Hey I just wanted to share...
So I got invited to a free duathlon. It was yesterday and it was 5k/12mi bike/5k.
It was in a local state park and I didn't expect anything from it but a good workout.
So it turns out that the race is smaller than I pictured but it had some ridiculous participants....
the lady is Sarah Haskins--she was the top female ITU triathlete a couple years ago but is just now returning from having a baby. She was in the 08 olympics.
Down from her is Jarrod Shoemaker in his USA singlet. he was 08 olympics (would have made 2012 olympics but he had a crash). I think he's trying for 2016.
Then there is Faris al Sutan (Ironman World Champ 2005, numerous top 10 finishes at Kona) he is in the green/white with the bandana.
His German teammate in the same outfit won the duathlon but I don't recall his name.
on an interesting note, you may notice the guy dead center in the bottom pic... he is wearing a clemson jersey. He went to clemson with Jamie church. He went pro and moved to Clermont and later started a family. I met him at the 2013 Greenville sprint when I saw he was from Clermont. Anyway, we happen to go to the same church, he's pretty cool.
anyway, just wanted to share, I hope you guys are doing great.
That looks like a stacked crowd. Faris is famous for wearing a Man-kini in his races. He was a member of the Dubai triathlon team. I knew a fair number of Pros trained in that area but I had no idea you would be hanging out with them. Sara Goss who was one of Jamie's athletes and is a current pro trained there before going to Boulder.. I'm sure I would not have any interest in trying to train or race with that crowd. I would be finishing in an empty parking lot.
Hey I thought I would share a picture of the elite runners "warming up" for the Myrtle Beach Marathon Relay.
We also had some "ridiculous participants".
None of us are just returning from having a baby.
But we have here a Clemson grad, a Furman grad, and a USC Spartanburg grad.
And we all go to church. Just not the same one.
LOL - Josh, glad you had a great time! That is a pretty elite looking group there. You are hanging with a nice group of people. Way to make us proud.
That kinda reminds me of the first time I ran the 10 mile race at Green Valley. Up until then I had done just 5Ks and 10Ks. You get all kinds of folks signed up for that and you feel like you fit right in. When I was hanging out before the race looking around at those signed up for the 10 miler, I knew I was hanging with a slightly different crowd. And I thought, what the heck am I doing here?
Also, Peter...when I did the bike ride out at Donaldson Center, I finished in an empty parking lot. You live thru it.
- itri -
Looks like the weather for the DU in FL and the Myrtle Beach Marathon was much better that ours! I wish I could have done the DU with you guys in FL since ours was ridiculously cancelled. Although I would be the last one coming in ( I may could have beat one of the kids but probably not lol)
Lori
I finally heard back from set up events- Jeremy Davis said he could transfer my fee from the du toward clemson triathlon; he'd probably do same for you.
That's awesome. I already paid for Clemson but if I stay healthy, will do some other races. Glad it worked out.