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A test of endurance

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

From left: The fourth wave of triathletes including Kim Price, from Sebring, and Cristy Bartalo, from Tampa, sprint into Lake Jackson during the first leg of the Heartland Triathlon on Sunday in Sebring.

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: July 27, 2009

Updated:

SEBRING - Fifty-seven minutes and 23 seconds after the start of the Heartland Triathlon, Kevin Grogan was the first to cross the finish line.

"I'm feeling great," said Grogan, 36, a Minneola resident, just seconds after completing a quarter-mile swim, 14-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. "My fifth win in a row. I'm on a bit of a hot streak."

Grogan came into Sebring just one week out from a victory in an Atlanta race. Savoring his latest win, he was not sure where a future competition may take place.

"I don't like to sign up too far in advance," Grogan said.

A beautiful day for racing

Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" was blasting out of speakers on City Pier Beach prior to the 7:30 a.m. start.

Rain was, thankfully, something racers saw none of Sunday morning, which could not be said of the 2008 edition.

This year, the waters of Lake Jackson were calm and the skies were blue as the 423 competitors prepared to give it their all.

He's called Atlanta home for 30 years, but Dave Askeland was back in his original hometown this weekend for his second consecutive Heartland Triathlon.

Askeland first heard about the Sebring race through some e-mails he had received.

"It's interesting to run on the streets I literally grew up on," he said.

Jared Long, Jacob Livingston and Hunter Livingston broke the triathlon up between the three of them and did the race as a relay team.

The young participants have previously earned their Heartland Tri mettle in the kids' race.

"We wanted a little bit bigger of a challenge," said Hunter, 12, who was handling the biking portion.

Long, 13, was in charge of running. An hour before the starting wave, he was enjoying a pre-race banana and not sweating his responsibility.

The teenager credits playing soccer with helping him prepare for the race.

"I can do more than three miles," Long said.

Jacob, 13, was first out of the gate for his team with the quarter-mile swim. In his spare time, he enjoys hitting the water for recreation.

"For me, it's (swimming) not that hard," he said. "I'm ready."

On Saturday, 88 youngsters took part in the kids' race. Gavin Marshall, 9, of Naples had the best time in the junior division at 19 minutes and five seconds. Summer Weaver, 12, also of Naples, finished in 30 minutes and 18 seconds and led the senior division.

The cheering section

They weren't racing, but the fans that watched the swimmers on the beach and lined the roadways are an important part of any triathlon.

Their words of encouragement and praise give racers that extra boost of energy as they enter the home stretch.

George Livingston, 11, Jacob's brother, had thought about running in the kids' race Saturday, but decided to just come and cheer on his sibling and cousin, Hunter.

"It was too hot," George said.

Janet Wolfe was overlooking Lake Jackson for the first time as a Heartland Triathlon spectator. She was there to support her son, Michael Quigley.

"I like it," Wolfe said about the event.

Jackie Lamb was another first-time supporter. She came from Tampa to cheer on "a half-dozen crazy women!"

Aside from her friends, Lamb was also impressed by the previous day's speech from six-time Ironman champion Mark Allen.

"(He was) very, very inspirational," Lamb said.

And they're off

Marcia Percy was busy taking pictures as the triathletes got into the water and prepared for the race's start.

"I'm just a wannabe," said Percy, who was also part of a relay team. "It's so intimidating for so many people to do the whole thing."

Percy suffers from a fear of the water, so her event was bicycling.

"I'm the only Florida native who can't swim," she said.

The first wave started at 7:30 on the dot. Within a few minutes, emcee Don Elwell announced that the first swimmer was making his way out of the water.

"Good news, you're first," Elwell said. "Bad news, you're not done yet."

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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