Beautiful Crystal Cove State Park. The park is on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is incredibly gorgeous landscape, particularly for a triathlon venue.

On this early Sunday morning, September 19, 2010, the weather was dark and misting rain. Talmadge had two new teammates, Adam Oehmke and Chad Hanchett. Adam and Chad hauled Talmadge in his jogger down the steep ramp to the beach. Once on the beach, they transferred Talmadge to the beach wheelchair that the park provided for him on that occasion. The occasion was Pacific Coast Triathlon.

We were all anxious to see the surf. The waves appeared to be getting larger as the morning wore on. When the starting horn sounded, 5-6-foot waves lay in our path. Adam entered the water with Talmadge, and I was beside them. The water was unusually cold, about 58 degrees, and the waves kept coming. Finally, with the help of a lifeguard, Talmadge and Adam got past the surf. I was still trying to catch up to them. As Talmadge tried to navigate the huge swells, I will never forget the look on his face that said, “Are we really going to do this swim?” As I made the decision to abort the swim, another lifeguard came and said he was going to grab me as a big wave toppled over us. Out of the water we came. Adam said he could feel Talmadge’s heart throbbing.

Not to be undone by missing the swim, we headed back down the beach toward the steep ramp that lead to transition. Originally, we had thought that pushing the jogger up the ramp would be the most difficult part of the race for us. Adam and Chad worked together.

The next step—getting on the tandem after a scary swim start. Mist continued. Talmadge was shivering. We put on his long-sleeved shirt and tights and hoisted him into his saddle behind Adam. Adam asked if he should race or go a more moderate pace. I suggested that he use his judgment. I was intending to ride support behind them. After the first hill, I lost them! Pavement was slippery. Rain was dripping off our helmets. At times tandem traveled 30 mph. It was a terrific ride for them.

T2—Talmadge was still shivering. He got in his jogger. He was wearing two shirts and wrapped in a beach towel. Chad, representing Philadelphia Insurance, was his guide. We thought Chad would run as a relay team member because the run course included one mile on the beach which is difficult in the jogger, not to mention another steep uphill ramp. However, Chad would have nothing to do with running alone. He wanted to run with Talmadge, saying something like “it is a dream come true.” Adam could run with them and help in the tough spots.

We remembered we had the beach wheelchair and considered how to get it to the start of the beach segment of the run. Adam’s girlfriend, Alyssa Dukehart-Conti, and Talmadge’s support person, Quiana Zermeno, agreed to go to the Beachcomber Café with the beach wheelchair. As Alyssa and Quiana waited at the restaurant, sipping orange juice and eating beignets, Adam, Chad, and Talmadge arrived in the jogger. Upon arrival, the decision was made to continue in the jogger on the beach.

At the finish, Chad and Adam helped Talmadge out of his jogger for his signature walk across the finish line.

Huge thanks to Talmadge’s support team on that day. It was truly a fun day in spite of the early disappointment. A special thanks to Alyssa, Adam’s girlfriend, for volunteering Adam (unknown to him), as he participated in Ironman California in March. We were there watching the race and hanging out on the beach. Thanks to Adam for his willingness to try something new, his amazing athleticism, and his taking time to train with Talmadge before the race. Thanks to Chad for his enthusiasm, which was infectious with all of us. Thanks to Quiana for taking pictures and being interested in Talmadge enough to get up at 3 a.m. and see what he does.

Thanks also to Challenged Athletes Foundation and Torrie Tinley for orchestrating accommodations with Pacific Coast Triathlon race directors. Thanks to Philadelphia Insurance Companies for encouraging participation by challenged athletes. We appreciate being able to participate in triathlon! It means everything!

by Georgia Atkins