JULY 9
The 2020 Elmore Practice Triathlon season was memorable for many reasons: Covid-19 safety modifications, a record of 9 youth participants, and a record total of 41 racers in the final event. Congratulations to all youth and first-time triathletes!
Once again, the 2nd wave at 6:30 pm had slightly easier conditions since the temperatures cooled from 84 degrees to the high 70’s as the evening progressed, but at least both waves had an easier swim, with much less wind and a slightly shorter course than prior weeks. Thorin Markison was first male for the 2nd time this season and Rima Carlson completed her sweep of all 3 events. People enjoyed pizza from Fire Tower Pizza in a safe (I hope) spread out picnic post race.
Once again, thank you to my great volunteers. Dot Helling and Chris Andresen did double duty timing the 1st wave and managing food service. Thanks to Sigh Searles for helping time, Eric Ryea for bike turnaround, and Dick Bushey for picking up the pizza on time! And many thanks to the VT State Parks for allowing the event to proceed this year. Several people took photos of the memorable event and a gallery will be linked here in the near future.
JUNE 25
It was a fast field with 6 of the 35 triathletes finishing under an hour at the June 25 Elmore Practice Triathlon. Congratulations to several first-time triathletes who all raced well. Roth Bernstein, competing in his 1st Elmore, beat out Thorin Markison for 1st overall. 13 year old Rudd Day won the 1st wave and placed 4th overall in just his 2nd triathlon. For the 2nd time, Rima Carlson won overall for women with Dot Martin leading the 2nd wave for 2nd overall female. We had a record youth turnout, including 4 girls and 2 boys in the under 16 group, all racing the full triathlon. Racers had decent weather, since the wind was not quite as severe as the June 11 edition, and air temperatures were in the low 70’s, water temperatures in the upper 70’s.
Thank you to the awesome volunteers: Jane and John Valentine, Sigh Searles, Dick Bushey, and Jamie Harnish. Once again we had a safe race with their help!
JUNE 11
We were able to hold one of the first in-person (rather than virtual) events since March 13, 2020 with the 1st of the 14th Annual Elmore Practice Triathlons on June 11! People were very good at upholding social distancing requirements that allowed us to proceed. At least 4 people, including 2 youth athletes, became 1st time triathletes–congratulations to all of them. A crazy gale force wind affected the 5:45 participants but it calmed down a lot by 6:30 for the second group. It is hard to even consider combining the results based on the different conditions, so they are listed both ways in the results link. Mark Mulder and Rima Carlson won the 1st wave with Thorin Markison and Doreen Audette leading the 2nd wave. New triathlete, 13 year old Rudd Day, killed it on the swim, and despite riding a mountain bike, came in 3rd overall in the 1st wave! Thank you very much to my fantastic volunteers: John Martin, John and Jane Valentine, Dot Helling, and Eric Ryea! With all the new procedures, I would have been lost without them. Thank you also to the VT State Forest and Parks officials for trusting us to proceed safely.