That's the Spirit!

Source: dcist.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

DC has become a huge triathlon town. It has just the right mix of weather, trails, and type A personalities with lots of money and limited athletic backgrounds to nurture a vibrant tri community

Last weekend was the Nation's Triathlon, an Olympic length race (1 mile swim, 24 mile bike, 6.2 mile run) in the Potomac River and around the city. It's a huge race, and for lots of triathletes, their first competition.

Despite this, a number of the racers nevertheless take the race and themselves VERY seriously. This is DC, after all- land of lawyers, lobbyists, and assorted a-holes. Ron and I stopped doing this race because it was dangerous to have a bunch of unexperienced cyclists and bunch of aggressive racers with something to prove on such a crowded course.

Which is why the guy above is so fabulous. Instead of racing with a triathlon bike (usually starting at $2k to buy), or a road bike (about $800), or even a hybrid (which I used for my first race and which is NOT RECOMMENDED), the guy raced on a Capital Bikeshare bike.

From princeofpetworth.com

These bikes are not light. They are not aero. They are commuter bikes that you can rent at points around DC, usually for an hour or so, to get to work or go grocery shopping. They are the antithesis of a racing bike.

Jefferson Smith, my new favorite triathlete, completed the 24 miles of the bike race on a Bikeshare bike with an average pace of about 11.5 miles per hour.

That is pretty slow. The winner completed that part of the race with a 24.2 mph pace; Ron and I completed the 112 miles of our Ironman with an average pace of about 15.5 mph.

But who gives a damn? Sure, fine, if you're really, truly in the running to win, it matters. But if, like most of us, you're closer to the middle (or, ok, the back) of the pack, who cares? This guy was out there on a gorgeous day, having a great time riding around on city streets that are usually off limit to bikes, and is just as much of a triathlete as the guy who won.

Hats and helmets off to Jefferson Smith, for putting a stake in the ground for finding joy in everything you do!