Auke Bay - Aukeman Tri (July 2022)
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Juneau was set to host the IRONMAN Alaska August 11, 2022, so Juneau's very active triathlon community held a "sprint" version of the annual Aukeman Tri to prepare Juneau athletes for the Ironman.
It helps triathletes preparing for a triathlon to practice on parts of the same course and renew transition skills. Likewise, photographing a short triathlon is good training for photographing a full-length Ironman event, especially when the weather predictions (for adverse photographic conditions) are similar.
The sprint triathlon yielded these images, selected for publication because they tended to say something of the struggle - and pleasure - of a hard but endurable event. And something too of the fortitude and determination on many faces in not ideal race conditions.
Swimmers were to start in waves from the left side of this Auke Lake dock:
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Despite the rain, a competitor displays undampened enthusiasm before the swim.
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Launching from the side of the dock in close proximity:
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Many competitors, after leaving the Auke Lake, began transitioning to the ride while still running to the transition area.
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The women's eventually winner, Eliza Dorn, adjusts her helmet as she approaches the ride start line.
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Happiness is a warm wetsuit.
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Even a sprint triathlon requires fuel, and this racer grips a gel with her teeth since her hands are busy with her bike as she approaches the ride start line.
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Justin Dorn, the eventual men's winner, brakes at the end of the very wet ride; he has already taken off his bike shoes to speed his transition to the run.
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John Bursell was the first man to cross the finish line, but despite his fine race and a fast final kick, he
finished second overall given staggered start times.
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The ultimate men's winner, Justin Dorn, finishing fast, up on his toes:
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Emotions were mixed as racers neared the finish line and as the rain drops poured down:
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Observers applauded.
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Friends race in step to the finish.
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Terrific final push by a strong runner:
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A guest escort to the finish line:
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Some spectators watched impassively.
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Comments
After a lifetime of mainly expressing myself with words, my postings here will mainly rely on images. They will speak for themselves to some extent, but I'll usually add a few comments of explanation. I've taken photographs for decades, since the 1950's, inspired in part by my father's photographic skill. Four years of photo assignments and quality darkroom time eventually gave way to decades of casual and family picture-taking. I re-immersed myself when I left film and turned to digital.