Joe Coles and his crew put together a nice event.

The Salem Spring tri has long been a classic Sprint where 1^st timers and veterans alike come out to get their feet wet for the first time or see where their fitness is for one of the first races of the season.

"Ironman is do-able.  I promise.  I trained for my 2nd Ironman using Ben Greenfield's Ironman Dominator plan training for 8-12 hours per week.  With perfect race day conditions I could do a sub 11 hour race with my 2nd goal being sub 11:30..."

"This small farming community is more than accommodating and greeted us with open arms and freshly tuned cowbells."

I climbed up and out of the park only to see a monster hill ahead off me, my first triathlon had a category 3 climb with almost 800 ft of climbing in the first 3-1/2 miles.