You'll never know what you've got until you "TRI"-

The BIG DAY for the Big Rock Olympic Triathlon had arrived - May 9, 2009. The alarm went off at 4:15 a.m. and we rolled out of bed and onto the floor for a little stretching to begin the warm-up for the day! Look at the determined look in those eyes!
We drove over to the Perris Lake Park and began the check-in process. For some strange reason they wanted to write Tod's age on the back of his calf! We figured is was to aid the paramedics so they would know which participants to keep an eye on. :)

Calvin had a last minute flat to repair in the parking lot-

And then it was off to the transition area to get ready for the swim. Tod asks - "Does the zipper go in front?"

After donning their wetsuits - the two head off to the lake for the first leg of the Triathlon. Calvin is the good-looking one on the right.

Calvin was eager to check out the water temperature. Not bad - certainly not the 55 degrees they told us it would be.

Calvin's group started first right at 7:00 a.m. sharp! Tod was left alone on the shore (with about 200 more in his group). Is is too late to back out? Tod looks just a little bit nervous!

The actual swim portion is 1500 meters (.93 miles). This requires two laps around the buoys seen in the picture below - not the yellow and orange ones - but the buoys barely visible just before the island.

Tod struggled with the swim - and only completed one lap. He disqualified himself but didn't want to hold Calvin up for the biking and running. Does he look whipped already?? Tod headed for the transition area to get ready to ride.

Calvin completed his two laps and came charging up the beach. Is this guy a machine or what? He's on the run to transition.

The transition area was full of activity. Wetsuit and sand off - helmut and biking shoes on and they're ready to roll for the next segment.

The biking portion consisted of two laps totaling 40K (24.85 miles). There were two "small" hills on each lap. The last "small" hill on each was a killer! What a way to end and get you warmed up for the run!

Transtion from bike to running was short - until some guy asked Calvin if he would take a picture of him with his bike!?! He did the shorter Sprint Triathlon and was finished... and must have assumed that Tod and Calvin were too. But they were still smiling!

Another packet of GU and they're ready to head off for the run. The run is 10K (6.2 miles).

Calvin is off and ready to go. "Come on Dad - we don't have all day!"

So off they went. Calvin could have easily taken off and run at this point and left old Tod in the dust but the two were in this to finish together. Tod had to do some walking during this final leg and encouraged Calvin to go on ahead.

Calvin could have easily cruised on through this leg of the event but stayed with the old guy - probably afraid that he might die along the way! They both stuck it out and came back to the finish line with smiles on their faces!

And there's the finish line - 3 hours and 21 minutes after the start!

Here's the two in the shade doing a little cool down.

It was a great event - and quite a memory. Just as they were coming into the finish line someone yelled - "Hey - a family team!" I don't know how they knew but it was great to be there together!

Here they are - back at the cars - packing up and getting ready to go. You can't tell in the picture but the guy on the left is moving slower than the guy on the right! Go figure!

We went back to the hotel and showered and cleaned up. Calvin was first in the shower AND first back in bed. Nothing like a good nap after a hard workout!!

The Big Rock Triathlon rocks - and now we decide if we'll do it again... in November!