Daily Herald Column "Lake County Life": McDonald’s Harbor Lights Triathlon

The streets were empty except for the bottleneck around the lakefront. Then, like somber soldiers, they came. They came by the thousands. Ok, maybe just one thousand but at 5:30 in the morning it looked like thousands. They came in cars with bike racks strapped onto the back and bumper stickers that said things like “Teach Peace.”

Walking down the 2-mile walk from the parking lot towards registration, they passed boats with names like “Not Yet,” “Suits Optional,” and perhaps the most appropriate, “Valkyrie,” whose mythological legacy speaks to heroes who had died in battle.

The tri-athlete is probably a whole different breed of human, able to push their bodies in ways most of us would not like to as the dawn breaks on a Sunday morning.

But the brave men and women who signed up for the sixth annual McDonald’s Harbor Lights Triathlon, well, they didn’t really look much different from you or me. There were young people and old people, short, tall, lithe, heavy, athletic and those barely moving. Hey, who am I to talk, I got a blister walking from the parking lot to the starting line, but then again, I wasn’t competing in what was charmingly being referred to as ‘the warm up’ to the bigger triathlons taking place later this year.

This race, which represents half the Olympic distances and included an 800 yard swim, a 13.2-mile bike race and a 4-mile run, started and finished in Waukegan’s lakefront park last Sunday.

Over 1100 participants of every age, sex and race, along with their fans, came from as far away as California, Colorado and Texas and as near as Vernon Hills. The race began promptly at 7:00am with the half-mile swim in 68-degree Lake Michigan.

To seasoned athletes, like Dory Rand, 50, of Chicago, the cold water was not intimidating. “I swim off Promontory Point in Hyde Park from May to October in 55 degree water with no wet suit, so 60 degrees or so with a wet suit doesn’t faze me,” she shrugged.

Others were somewhat less sure but no less excited. For Rada Tuntasood, 27, of Chicago, it was only her second triathlon. “I only did my first one about three weeks ago but I’m excited.”

The swim event divided the competitors into 14 groups, called “waves,” spaced four minutes apart. By the time the third wave was ready to hit the water, the first athletes were already running up the shore, just 7-and-a-half short minutes after they’d gotten in the water.

Waukegan’s Mayor Dick Hyde had sent them off with these words: “All I want you to do is have a great swim, be safe and don't drown.”

One by one they dove into the chilly waters leaving their zealous fans on shore. Pete Pederson’s, 32, parents, armed with both a camera and mini-cam, had driven 350 miles from Murphysboro, IL, to watch him compete. “Our son bikes and runs but this is only the second time that he’s swam in the lake – ever,” said Caroline Pederson anxiously.

And Howard Wallach’s, 43, sister came clad in a t-shirt with his picture on it. “I’m his biggest fan,” said Jan Wallach.

The DJ blasted themed music alternating pieces like “Crazy” by Gnarles Barkley with Cindy Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” when the first women’s waves began.

“You girls are going to have some fun in about a minute cause that’s when we’re going to send you off,” said master-announcer Dave Kappas who said he’s gotten to know many of the athletes personally over the years. “They’re not nuts at all. They’re dedicated, they’re focused and they’re just the most wonderful group of people you’d ever want to meet.”

Winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each age group, ranging from 14-80, were recognized, with the shortest time being 1:06:43 completed by Gregory Kopecky, 28, of Indianapolis, In.

“I think it’s great,” said Kim Kempf, Executive Director for organizer Capri Events. “I’m not a triathlete and I admire anyone who can get out there and do this.”