Of the record 1,400-plus athletes registered to participate in the 20th Columbia Triathlon at Centennial Park in Ellicott City, only two - both of them men who have lived in Columbia for years - will be able to say after this morning's event that they have competed in all 20.
They are Jerome S. Casper, who lives in Kings Contrivance, and Max Prola, who lives in Oakland Mills village. They know one another but have never trained together. In fact, they concentrate on different facets of the swim-cycle-run sport that began in the mid-1970s.
But talking with each man gives insights into what makes the athletic mind tick. You hear about loving to compete, whatever the sport. You hear about wanting to stay fit, wanting to learn one's body limits and appreciating competition for reasons that are quite different from merely winning and losing.
"They call us `the legends,' " said Casper, laughing. Here's a snapshot of each one:
Jerome S. Casper
It's grisly. Credit fast trauma care and good fortune with Casper being able to swim this morning, barely keeping alive his Columbia Triathlon streak.
Casper, 51, a dentist with practices in Olney and Crofton, nearly lost his left foot in December in a freak accident in front of his home. A tow truck cable snapped unexpectedly and whipped across his ankles.
"It cut into both of them, but the left one was hanging off," Casper said. "They took me to [Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore], and as we went in, my wife said something like, `He's a tri-athlete and would really like to save that foot.' ... It's just a good thing that the main artery wasn't severed."
About two weeks ago, what Casper thinks will be the last stitches from a series of operations to accomplish just that were removed. He talked about trying to compete today. But, he said, his doctor quickly trumped that wish. The 10K run was definitely not in the picture.
And the 40K bicycle race - eh, not a great idea, either, this year. Swimming in Centennial Lake? Please?
OK. So this year, Casper will be part of a relay team, with friends competing in the bike and running legs of the race for him. Next year? Time will tell.
"One of the first things I did," Casper said, "was tell Rob [Vigorito, the Columbia Triathlon's founder and still its leader] that even if I have to walk, I'll be there. So this will be nice, just to be there."
Casper became an athlete around age 30.
