The annual triathlon was changed to a duathlon due to a high number of jellyfish in the water.
By
Katie Johns
| 3:24 p.m. October 15, 2017
Longboat Key
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The middle of October usually brings more traffic to Longboat Key, but on Oct. 14, that traffic wasn’t from vehicles.
Bike and foot traffic were heavy Sunday morning as triathletes from throughout the state gathered at The Resort at Longboat Key Club to race around resort property and on Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Because of a high number of jellyfish in the lagoon next to the resort where the swimming leg of the triathlete takes place, the swimming portion was canceled. Instead, the triathlon turned into a duathlon.
Sprint-course athletes ran 1.25 miles before biking, and international-course competitors ran 2.5 miles. Following the first running leg, sprint athletes biked 10 miles and international racers biked 19.4 miles. The athletes finished the duathlon with a second running portion of either 2.5 or 5 miles, depending on the category in which they raced.
Tj Freer runs down Longboat Club Road during the Longboat Key Triathlon.
Martin Bayles finished the sprint duathlon with a time of 1:17:52.71
Triathletes makes their way around the running course at The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
Missy Carrier is all smiles during the first running leg of the duathlon.
Michael Quigley makes his way to Gulf of Mexico Drive during the biking portion of the Longboat Key triathlon turned duathlon on Oct. 15.
David Pickett races down Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Eric Putnal races down Gulf of Mexico Drive during the Longboat Key Triathlon.
Bikers raced up and down Gulf of Mexico drive during the biking leg of the duathlon.
Ronald Reader gets ready to dismount his bike and begin the second running portion of the duathlon.
Paul Drummey runs down Longboat Club Road during the second running leg of the duathlon.
Bikers make their way back to The Resort at Longboat Key Club to transition into the final running leg of the race.
Bikers make their way back to The Resort at Longboat Key Club to transition into the final running leg of the race.
Kathy Bayles races down Longboat Club Road during the biking portion of the duathlon.
Athletes make their way through the second running leg of the duathlon.
Athletes make their way through the second running leg of the duathlon.
As athletes crossed the finish line they were greeted with a medal and water.
Marty and Kathy Bayles
Fausto Diaz, Raize Calderon, Tania Corujo and Maria Ortiz
Nelberto Caravaca races to the finish line of the international duathlon.
Benedict Riches races down Longboat Club Road during the second running leg of the international duathlon.
After biking, athletes either ran two and a half miles or five miles depending on if they were racing in the sprint or international course.
Carl Lovetere races down Longboat Club Road during the second running leg of the international duathlon.
Following the completion of the duathlon, awards were given out to the overall winners and first three place winners in each age group for males and females.
Following the completion of the duathlon, awards were given out to the overall winners and first three place winners in each age group for males and females.
Following the completion of the duathlon, awards were given out to the top three overall winners and the top three finishers in each age group for males and females.
