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Despite drizzle, Chaotic CoteeMAN carries on

Klint Lowry/SUNCOAST

Eric Hall, left, and Bill Floyd, both of Tampa, discuss strategy prior to the Chaotic CoteeMAN triathlon. Hall would go on to log the fastest time of the day.

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: September 15, 2009

Updated:

NEW PORT RICHEY - Hearts were beating a little fast at 7 a.m. Saturday at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center, even though the second annual Chaotic CoteeMAN triathlon wasn't due to start for another half hour.

As the competitors arrived, checked in and began preparing for the race, everyone was looking at the dawn sky. A steady drizzle had decided to settle in to the area, and race directors Keith Campbell and Joe Minichino they had to make a race-time decision.

"Rain is not an issue," Campbell said, at least not in terms of canceling the event. Lightning is, though, and every time someone used a flash to take a picture, wide-eyed heads turned upward.

The Chaotic CoteeMAN triathlon debuted last year, sponsored by Greater New Port Richey Main Street, as part of the city's annual Heritage Days celebration. Scheduled to be a 150-yard swim, a 9-mile bike ride, and a 5k run, it is what is referred to as a "sprint marathon," one that a top competitor can finish in 40-something minutes, Campbell said.

About 50 competitors - male and female; young and old; experienced and not, had shown up for the race, and not one seemed the least bit deterred by the weather. But this was a USA Triathlon-sanctioned race, and everything had to comply with the national authority on triathlon contests' standards.

About 15 minutes before race time, triathlon officials gathered the competitors and told them the race would go on, but because of slick pavement and way too many puddles, they would have to cancel the bike portion of the race.

For the most part, the athletes took it in stride. A few came with a realistic expectation of winning, but all came determined to put in their best time possible, rain or shine, two phases or three.

In the end, it was one of the favorites, Eric Hall of Tampa, who logged the best time of the day, completing the abbreviated race in 22 minutes, 16 seconds. As each racer crossed the finish line, volunteers were there to present them with a medal, an acknowledgment of their effort.

Triathletes all share the inner drive to push themselves that draws them to the sport. For some there is a little something extra that can shave a few seconds or push put that final mile. Take up-and-coming triathlon 10-year-old phenom Zack Parsons of Spring Hill. His parents Greg and Theresa are both distance athletes.

Just this past year, Zack started competing. In a sanctioned race a few months ago, he proved he can leave Mom in the dust. In this race, he gave Dad all he could handle while scoring the fastest time of anyone in the age 19-and-under division.

While Parsons' performance was one more step toward a promising future in triathlon, crossing the finish line on Saturday marked a comeback for Bill Dicola, as his mother, Robin Falzone, explained.

Dicola was a cross-country runner on the Ridgewood High School team when he suffered a head injury in a bicycle accident. He spent 53 days in a coma, and months afterward reclaiming his motor skills. Eventually, he got back on his feet, an as soon as he could started back at the sport he loves.

Bill runs about three miles a day, Falzone said. But this was his first competition since his accident 16 years ago. His time was irrelevant on Saturday; just being there and crossing the finish line marked a long, hard-fought victory.

His strategy for racing and life are one and the same.

"Don't slow down," Dicola said. "When you're done, you'll wish you did more."

Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or klowry@suncoastnews.com.

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