Team Member: Dennis Reardon

Race Name: Lake Lanier Sprint Triathlon

Race Date: 10/4/09

Race Placement/Time/Qualification: 1st overall/ 58:54

Tell us about your race (limit 500 words)…: I wanted to race one more time this season. I wasn’t expecting too much since I had raced in California the weekend before. I thought that I would be competing against Sam Morgan, but later found out that he was not able to make it to the starting line. I had won this race 2 years ago in 58:55, dedicating the race that year to my dog Kailua who had passed away the week prior. This year I dedicated the race to my baby girl Adilee and wife Jaydene They weren’t able to make it to the race, but I thought about them the entire time. The weather was ideal, overcast and cool. The swim went by quickly. I started in the 3rd wave, so there were others out on the course 4 and 8 minutes ahead. My goal on the bike was to hold off Mark Linenberg as long as possible. I was disappointed when he flew by me at mile 6. He was in contention for the win, since he finished 2nd to me 2 years ago. My goal now was to keep him in sight which didn’t last long. I caught up to Ashley Folkes, who also was in contention for a top spot, at mile 10. He let me know that Mark was now a minute up at this point. I came off the bike with 4 others ahead, 3 of which had 4 and 8 minute head starts. I caught Mark within the first mile. On the way, I passed 2 others. I saw the leader just past mile one, heading back into the finish. This motivated me to push it all the way to the line. I finally realized that I had won the race when I was told that the leader finished in just over an hour. It was good to end the season with a win. The team racked up the hardware with the men’s and women’s overall titles, the overall men’s master title, and multiple age group placements. I can’t wait until next season so that my daughter can see her daddy race!