photos by David Halterman

A swim, a bike and a run, oh my. This years Tri-the-Rim triathlon, held on the Fort Lewis campus, was an enormous success with record turnouts and couldnt-ask-for-better weather. A filed of nearly 200 athletes, comprised of men and women, young and old, took part in the race on Saturday morning. Beginning with a 500-yard swim, participants then swapped their goggles for a helmet during the 12-mile bike ride, and then laced up tight for a side-cramping 5K run. As the final racer crossed the finish line, times were tallied and posted, and an eat, drink and be merry attitude befell the athletes and spectators. Many people feel that the triathlon is the perfect race due to the fact that all aspects of physical fitness are tested, the main one, of course, being endurance. Others feel that triathlons strengthen the human spirit and show what each one of us is capable of. But perhaps its all in the numbers. After all, three is the magic number. And when is the last time you got exited over a quadrathlon?