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When Dave Tobey gathered with members of the Tarpon Springs Rotary Club several months ago, they put the finishing touches on their plans for the 16th annual Tarpon Springs Sprint Triathlon, to be held Sept. 11.
What the Rotary Club members did not anticipate was 500 ambivalent triathletes, all wondering if they should stand in line to buy plywood or head out to Fred Howard Park.
Area bicycling events were canceling one by one. But Saturday's Tarpon Springs Sprint Triathlon went off on time, and race conditions (swim 0.25 mile, bike 10.5 miles and run 3.1 miles) turned out to be mild.
Two masters from Tampa were the top elites and the fastest of the day, with Rob DeCosta, 42, winning in 54 minutes, 10 seconds, followed by Clyde Ball, 46, in 56:22. DeCosta made the most of his swimming ability, hitting the beach in 7:32 and not looking back. DeCosta's mother, Barbara Baer, won the 65-69 women's division.
The hometown crowd was cheering loudly as Celia Dubey of Tarpon Springs crossed the line first among elite women in 59:45. Dubey, 32, was the only woman to finish in less than an hour.
"It was a huge thrill for me to win, especially since Tarpon Springs is my home sweet home," Dubey said.
Race announcer Brian Harrington requested a moment of silence for Sept. 11 as competitors stood on the beach awaiting the starter's signal. Only the sound of the waves could be heard as the moment honored the victims of the terrorist attacks.
Despite the quiet start and the uncertain weather, there was a festive atmosphere at a postrace celebration at Fred Howard Park. Baer enjoyed her 65th birthday celebration at the race, and her fellow triathletes began to sing to her as she held her award for her fifth triathlon victory.
Like many area residents, Baer passed on early retirement and works full time as a medical transcriptionist at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida.
"I wouldn't say Rob coaches me, and to tell you the truth, I don't know who inspires who," Baer said. "Rob is fantastic, of course. He trains very hard, and he loves it. I remember taking him to the beach over in Tampa in his baby buggy. He learned to swim at an early age."
Complete results are available at www.altavistasports.com
SUNCOAST CYCLING CLUB: Clearwater's Tom Ferraro celebrated with some of the 300 cycling members of the Suncoast Cycling Club at a Clearwater Beach restaurant Sunday. The members were celebrating the club's 10th anniversary, and Ferraro spoke about the goals of the club.
Its members are a mix of touring riders, triathletes, fitness enthusiasts and their families.
"We are most well-known for our fundraising efforts at the Diabetes Challenge, the bicycle tour, which has raised more than $80,000 for diabetes research efforts," he said. "And we're very proud of that."
For information on Suncoast Cycling Club, including the new social Saturday ride at 8:30 a.m. from Palm Harbor, visit www.suncoastcycling.com or call 727 781-2925.
CLEARWATER CLASSIC: Join members of the Suncoast Cycling Club, YMCA of the Suncoast and Florida's best USA Cycling racers at the Clearwater Classic Cycling Festival on Oct. 9-10.
Activities for the weekend will range from a 25-mile family ride, a spinfest challenge and thrilling, spectator-friendly criteriums in downtown Clearwater.
Fans will want to bring their cameras because the fastest cyclists in Florida will zoom around the short course. The professional roster will be packed with talented national team riders, including Derek Wilkerson, a past state road race champion from Pasco County. For information, visit www.clearwaterclassic.com or call 727 467-9622.
STRANGEMAN'S BEACH BIATHLON: Steve Strange changed his race date, but he is again offering the huge prize lists and entertainment for the unique 12th annual Strangeman's Beach Biathlon and 5K Run at Palm Pavilion in Clearwater Beach on Oct. 2.
Strange, of Clearwater, is a multisport coach, open-water swimmer and triathlete, and he will host the 8:30 a.m. event. Race distances will be run 2 miles, swim 0.25 mile, run 2 miles and swim 0.25 mile. This beach biathlon is popular with triathletes and swimmers. Relay teams are welcome. There also will be a 5K beach race.
For information, call Strange at (727) 442-9815.