Tri again- Lunatic Triathlon

I have had more than a few people tell me "You should do a triathlon."  I have always been intrigued by the "You should" statements. Whether it is a marathon I haven't done or a sport excursion I haven't tried, I wonder where "you should" statements originate.  (Ironically, no matter where I go in this country almost invariably the first marathon I am asked whether I have run or not is NOT one of the 115 I actually HAVE run.  The odds are pretty phenomenal against that but it happens nonetheless. Followed by "Well, you should do it!")  I guess my point is, believe me, I have probably thought about that specific race or that specific new event.  It all comes down to time or money or both.  But, yes, definitely the triathlons or mixed sporting events have been calling me for quite some time.

Back in 2003, I swam the swim leg of a tri in Erie, PA.  I think our team won 2nd place in our age group, whatever age group we were in as there was like 20 years difference between the oldest and the youngest!

I promise I wasn't flipping the Stealth Bird.  I was holding my goggles.

Then in 2007, I again did the swim portion of a tri for a team in a DC triathlon and learned the importance of lubing up your neck in a wetsuit the hard way.

 If a picture could actually say "Mother EFFER" this might be it.

Finally, in 2008, I did my first full tri at the Deer Creek Tri close to my new home in Salt Lake City.

Are these the "Fields of Gold" Sting sung about?

The time has come to give another tri a shot.  So on June 25th, I will be participating in the Lunatic Triathlon in Price, UT.  With a 9 mile bike ride, 5K run, and 350 yard swim under the nearly full moon, the event begins at 10:00 pm.  For a night owl like myself, that is just about as perfect as you can get!

OK this is just one cool freaking logo.

I have been more or less getting back into the pool the past month as a way to counter balance all the damage I did to my legs in my 202 mile run last month in the American Odyssey Relay.  I was actually thinking I would be elsewhere come the end of June and had no intention of doing anything of this nature.  However, at the Grand Valley Half Marathon a few weeks ago, I saw a poster for this triathlon and became quite intrigued.

So with this rather short swim distance, just getting warmed up bike ride and cursed running distance that is the 5k to contend with, I thought this would be a fun way to challenge myself and see if I am regaining any of the speed I have lost in the past 6 months or so while training for ultras.

Should be fun no matter where I place!