Interesting Information about the Triathlon:
465 participants entered the Triathlon. A number of family combinations have participated. There were 322 finishers.
After last year's drowning of Curtis Silvey, more open water lifeguards were added. There were more large orange balloons to replace the plastic milk cartons, and special colored swim caps were offered to participants who termed themselves "weak" swimmers.
The race was marred by heavy rain, which impeded swim visibility and also resulted in many bicycle accidents on the slippery roads.
Ed Hass stated it rained the whole event and they ended up without transition splits because one of the chronometers failed to operate. The transitions were included with an adjacent leg. Tom Conrad was far enough back that he remembers the rain stopping while he was still biking.
Leslie Anthony remembers the following: "We did the Triathlon in a cold rain -- I was unable to breathe any air. Water everywhere, splashed in my face from other swimmers, and lots of water from the sky, thinking there are a lot of people here, and what a mess I am in. Then, out of nowhere, a guy in a canoe comes by and tells me ‘you touch the boat, and you are out of the race.' I actually tried to stay in the race after that, but realized I was really in trouble and touched the boat, calmed down and swam to Mallards Landing, and finally across the lake again to get my bike and slink home. I think I should give up swimming… I think there was someone else who had to drop out of the swim part also, but I cannot remember who. Charlie Jess remembers bikes skidding all over the place on the wet pavement and many bike accidents. It was a cold wet day."
Triathlon Contributions: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts.
Sponsors: Reston Hospital Center.