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85--Kevin's First Tri @ Site News     Sep 22 2002 - 14:40 PST cherie writes: On Sunday September 22, 2002 Kevin Gardiner completed his first triathlon in 1:16 minutes. It was the Long Beach Triathlon and a group of friends (including Greg, Diane, Hilda, and myself) went down to the beach to watch the warm sunrise and the swimmers jump into the cool ocean. The event started with a 1/2 mile swim (Kevin's strongest event), then a 13 mile bike, to be finished by a 3 mile run. Kevin was the athlete, I was the photographer, and Greg was the videographer. Here are the results. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 4723    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   The group of 30 to 34 year olds in the competition all wore red caps. They were the age-group considered to be the fastest so they started first, just one minute after the professionals. Kevin's in a red cap! Sunrise by the finish line. Just one more reason for Kevin to do triathlons...cute girls. Kevin looking cool in his Speedo (a very difficult thing to do.) Kevin and Justin, two friends pushing each other to do their best. One last stretch! One last "high five" between Kevin and Justin before the race starts. "Swimmers...take your places at the starting line." "On your marks." "Get set." "Go!" "And they're off!" At this point I was glad I was the warm photographer, and not the cold swimmer. Kevin was one of the first few people to finish the 1/2 mile swim. His "reward" for finishing the swim so fast, is a long barefoot run up the beach. Kevin beats Justin in the swim, but Justin changes faster and is on his bike first. I've captured either Kevin's anger at Justin being in the lead, or Kevin getting serious. This ain't no bike ride in the park anymore! Kevin leaving hte "transition" area. Look at all those bikes, whose owners haven't even finished the swim yet! One way to find your bike quickly, a happy-face balloon. Justin doing great! Go Kevin! Nothing gets between a man and his bike! Kevin blowing past the Long Beach "wall of whales." Kevin with a little competition. He comes down the final turn and finishes the bike ride with a smile just as big as the balloon's! Kevin is one of the first ones back...the bike racks are practically empty! Kevin preparing for the run! I think Kevin must be singing the "Rocky" theme song to himself. Greg captures it all on video! As Kevin runs by he says words I will never forget: "I'm dying!" The crowd gathers at the finish line. The first female to cross the finish line, Olympic silver-medal winner "Julie". Justin crosses the finish line in a full sprint! Only seconds away from finishing! Kevin smiling because he is done! Now that tastes good! The number that goes down in history. Justin and Kevin, two friends celebrating! The triathlete and photographer, Kevin and Cherie Kevin's biggest fans, the twins, Hilda and Diane.