Before long, he was working to start a triathlon in Columbia. It wouldn't be an Ironman, which combines a 2.4-mile swim with a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run, but it would be challenging at the "intermediate" level, with a swim of .93 miles, a "pretty hilly" 25.2-mile bike ride through western Howard County and a run of 6.2 miles.
The first triathlon in Columbia was in 1983, before Centennial Park was created. Ninety people took part in the event, which finished with a swim in the indoor Columbia Swim Center at Wilde Lake, Vigorito said. Normally, the swimming portion is first in a triathlon, when the athletes are freshest.
The next year, 125 people took part, he said. In 1986 and 1987, participants swam in Wilde Lake. In 1988, the event moved to the newly opened Centennial Park, where it has been held ever since.
This year, about 2,400 athletes from 38 states and six countries are expected to take part, Vigorito said.
Participants will include Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Fenty's father, Phil Fenty, who have also competed in past years, and Australian Chris McCormack, who has qualified for the Olympics. "We have so many people from all walks of life," Vigorito said.
ksnitkin@comcast.net
Traffic delays
The Columbia Triathlon will cause traffic delays between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, according to the Howard County Police Department. About 2,400 athletes are expected to participate in the event, which includes bicycling and running courses on county roads.
The bicycle route includes Route 108, Ten Mills Road, Harper's Farm Road, Homewood Road, Folly Quarter Road, Triadelphia Road, Triadelphia Mill Road, Green Bridge Road, Howard Road and Linthicum Road.
After the bicycle course, the athletes will run on Old Annapolis Road, Carillon Drive, Cross Country Drive, Century Drive and Colonial Drive.
Police urge residents to plan ahead and allow for extra time if they have to travel on these roads. Police officers will be directing traffic.
