Mission Accomplished. Sunday morning Timi pulled out from behind a crop of trees off Mohonk Mountain Road and pedaled right into a pack of official racers in Ulster Count's famed half-ironman: Survival of the Shawanagunks. Let the games begin.
It was a beautiful day for exercise. Timi biked 28 miles, ran uphill 4 miles, swam 1.1 miles across Lake Awosting, ran 5 miles, swam .5 miles across Lake Minnewaska, ran 8 miles, swam 0.5 miles across Lake Mohonk, he ran 0.7 mile to skytop. Total time: 5 hours, 56 minutes.
Despite all our predictions, race workers did not attempt to throw the bandit out. Several volunteers questioned his lack of chip and number, but he threw them off the scent by claiming he'd overslept and missed the start. They waved him on and wished him luck the first few transitions. But by transition number four and five they began to get wise. By the final lap up to sky top--race organizers had radioed back to headquarters for an ID on the Austrian in the white t-shirt with no number and a rental bike.
That's when they knew: he'd poached the race. Race founder Don Davis came over to shake his hand at the finish, but clearly wasn't amused: "Congratulations Mr Johnstone. Hope you enjoyed it because this SOS will be your last." (Honestly, I wouldn't be so sure. This man has obviously never been on the receiving end of a discussion with a very persistent Timi.)
Get a look at the gear: the rental bike from Table Rock, the overextended post, the climbing helmet complete with rainbow flag. At least he didn't wear his leather shoes from Vienna.
He looks strong coming in after the biking. He takes off his shoes. Parker hands him a power bar. And he's off. Good luck.
The run went along the ridge line. Destination: Skytop. (The first pic is him at the finish)
Afterwards at Adam and Sabina's annual croquet party, everybody wants to know what happened. It's an epic tale. The audience was captive--until the food came out. That's okay. He kept talking...so what if everybody had stopped listening.
Croquet party was the best ever. The food was outstanding, and not only did I not come in last this year, I actually won my first round. Sunday was indeed a miraculous kind of day.
No comments:
Post a Comment