The town of Hiawasse is the home of the Georgia Mountain State Fairgrounds, which is the home of the Summer Sizzler International Distance Triathlon, which is the home of my second triathlon of 2007. The race was supposed to begin at 0800 on Saturday morning, but rescue crews postponed the event for a short time because a dense fog made it impossible to see the lake in which we would be swimming. With chattering teeth and hard nipples I tread water all through the postponement trying to stay warm.
At exactly 0830, 104 humans were loosed like arrows from a bow into the water, arrows that kicked and punched each other in the face as they raced for first place.
On the last mile of the 23 mile bike portion of the triathlon, something very scary happened to me. I passed a 14 year old girl named Katie June. I was scared, because the fact that I had just passed her meant that she had been kicking my ass for the entirety of the event prior to that moment.
Exactly two hours after I began the swim, I finished the triathlon. I had no idea where I had finished in the field, but I was more interested in free pretzels and Gatorade anyway. Once I had cooled down, I removed all of my gear from the transition area, attempted to rinse sweat and lake water out of my hair, and watched other competitors finish the race.
The awards ceremony was started before the final results were posted and before everyone had finished the race so that the award winners could get started on their journeys home as soon as possible. Yes, even though I still had know idea how I had placed, I did put on my Andy Jordan's Bicycle Warehouse in anticipation of another top three age group placing. Cocky, I know.
I quickly found out that I did not place in the top three in the overall male category, which did not surprise me, but I still had a chance to place in my age group, male 20 to 24. So, the time came and only one name was called for the male 20 to 24 age group and the name was mine, Charles Bowlay. As I, the only competitor in my age group, sauntered to the front of the crowd to retrieve my medal, the crowd turned its attention to the finish line to cheer on a 77 year old man who was just finishing, so I furtively snatched my medal and quickly ducked out of sight while they were distracted.
Not only did I get first place, but I got last place too.
As for Katie June, she won the overall female category, and yes she really is 14 years old.
Overall results are here
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