A Really Good Event- The Most Applause for the Last Place Finisher

 

CB & I 

May 3, 2008

Woodlands, Texas

500 Yard Swim-15 Mile Bike-5K Run

I was up for this one.  Instead of getting off to the side and the back of my swim wave, I got right in the middle, ready to rumble.  And I did.  Arms, legs, elbows, people swimming over me, and me swimming over other people.  It was an aquatic wrestling match, and I remember thinking, as I was right in the middle of it, “Goodness!  This is fun.”  I guess you never get too old to be a child if you don’t let yourself get too old.  When the violence cleared out and I was on the return portion of the loop. I saw a man just floating face up.  People often do this when they run out of gas on the swim, so I thought it was fine and swam on.  Later, I was to learn that a man in his fifties had died during the swim, and just about the time I would have been in the water. Did I pass him up? Could I have done anything? Hmmm

I went on to have my screaming bike ride – I look more vicious in the photo because I forgot my sunglasses in transition.  I had a decent run.  In all, it was good enough for second place in my age group.  At an event of that size and caliber, that means something.  I won an entry to the next year’s event too.   

However, the most impressive thing was that they gave an award to the last finisher.  A heavy girl stepped forward to receive her award and received a huge round of applause.  In fact, she received more applause than any of the winners.  To me, that says something about the personal quality of triathletes.  It was a good day.