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Tinker troops tri at Route 66, place in top five

  • Published
  • By John Stuart
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Stepping from the water to a transition area, the Airman knew things weren't right as he climbed on his triathlon road bike. Opting for a full wet suit for the 1,500 meter swim, the temperate waters of Lake El Reno made it an overly warm paddle on the first leg of the Route 66 triathlon.

So it was that things started to go wrong on the 40 kilometer bike ride for Bob Atkins. About halfway through the course, the cramps began to take ground. And when it came time for the final leg -- a 10 kilometer run -- Atkins was in a bad way.

"I got dehydrated and my legs were really cramped," Atkins said. "I tried to drink a lot of Gatorade to make up for it but you just get in that hole and you can't catch up."

It was a hole furthered by temperatures in the mid-90s on June 6, as more than 200 people swam, biked and ran the Olympic distance triathlon named for the historic highway running through El Reno.

Atkins, a captain with the 507th Aircraft Refueling Wing, is in the best shape of his life. But mother nature had other plans for his competition.

With lake water temperatures hovering near the crucial 79 degrees mark -- above which competitors aren't allowed to wear wet suits -- Atkins opted to wear his neoprene garb. With decreased drag in the water, it gives a slight edge to competitors. But Atkins' decision was a mistake, he said later, namely for the anguish the swim-induced dehydration enacted during his run.

"My legs kind of gave out," Atkins said. "My first few miles I felt pretty decent, then I had to walk a little bit and I never caught up."

Still, a look at Atkins' numbers is impressive. With an overall time of 2:29:47, Atkins placed fifth in his 30-34 age group. He was hoping for a time several minutes faster, but his top-five finish in age group qualified him to race in the Age Group and Elite National Championship Triathlon in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in August.

Atkins wasn't the only member of the Tinker family to brave the tri-prong adventure over the weekend. Tinker employee and avid triathlete Travis Newton claimed first place in the 30-34 age group with an overall time of 2:16:23. Danny Ponder recorded an overall time of 2:42:19, claiming second place in the 50-54 age group. Also, Atkins' wife, Jennifer, participated in the Route 66 sprint-distance triathlon that was the previous day. She recorded a time of 1:28:40, earning third place in her age group.

For Bob Atkins, his performance still represents an accomplishment, as he chalks up the cramps mid-race as a mostly uncontrolled variable. And the triathlon season is just getting under way with Atkins, Newton and others at Tinker in full training mode. It's seven to 10 hours per week spent training for Atkins and his training partners. His 90 miles on the bike, coupled with swimming 5,000 meters and running 10-20 miles typically rounds out the weekly exercise regimen.

With the cost of entry fees still comparatively low in Oklahoma, triathletes have multiple Sooner State opportunities at their disposal. Atkins will compete in the Oklahoma City Community College Triathlon June 12, and has plans to do the Redman Triathlon -- an Iron distance event -- in September.