Nearly on the border of the
dry and barren border between Colorado and Utah, is a town called Loma, Colo. A
town enveloped in a wingspan of mountains, the Colorado National Monument looms
in the south, The Mesa stands tall to the east, and The Bookcliffs complete the
haphazard circle on the northern stretch of the area.
An outdoor haven,
indubitably, this area of Colorado is the home of many natural arenas that have
become the setting for races of all kind. On Oct. 6th, 2013,
Highline State Park in Loma served as the hub for the Desert’s Edge Triathlon.
As I scraped ice from my
windshield at 7:15 a.m., I began making plans for an extended warm-up run for
the race that began at 9:00 a.m. Bike racks, wet suits, and plenty of water
stations gave heed to the race taking place.
Being part of a relay team,
and the last leg of my relay at that, I watched as anxious athletes began their
quirky, muscle loosening routines. Their breath left their bodies like steam
leaves your mug of coffee—slowly and lingering.
Despite the chilling
temperatures, athletes took to the course with personal records in mind. The
top male finisher in the Olympic triathlon, John O’Neill from Edwards, Colo.,
finished in 1:59:54 minutes. The top female finisher, Heather Gollnick from
Steamboat Springs, Colo., finished in 2:24:22 minutes.
Due to the ice bath that was
Highline Lake, the swimmer on the relay I was a part of forfeit during his
race. We finished the triathlon with an added penalty, but without the
competitive adrenaline pulsating through our veins.
A ‘Did Not Finish’ (DNF)
alongside our team name serves as my fuel for continual and intensive training.
Happy Trails.
Here's a look at the tri course compiled by the race officials:
Here's a look at the tri course compiled by the race officials:
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