Half Vermont Journey

Half Vermont Journey is the name of the Half Iron Man race that took place in Lake Dunmore, on August 30th.


I thought participating in this race would be a good way to celebrate the end of summer (and I was not the only faculty nut to do so).


Getting my goggles ready for the swim
Third wave, all the pretty ladies




Ready...














Go!











The swim was fun and pleasant, water temperature cool enough to swim long distance, the sky clear. The orange buoys easily visible and there were many volunteers on canoes which helped with sighting.







The bike portion was also very nice, given the good condition of Rt 7 on the stretch picked for the course. The only down side of this leg of the event was the line outside the only portable potty (where I lost at least 6-7 minutes). Photo from Lightworks





Now the run was a different story. I had been running a decent pace for most of the month of August, but knew my knee could misbehave after mile 6. To my surprise it was another old injury that flared up and turned the las 6 miles of the half marathon into a pain fest.














But I finished. And having completed all three "manageable" triathlon distances (I leave the ironman distance to the truly ambitious)

I now know how to train for next season,













A very patient support team





and a smile

Colonia del Sacramento

Just across from Buenos Aires, after a one hour crossing of the Rio de la Plata by Buquebus, is the lovely town of Colonia.













A World Heritage site since 1995, it is also the oldest town in Uruguay.






Aside from the beauty of its well preserved colonial architecture and surrounding landscapes, it is the relaxed nature of its people that makes a weekend in Colonia a worthwhile experience.



Walk the streets, ride a bike for a few minutes, and life's pace drastically slows down, to a pleasant welcoming more humane rhythm, so rare nowadays.











While following this car on my bike, I noticed the driver entertained a baby at the wheel, so his other passengers could savor a hot mate, undisturbed (Domingueo al estilo uruguayo)


To the West there is a beautiful bay overlooking small islands




Along the bay the running is scenic, but it gets better at the end of the "Rambla"(pictured below), where the only option is beach running













A horse getting his exercise in the early am








Left standing from when bullfighting was a legal and popular activity, is the Plaza de Toros, here in the distance, behind vehicles circulating the main avenue. This golf cart was one of the rental options from Thrifty.

























To the East beaches are more deserted and the sand white and very fine






























And for dinner, this Pulpería within the Centro Histórico served a remarkable meal of simple local flavor












a site where the next day we encountered excellent street artists

Lake Dunmore Tri

Completed the Lake Dunmore Triathlon, on August 9th. Great site for a first Olympic Distance Tri. The support staff and volunteers are top-level and the course very safe. That is additional to a lovely atmosphere, friendly people and a number of impressive athletes with top of the line gear.






(Sandiway Fong kindly captured my attempt to make up time a few meters before the finish)
Bike picture from Light Works
Swim picture

Despite the beautiful scenery, I was slow, so a little disappointed at my efforts, but so it goes when training is sporadic and life complex.


(The Mad River Rec Path, an excellent running site)

To respond to friends, who surprised asked me why do a triathlon, I can only say... it was great fun to play outdoors. (part of some choices we make along the way...)






or as Robert Frost said in his poem..

The Road Not Taken




Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I - I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference


In memory of my good friend Alejandro R.