Ugly Dog Tri

Yesterday my wife and I went down to a park near Grass Springs for the Ugly Dog Gravel Triathlon. (A swim, a bike ride on gravel roads, and a run on trails and gravel.) She volunteered, helping with the bike transition area, and I photographed. It was a lovely warm, sunny morning and early afternoon. Here are some of my favorites, a mix of the setting, the athletes, spectators, and the swim, bike, run, and finish. I used a warmish toned recipe from Fuji X Weekly called “Pacific Blues” for the morning’s photos.

First, the scene. Here’s a couple guys and dog fishing on Portage Lake, a few hundred feet offshore from where the race started.

There is a lot of waiting at the start of triathlons, as they start the race in stages, with athletes in the different length versions of the race waiting their turns, along with spectators, often family members and friends waiting to see their athlete begin.

And, as everywhere, a lot of people watching their phones. (I like using people to frame other people.)

Athletes, sitting, standing, strategizing, waiting. People of every sort, young and old, some on rickety old bikes, some with the highest of high tech gear.

Then the excite when the athletes rush into the water. Within each wave they use a self-selecting system, with the faster swimmers going first, followed by the slower ones.

Then more waiting, for subsequent waves.

Then the transition from the swim to the bike. Running up out of the water, then up a path to the bike transition area. Some people change, stripping down, underneath a towel. Others have clothing they wear through multiple parts of the race.

Then the bike part of the race! Speed, with the occasional wipeout.

There’s a lot of waiting, waiting for your athlete to finish the bike stage, come through, start the run, and then more waiting, for the finish. And, finally, the triumphant finish. The “Ugly Dog” is a family friendly race, so this man was able to pick up two of his children just before the finish; his son ran along side him for the last few yards.

Then the reward, for racers and spectators.

Also the beer tent, where I was when I make this photo. (I was drinking the same, really good IPA.)

I hope you enjoy the photos. I had a great morning and enjoyed the beer!