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These are a couple of photos from the Tri for Fun triathlon, at Pleasanton, CA on 8/18/2001. I had planned to race there myself, but the race was fully booked out by the time I tried to sign up. It is part of a series of races designed for triathlon beginners. It's not really competitive as there is no timing. Therefore it's a wonderful place to get used to racing. The last race in the series is the "Tri for Fun" race, again at the same location, on September 16. I am signed up for that race.
Of course then I won't be able to take photos, so here are a few photos from this race, which I watched to scout out the location and race course. The races will be almost identical, except that the distances in September are a bit longer (700 meter swim instead of 400, 18 mile bike instead of 11, and 4 mile run instead of 3).
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Below: The typical melee at a start. After a few moments (in a short race like this), the field is stretched out quite well. Still there is a lot of splashing around going on when the swimmers reach a buoy where they have to turn. If you think this "looks like so few people": The race was started in 6 waves of about 150+ people each (1: men under 29, 2: men 30-39, 3: all remaining men and some women who want to start with them, 4: women under 29, 5: women 30-39, 6: women over 39 and whoever is left) |
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I don't have any photos from the bike ride (essentially a flat course on a street). What makes this race interesting though, is a hill immediately when you get on the bike. And you ride downhill that same hill into the transition area. Some of the beginners here obviously were not very comfortable with riding downhill fast to a full stop... Below: Two lessons in setting up a transition area. Too bad there isn't always as much space as the left person has... |
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Hydration, hydration, hydration. Coming out of T2 (starting the run). Below: running on (half)empty styrofoam cups might be an olympic discipline at some point. |
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The finish. In a triathlon it is very obvious if somebody didn't tri hard enough: they have energy left at the finish... |
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