Weekend of Tinian Hot Pepper Festival and Turquoise Blue Triathlon & Swim

Turquoise Blue Triathlon & Swim

Feb 14, 2015

 

Before the sun was up preparations were underway at Kammer Beach and people were gathering to greet the sun for the start of the 2015 Swim – Bike – Run Triathlon.

 

The swim portion came first but bike and running gear had to be carefully arranged for easy access. Soon turquoise blue swim caps were seem everywhere clearly identifying the contestants as well as indelible numbers written on their arms and legs. 

 

 

Then participants began gathering on the beach or taking preliminary dips. Triangular route buoys were the same orangey yellow as the shirts of many of the Triathlon and Festival workers.

Soon just the swimmers were gathered at the edge of the water,

 



and were poised for the plunge.

 

The Mayor (red shirt) was on hand to give some opening remarks and encouragement.

 

Then they were off!



 

 

And racing out to round that first orange buoy.

 

 

In no time it seemed they were coming back

 



to shower,

 

to change,

 



and to depart on bikes.

 

 

The route looked long to me and hilly – up to suicide cliff, up to the airport and back to Kammer Beach. Here’s the route map the Mayor’s Office posted on FB.

 







Though the route (40 kilometers) looks long and tough to me, it seemed a very short time before the bikers were coming back and heading out again on foot to repeat 10 kilometers of that route running.

 

 

The first to arrive back from the run did so before all the swimmers were finished and it was hours before the last of the runners finished.

 

The overall winner is a former winner of this Triathlon (and others I imagine) and is known to be fast. Fast also on registering I guess as he got number 1! He was first in the swim and bike portions and second on the run. However his overall winning time of 2 hours 41 minutes and 07 seconds beat his own winning record of last year by more than a minute.

 

To read more about the winner and the triathlon see the Saipan Tribune:  “Miyazuka again tops Tinian Turquoise”

http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/miyazuka-tops-tinian-turquoise/

 No matter when they finished they were greeted by a welcoming table of cold drinks and fruits. And no matter when they finished I admire each of them for even entering this arduous event.
A ‘well done’ to each of them!



 

 They were then able to join the rest of us in enjoying the Hot Pepper Festival but that will come in another post

 

 

PS: All the pictures can be clicked to enlarge or to save.
Contestants (and others): if you want all 100 pics downloaded to your chip or flash drive use the email at the top of this page to get information on how.  You pay only postage, if applicable.