This past weekend I participated in the 2013 USAT “Florida Regional” triathlon in Clermont, Florida. If there’s one thing I hate about triathlons, it’s the cold… Waking up at 5:30AM to be ready to compete at 7:30AM, fine… I can handle that. But, add cold weather +  0.5 mile lake swim, and I consider going back to sleep! I learned 2 things while competing this past weekend in Clermont.  1) Hand-cycling up the hills in Clermont was ridiculously hard, and I never want to do it again.  2) Always use Harpix handball resin on wheelchair racing gloves if there’s a chance of rain.. I didn’t apply resin on my gloves the night before, and as a result they had zero grip. I was forced to push 3 miles with bare hands.

Crossing the finish-line at 2013 Clermont, FL Regional paratriathlon

Of the handful of participants in my division I was able to get 1st place. Next paratriathlon is in May. 2013 Nationals is being held Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2013 in Austin, TX. This will be the true test, as the top elite paratriathletes will be competing, and I’ll be racing for points and rank.