The inaugural USA edition of the Ironman triathlon took place on August 15th at Lake Placid, New York.  The photos in this collection were taken by Bola Awofeso, who make the long trek to watch the event.  According to him, spectating was quite arduous as he was out there for 14 hours.  Since the author of these notes was not there, he must necessarily use his imagination to interpret what was happening.  We apologise for any inconvenience or embarrassment that this may cause anyone (tsk, tsk, ...)

• Photo 1:  The core group consists of NYU Tri Club members (some of whom also hold Central Park Track Club membership).  Their accommodations were at a community college dormitory in the Lake Placid area.  It is therefore not surprising that they revert quickly to frat rat activities ...
• Photo 2:  Far from the madd'ning crowd's ignoble strife, Julie Denney sat by herself to gather her thoughts.  This photo is not as serene as it seems, as there are a couple of major questions.  First, who is the person in the rainbow shorts on the side?  More disturbing is the fact that the magazine on top of the desk is Runner's World, and not some triathlon rag as one might expect.  Are there any real runners here?  We didn't think so ...
• Photo 3:  The MEN AT WORK sign is up, as J.P. Cheuvront and Ramon Bermo watch Scott Willett scale the top of the NYU team van to secure the bikes.
• Photo 4: It looks like Julie Denney and company are standing in line for something or the other.  There are about 1,600 entrants in this race, so there are bound to be lines for everything.
• Photo 5:  It looks like someone is being interviewed (see the tape recorder in the hand).  But what is Ross Galitsky's role here?  Interpreter?  Public relations handler? ...
• Photo 6:  Of course, the triathletes' most important items on the agenda are FOOD and DRINK.  At this outdoor picnic, while most of this group seems to listening to someone, Ross Galitsky is naturally more concerned about the camera.
• Photo 7:  The race start time is (very) early in the morning.  At that hour, the temperature was in fact only in the 40's.  But J.P. Cheuvront came prepared in his highly visible Central Park Track Club orange jacket.
• Photo 8: Julie Denney is trying hard not to giggle as she gets tickled by the pen being used to inscribe her race number on her thighs.

THE SWIM (2.4 MILES)

• Photo 9: One of the most spectacular views of triathlons is the mass swim start.
• Photo 10: Once they go off, it is just hundreds of flailing arms and kicking legs churning up white water.
• Photo 11: Our first guy out of the water is Scott Willett.  He came through so fast that the photographer only managed a sideway shot.
• Photo 12: Ross Galitsky goes into the transition in good sprinting form.
• Photo 13: Julie Denney had a fantastic swim leg.
• Photo 14: Ramon Bermo shows us where he got his reputation of being thick.  What is his chest width?
• Photo 15: Is J.P. Cheuvront scanning for his bike, or the photographer?
• Photo 16: Thomas Pennell looks so focussed that he does not see the photographer at all.

THE BIKING (112 MILES)

• Photo 21:  Team leader Scott Willett zoomed by so fast that the photographer only got his backside.
• Photo 22:  Is Julie Denney slowing down for a Budweiser?
• Photo 23:  Ross Galitsky regards the traffic cones
• Photo 24:  Ramon Bermo is speedier than a stationary van
• Photo 25:  Scott Willett does not need to take a nap at the Adironack Inn on the Lake
• Photo 26:  Julie Denney reads the writing on the ground?
• Photo 27:  Ramon Bermo slows down around the corner to protect his $$$$ bike.
• Photo 28:  Ross Galitsky managed not to run over people crossing the street.
• Photo 29:  John Taylor could not wait to get into the marathon run, which he would finish in 5:57.

THE RUN (26.2 MILES)

• Photo 41:  Our photographer has learned the secret of the trade by positioning himself at the top of a long hill.  At this point, those StairMaster training would come in handy for Julie Denney.
• Photo 42: The hill is so long that the photographer has time to wait to refocus and take another shot of Julie Denney.
• Photo 43: Prior to the race, Ramon Bermo had scouted the course and declared that there is at least one hill that he would have to walk up.  Here he still looks like as if he running strong.
• Photo 44: Thomas Pennell starts his hill climbing.
• Photo 45: To be fair, the photographer also took some downhill photos.  This is at the half-marathon mark.  Although Julie Denney may exert little effort going downhill, it is still a body-jarring experience.
• Photo 46: Ramon Bermo rolls down the hill with a group of other runners. 
• Photo 47: If you take a look at this photo, you must wonder why Ross Galitsky would ever say that he is not a runner.  After 9 hours on the course, he is still in fine running form.  So don't ever let him con you again!
• Photo 48: The downhill is so easy for Thomas Pennell that he even has time to wave to his fans.
• Photo 49: We are now at the 23.5 mile mark and Ramon Bermo can still run with his arms moving.  He would be the first finisher among our contingent, in his ironman debut.
• Photo 50:  As we just said, Ross Galitsky is a runner.  Watch how the crowd sitting on the curb admire his form.
• Photo 51: By contrast, no one wants to look at Thomas Pennell's form ...?
• Photo 52: But the fastest marathon runner of the day is J.P. Cheuvront.
• Photo 53: John Taylor does not look like he is a hellish time on the marathon run.  But this was before the 16th mile when everything happened to him.
• Photo 54: This is our only photo of Richard Kixmiller.

POST-RACE ACTIVITIES

• Photo 81: J.P. Cheuvront and Thomas Pennell gave their Coca-Cola (TM) endorsements.
• Photo 82: Ross Galitsky lays back and gives his account to Juana Bermo and Aubin Sullivan.
• Photo 83: Ramon Bermo assures Juana that all those mornings when he got up at 4am to train was worth it.
• Photo 90: Happiness is the triathlete who did not have to run the marathon --- Scott Willett, who did well in the swim and the bike but knew that he could not finish the run because of an injury which has been bothering him for months.

We were informed that we did not possess all the pictures taken.  Here is one that was missing:

• Photo 91: We see Scott Willett and Aubin Sullivan sitting by the roadside, doing yoga exercises.