Over the past weekend I was at the Pacific Grove Triathlon. No, I didn’t race, but still have a vivid memory of my race in 1997.

The course design allows great spectator viewing and a glimpse of all the athletes as they complete the 4 loops of approximately 6 miles. During my race in 1997, the announcer’s voice boomed over the sea of spectators that at the completion of the fourth lap, they should watch these accomplished pros zip through the transition.

Never known for my fluidity in the transitions, I came in just ahead of a large group and ran towards my transition spot. Seemingly with a slight lapse in concentration, my handle bar caught the side of the bike rack which supported my competitors’ bikes. Within two seconds, the entire row of fifteen bikes flattened like a row of dominoes!

Well, the announcer bit his tongue regarding the “accomplished” verbage and I embarrassingly waltzed off on to the run. (The rules were shortly enacted after this incident to require the athletes to “pick-up” any bike that were unintentionally or intentionally knocked down.)

I found this was a good race tactic and a simple way to increase your competitors’ transition time-----
just kidding!

So, this year I passed on the race and tried to encourage the 400+ Team in Training athletes that raised 1.4 million dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

After speaking at the evening pasta party, a TNT athlete asked me this questions, “Dave do you still exercise?” I guess its time to race again!!

Dave