 35th out of 43 OA. The New Series Speed performed flawlessly as usual.

2026 Real Florida 10k Trail Run

Great morning at the Real Florida 5k10k (sponsored by Hammer) near Orlando. 65'f at dawn meant for a hot race at the 8:30 AM start. I arrived at 6:10 to set up the HAMMER NUTRITION sample display and was answering questions from the beginning. Jenny Utter Enslin stopped at the booth before winning Female OA in the 10k. I had a few samples left when I headed to the 10k start at 8:15 and all were gone when I returned. First race of the year are always tougher as the Christmas chocolate was still hanging on. Lots of friends here; Troy Serres and his son, Tom and Julie Holbert Hedman, Madeleine Verwilt Vergauwen, Meggan Ann Johnson Keller among others. I pushed hard at the start to stay ahead of my two 70+ competitors and it got a little better after the Anti-fatigue caps and Endurolyte Extreme. It's been very dry so the sugar sand was like powder through most of the course. Felt much faster in the last 3 miles and crossed the line in 1st. One competitor took the 5k course turn and joined that group so I was First of two. We went to the Brunch at Madeleine Verwilt Vergauwen’s house after and Hammer athlete Gabrielle J. Suver was there! Glad to see her moving well again.