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Triathlon attracts rookie, veteran triatheletes

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Eat my bubbles...tread...dust."

That was the message written in marker on 11-year-old Nick Hopkins' back at the 8th Annual My First Tri triathlon at Post'l Point June 9. Hopkins, of Shalimar, Fla., also had a message on his right arm that read "Keep going."

He completed the 200-meter swim, 8-mile bike ride and 2.5-mile run ranked 147 out of the 150 first timers, but that didn't matter to him -- he finished it.

"It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done," Hopkins said. "Riding the bike up the biggest hill wore me out."

Like Hopkins, more than 60 percent of the 248 total participants were rookies at the annual triathlon.

Hopkins and the other 150 new triathletes were joined by fellow "rookie" University of Florida's 1996 Heisman Trophy winner and National Football League quarterback Danny Wuerffel. Wuerffel's father was an Air Force chaplain at Eglin during part of his tenure at the University of Florida.

Like any football player would, he compared the physical strain of the triathlon to that of the football field.

"It's totally different," he said. "Everything about football is high intensity, short spurts. The whole (triathlon) was controlled intensity and just long term. This was a very, very short triathlon but it seemed very, very long to me. I have so much respect for the people that do this and do it well."

After leading the Gators to their first national championship and spending more than six years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins, Wuerffel has an understanding of the competitive drive needed for triathlons.

"When you're competing in football, it's you versus them always," he said. "It seems like out here, it's everybody for everybody. (There's) a lot of encouragement. It's a very positive environment. It's just really neat."

Wuerffel, and his wife Jessica, finished 57 and 59 overall for the first timers with a time just over 60 minutes.

"I was planning on (this triathlon) being my first and maybe my last, but we had a lot of fun and my wife loves it. I imagine I'll do a few more."
Like the Wuerffels, the race's overall winner was also a "first-timer." Andrew Norton, a 96th Air Base Wing lieutenant with one-month time in service, crossed the finish line with the best time overall. The assistant judge advocate general was involved in track and field during his college years. This was officially his first triathlon.

"I'm pretty new at triathlons," Norton said. "My game plan was to go as hard as I could and try to be with the leaders."

"Triathlons are a lot of hard work," he said. "It's a lot of fun to come out here and get a win. All the hard work pays off."

For third timer, Kyle Torster, a 796th Civil Engineer Squadron major, has experienced how much work is involved in getting through the event. His goal: get through the event unscathed.

"I didn't drown; I didn't crash; I didn't have a heart attack," he said. "All things to be thankful for."

Wuerffel is glad he didn't drown too.

"I was really worried about the swim," Wuerffel said. "I had never really swam before, and so I went out twice to make sure I could breast stroke if I had to. But that was my biggest fear; that I was going to drown. Once I got through that, I felt good."

For the 150 first timers and 98 alumni participants and their families, complimentary massages and food were provided. After completing the 200-meter swim, 8-mile bike ride and 2.5-mile run, many of the triathletes took advantage of the massages.



For complete My First Tri results:

My First Triathlon Awards 

My First Triathlon Overall First Timers Listing

My First Triathlon Overall Alumni Listing

My First Triathlon Teams Listing