The second annual Sandy Springs Biathlon was scheduled on July 20, 1985, at Southside Park in Mauldin, South Carolina. I signed up to begin fueling my competition side, which now included running and cycling. The event, sponsored by the Greenville Spinners Bicycle Club, was 5k of running, followed by 40k of cycling, and another 5k of running.
As my first event, the thought of keeping the data results of average speed, or how many competitors entered, and how I finished was not considered. Also, tribal knowledge of pacing did not exist, and during the second 5k run, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to continue to run or begin walking. The never give up principle instilled by my father's upbringing kicked in, and I did not walk.
