Sunday, June 10, 2001 -- Frederick, MD
4th Annual FAST Triathlon (iPO Event Id#: 4041)
Story by Neal Riemenschneider with photos by Neal and Shea Riemenschneider

[Details] [Coverage]
[Overall Results] [Results by Class]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [Set 6] [Set 7]

A morning swim to get the triathlon started

The Frederick Area Swim Team (FAST) put on their annual triathlon in the Whittier Development in Frederick, MD. There was an event for adults and one for kids. Both groups swam 400 meters while the kids biked 2.6 miles and ran 1.3 miles, and the adults biked 13 miles and ran a 5K.

The race used the two pools in the development for the swim portion. The bike course had some tough hills while the run course had one really long hill in the second mile. Additionally, as the morning wore on, heat became a factor as the temperatures rose into the 80's.

Obviously, with a wave swim start, there is no real sense of a race for first but you couldn't tell that by observing the triathletes. All of them, including the kids, were determined to master the course is as fast a time as possible.

The art of dressing while cycling

When the last participant finished and all the results were tabulated, O.J Keller and Cindy Carlyle were determined to be the overall winners.

Carlyle, a personal trainer and mom from Leesburg, VA finished in 1:10:57 to take the win by a mere 3 seconds. "My time was slower than last year," explained the defending champ, "so I wasn't sure if I had a shot at winning this year." The president of the Old Dominion Triathlon was definitely happy about her win and plans to return next year to defend her title. Finishing that scandalizing 3 seconds back was Beth Kimmel from Ephrata, PA.

24 year-old bank manager Keller was happy with his finish time of 55:15. "I an originally from this area so it is good to be back. I was just training through this so I am real pleased with my effort, " stated the Timonium, MD resident. Finishing a few minutes back in second place was Matt Adams.

Thanks! See ya in 3.1 miles...

After, the race, the pool was open, the pizza arrived and participants lounged around the grass knoll waiting for the awards ceremony to begin. Many had nice comments about the event.

"It was a really fun race and I am glad I made the long drive," said Julia Peck of Culpepper, VA. Ex. Secret Service Agent and local athlete Larry Cunningham said, "It is always a nice race."

As for the kids, I had a tough time tracking them down as they were either in the pool or playing on the swings. I managed a few words with the 12 and under winning youth team members Hannah Bofinger age 9, her sister Rebekah Bofinger and friend Taylor Hartman, who are both 11. They were in complete agreement that the race was a lot of fun.

And another champion is crowned

So what was I doing there being strictly a runner? I asked Ruth a few months ago if she would do the swim part as part of a team for this event. She readily agreed, and after I sent in the registration, I told her that I forgot to mention that she would have to do the bike portion also. Naturally, that didn't sit real well with the Mrs. but I knew she wouldn't let me down, and she didn't. We took the Overall team title in 1:06:27 with Ruth out there for some 48 minutes to my 18. For some reason she was a bit more whipped after the event than I was.

Kudos to race director Bob Bofinger, his staff of volunteers, local police departments, and all the sponsors for a fun event.