TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2004

The race materials had said previous winners would be in the elite wave. Well, I had placed 4th two years ago and second last year. Did that make me a “previous winner”?

Turns out it did. I asked the woman running registration. She checked my number, my cap color (blue) and a list. “Yes, you are in the elite wave.” Gulp. Revise self image! Elite wave! If only the guys in high school guy class could witness this!

I inspected the competitors’ list to see who my competition might be. There he was. John Burrell. Last year John ran up to me at mile 3. We ran several miles together, neck and neck, and then he dropped me. This year with my Achilles much better, I wasn’t going to let that happen if possible. Whatever the outcome, a great race was in the offing.

I had driven up to Lake Zurich larte Friday afternoon to pick up my packet and to see who my competition might be in this year’s Lake Zurich Triathlon. Race Director Steve Skora had altered the swim course to get an Olympic distance swim. The bike course was still about 21.8 and the run course had always been 6.2. Nearly an Olympic distance race.

Sunday morning dawned with perfect weather. Friend Dan Brown and I had decided that he would drive. This was his first Lake Zurich (and maybe my 6th), so I was his tour guide.

We unloaded our bikes, wheeled them into transition.

I set up right next to the bike exit, a great position. It’s nice to be elite!

For the swim, we grabbed a bus which took us to the other side of Lake Zurich. I was a bit fidgety waiting with Dan for the bus, but it was not tension from the unknown as often is the case—it was energy building as I looked forward to taking on my “elite” status and hoping to best Mr. Burrell.

In the park on the far side of the lake I wandered down to the start after finding the weeds behind the porta-potty rather than the long line. At the swim start I had fun talking to other competitors and then I swam a little to warm up. Very soon, being first wave, we gathered into a group and were sent off. (This was different than past years and what the other racers did this year; Lake Zurich uses a time trial start, sending off competitors three at a time. Anyway, for me the start was not turbulent—after what seemed like a long run I quickly found swimming room and settled into a hard pace that I hoped to sustain throughout. We swam a long line straight ahead and then turned left for another long ,line that took us into the finish. The swim seemed long—but since my previous races had been half Ironman distances, not overly long. I maintained my pace and did not get passed by many swimmers. However, I am sure I was toward the back of the elite wave and we got some space between us and the time trial starters behind us.

MALE AGE GROUP 55 - 59

Place No. Name Ag S Rank Swim Trans1 Rank Bike Rate Trans2 Rank Run Pace Final

===== ===== ================= == = ==== ======= ======= ==== ======= ==== ======= ==== ======= ===== =======

1 139 Lee Crumbaugh 56 M 2 27:09 4:06 3 1:04:00 21.1 2:11 3 47:24 7:39 2:24:49

2 134 John Burrell 58 M 6 35:01 2:24 1 1:00:51 22.2 1:31 1 45:10 7:18 2:24:55

3 243 James Dicker 56 M 3 28:20 3:06 2 1:03:16 21.3 2:05 7 55:24 8:57 2:32:08

4 136 Fredric Carlson 57 M 10 37:28 2:56 6 1:10:58 19.0 2:14 2 45:41 7:23 2:39:15

5 130 Kenneth Austin 56 M 4 28:54 3:22 4 1:10:15 19.2 1:47 9 1:00:32 9:46 2:44:48

6 161 Jim Thiese 58 M 8 35:33 5:17 5 1:10:56 19.0 3:20 6 55:07 8:54 2:50:11

7 246 Bob Achille 57 M 5 33:36 3:39 9 1:17:09 17.5 2:43 5 53:12 8:35 2:50:17

8 247 Frank Spenko 58 M 9 36:29 4:32 8 1:14:32 18.1 2:52 4 52:38 8:30 2:51:01

9 245 Art Stefans 56 M 7 35:11 4:34 10 1:17:27 17.4 1:28 8 58:29 9:26 2:57:08

10 240 Gary Silkaitis 55 M 1 25:19 3:41 7 1:12:37 18.6 5:59