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 24 Hours of Triathlon: one athlete's experience
by Michael Kelly
Most of you will be unsurprised to learn that I took part in something a little on the athletically crazy side a few weekends ago. 24+ hours of back to back triathlons. Before you write me off as a complete loon, I did not do the event solo.
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"I just wanted to write and let you know that I really enjoyed the race this weekend. It was a great idea and very well executed. I'm so impressed at how smoothly it went for a first time event! I look forward to competing in the future..." -- Emily Gade, Team Buff Squad 1
“You have recaptured the essence of triathlon with this event... it felt like my first triathlons in '82. What you recreated was that special combination of high end athletics and a collegial informality that made the event 'fun' for me.” – John Hughes
“I loved the race! It was an amazing event and so very well organized … I voted your race as the best 2007 race in the Colorado Runner race survey ;-)” - Kimberly Thoman
“First off, and most important, had a great time at a race that was run with great esprit. (I’ve been racing since 1981, so this is not just post-race happy gas.) The personal touches – the movies, the morning donuts and Starbucks, asking folks what they want in the middle of the night… even your headphone rule interpretation – made it super cool.” – Steve Gibson
“My wife and I entered on a lark as we’ve never done anything more than an Olympic tri but are intending to transition to HIM and IM events in a year or so (as commitments and schedules permit training). We never expected such a fun event. The camaraderie was amazing. We both felt totally safe throughout the course. Thanks for going through the hoops and hassles to have the event totally contained within the state park!” – Randy Rose
“Thank you for such a wonderful event. My team had a blast! There is something to be said about teamwork and strategy. We will definitely be back next year to defend our title!” - Heather Rodriguez
“Thank you so very much for an epic, well run race. This is gonna be the hot new format.” - Shane "Zenman" Eversfield
“Many thanks to both of you for organizing such a great race! Your volunteers and contractors were fabulous, the setting and weather perfect, a huge success. Now we know what to plan for in the future on Labor Days.” - Oza and Milan Klanjsek
“First, I want to say that this was an incredible experience. We had a blast and are looking forward to next year!! I thought your organization and prompt responses to questions was remarkable.” – Kevin McCarty
"Thanks for hosting such a great event ... this was my first ever triathlon. Although I came in very intimidated I found that the competitors and staff were very helpful and easily approachable. All of the follow ups and genuine concern for making the event enjoyable really paid off. I think that in addition the sets of restrictions (swim cut off times for example) and the ability to be able to complete the events in any order with any distribution within the teams sets this event in a totally new category where strategies can vary greatly and have tremendous impact on final results." -- Adam Morgenthaler, solo and first time triathlete
"Thanks for a great race. Now that I've had a chance to catch up on some sleep, the whole experience is just starting to sink in! WOW!" -- Becky Dreasher, Team Fast Forward B
"I can't believe how much fun I had doing your race! Even riding my bike in the middle of the night was an awesome experience. And thank you for the impressive award: a PrincetonTec headlight, a Descente jacket, a Multi-sport Design Works transition flag, a Fuel Belt and later I found the Nike gift certificate - WOW! When I signed up for this event I had no idea what to expect. My daughter thought I was crazy and wanted no part of 24 Hours of Triathlon. I think by the end of the race she was jealous that she hadn't signed up. This was one crazy idea that worked out better than I could have anticipated." -- Carol Lyndell, 2nd placed solo woman and oldest competitor at 58
"Great event, very well managed and athlete friendly. I really like the open format. The flexibility allowed us to update our plan as the 24 hours wore on. It also allowed a non-competitive team, like ours, to really enjoy ourselves. Everything was convenient, and the fan support at 3:00AM after a long run was REALLY encouraging." -- Robert Sibley, Solo
 "Thank you again for putting on a great event! I will be back next year to see what I can really do." -- Leslie Holton, Solo
"Thanks again for putting on such a fantastic event. Not too many events bring a crust-stained smile to EVERY participants face. I've raced in a lot of different distances and formatted races, but this was the most unique with a special kind of energy." -- Lars Finanger, Team InsideTri.com
 "Thanks again for putting on such a great event! It was a lot of fun and I hope you have it again next year. I commend you on great creativity to spice up the Tri scene with an unusual, tough event, ..." -- Wayne P. Kurtz, Solo
"Thanks again Ian for putting on a fabulous race. Your staff and all of the volunteers were amazing and I really hope you'll put the race on again next year." -- Michael Kelly, Team Fast Forward A
 "It was such a pleasure to meet you both and experience the world's first of such a challenging event. I had a great time (even though my face may not have shown it at times). I will definitely be back to improve on this year's performance. It was a honor to be one of the Pros for the Day, and I hope I held my end of the bargain." -- Alfredo Matheus, solo and men's Pro for a Day
 "I saw a mountain lion on the dirt section of the bike early Sun morning. The lion ran across the road in front of me. I had a great time. Thanks for putting on a kick ass race." -- Brian Nicholson, solo
"We were proud to be part of the 1st 24 hour triathlon and had a great time participating ... Not only was this an awesome event, but it was very inspiring to see all these athletes pushing themselves to the max for a full 24 hours. A special thanks goes to you and all of the volunteers for making this such a great event!" -- Sarah Vernon, Team Boulder Performance Network / Skirt Sports
 "Once again, I returned to work on Monday with a case of gammy legs. I no longer get the worried "what HAPPENED to you?!" from my colleagues when I show up in this state. They recognize, now, that any signs of limping, bleeding or abrasion are usually indicators of some very satisfying weekend adventures. This weekend’s 24 Hours of Triathlon was no exception to this. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this was one of the funnest races I’ve ever done in my life. Not only did I manage to beat the male soloists (quite unexpected) – but I happened to win the Pro for a Day raffle, and was treated to some VERY nice schwag and the TLC of a very awesome support crew." -- Iona MacKenzie, overall solo winner, world record holder and women's Pro for a Day
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