Approximately thirty-five Tallahassee-area triathletes braved rough seas and scorching temperatures to compete in the 18
th Annual Gulf Coast Triathlon in Panama City Beach. Nearly 2000 triathletes from around the country and world pour into PCB every May to test themselves in the largest half-Ironman in the US. The event consists of a 1.2-mile swim in the Gulf, a 56-mile bike tour of Bay County, and a 13.1-mile run (and I use the term loosely) along the beach highway.The race commenced at 6:25 am Saturday when the cannon sounded and the professionals sprinted for the surf. The women were thrown into the mix at 6:30, with an additional 5 waves of swimmers unleashed in 10 minute intervals thereafter. A most unpleasant southwest wind had blown steadily the night before and into the morning, whipping the Gulf into a frenzy. To make matters worse, the recent hot weather had raised the temperature of the water above the 78-degree wetsuit cutoff. Therefore, the athletes were forced to enter an angry Gulf without their favorite swimming aid and personal floatation device.
The throng on the shore watched as many participants were buffeted about. The waves and currents made forward progress difficult, and the swimmers routes through the buoys were as convoluted and confused as a drunken spring-break student driving a jet ski. Numerous off-course swimmers were corralled by jet-ski or kayak mounted race officials and redirected toward the distant shore. We thanked them and forged on toward the beach.
Having successfully made it back to dry land, we mounted our two-wheelers and pulled out onto the highway. By this time, our wonderful southern sun had reared its ugly head full up, and temperatures crept into to the 80's. The order of the day was fluid consumption, and an endless line of cyclists greedily grabbed at water bottles at the aid stations. The bike course is predominantly pancake flat, the one exception being the climb up the Intercoastal Canal Bridge. Race officials on motorcycles zoomed up and down the road, casting a wary eye about for drafting and other violations. The highway was littered with dropped equipment and more than a few cyclists were left stranded on the roadside, kicking at flat tires and cursing their luck.
The remaining participants rolled into the transition area as the air temperature was set to broil. In addition to donning running shoes and sunscreen, most athletes used the transition to make the necessary mental shift from competition to survival mode. The run course resembled a stream of refugees fleeing the land of lycra, as dazed runners stumbled forward with pained expressions on their faces and cramps in their hamstrings. Harpies at beachside bars cruelly tempted us with cold beer as we continued our trek toward the finish line. The low point of the run had to be the short turn-around loop in St. Andrews State Park. Dante's twelfth circle of hell had nothing on that stretch of pavement.
Mercifully, the aid stations were placed every mile, and each was an oasis of ice, cold Gatorade, and food. The enthusiastic volunteers tended to the runners and sent us on to the next stop. As we mentally checked off the miles, the finish line began to come into view. A terrific crowd cheered in each of the competitors and a small army of medical personnel ministered to the dehydrated finishers. The IV fluids and draft beer flowed freely as triathletes and family members celebrated their accomplishment.
The winners were Alec Rukosuev (Apopka,Fl) in 4:12:21 and Allison Hayden (Dade City,Fl) in 4:48:26. Both are professional triathletes as well as former winners of the event. Amongst the locals, Brian Fleischman provided a professional-caliber performance with his 4:24:56 to finish 4
th overall. On the Women's side, Mary Gorham was our local pacesetter in 5:27:16. Other outstanding performances by locals included age group awards garnered by Rob Roller, Jeff Bowman, Terry Presnell, George Palmer, Judie Kean, and John Fair (Mara's dad)Besides being a Spring Break mecca, Panama City Beach is the host to two world-class triathlon competitions, the Gulf Coast Triathlon and Ironman Florida (in November). These people know what they are doing. The race organization, community support, and attention to detail are second to none, and each competitor leaves with a good experience (and sore legs).
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Tallahassee Area Finishers
PLACE NAME AGE TIME AGE GROUP PLACE 4 BRIAN FLEISCHMANN 21 4:24:56 2 amateur 47 ROBERT ROLLER 41 4:52:10 3/172 49 JEFF BOWMAN 38 4:52:38 10/233 n/a WRIGHT/JAYNES/CATO n/a 5:06:08 6/27 mens team 134 RICHARD BAKER 38 5:07:55 28/233 246 BRUCE MOORE 42 5:23:34 28/172 257 TERRY PRESNELL 50 5:24:16 4/61 290 MARY GORHAM 33 5:27:16 10/75 308 RONNIE GODWIN 36 5:28:28 61/233 425 JAY HERRING 42 5:37:33 45/172 n/a HARDEN/VIEGAS n/a 5:43:12 14/30 mixed team 595 TONY GUILLEN 31 5:48:36 104/227 599 BOB BARRABLE 47 5:49:03 28/92 619 GEORGE PALMER 55 5:50:48 5/28 674 TODD WILLIAMS 29 5:54:26 84/153 743 MARA FAIR 33 5:59:41 28/75 894 ANNE BLACHFORD 23 6:12:52 16/36 948 JIM PHILLIPS 34 6:17:37 151/227 951 BILL DUFFACK 34 6:18:01 152/227 968 NICOLE GRABER 37 6:19:09 30/63 987 CARROLL HAGESETH 36 6:21:02 30/67 1043 ANN GUILLEN 31 6:25:31 42/75 1124 THOMAS FISHER 39 6:31:43 170/233 1143 WALLACE RANDELL 46 6:33:23 21/40 clydesdale 1145 TIM SHEA 36 6:33:29 176/233 1153 LORANNE AUSLEY 36 6:33:47 43/67 1347 JUDIE KEAN 54 6:57:52 2/8 1353 JOHN FAIR 61 6:58:55 7/12 1379 CHRIS ROLLINS 27 7:02:20 133/153 1399 GINA HICKEY 22 7:08:21 32/36 1449 CHRISTOPHER HUNT 37 7:17:12 wetsuit/not scored 1468 KATHY MCDARIS 42 7:20:46 41/47 1469 KIMBERLY ORTLOFF 31 7:20:46 65/75 1572 JOSEPH ALTENBURG 45 8:04:07 34/40 clydesdale