The Hometown Triathlon

The weather gods were watching over Ridgefield on Sunday as the rain held out just long enough for the 365 participants in the fourth annual Ridgefield Triathlon to complete the race.

Because it is a sprint triathlon, the race attracts both seasoned competitors and newbies to conquer the half-mile swim, 14-mile bike, and 3.1 mile race, beginning and ending at Martin Park, race co-director Evan McGerald said.

McGerald got the idea for the race when he came home from running one day and said to his wife, "Wouldn't it be fun to do a triathlon in Ridgefield?" She then called First Selectman Rudy Marconi and just like that, the Tri Ridgefield was born in 2007. Over its four years, the race ras raised about $50,000 to donate to local charities.

Eighty-five percent of the race's participants were Ridgefielders, adding to the "home-town feel," according to McGerald, who notes that the local feel of the race is what attracts many people to trying it.

And some of Ridgefield's best were out there on Sunday, including overall winner Tim Inall, who was way ahead of the pack with an overall time of 1:02:29, and first female finisher and third place overall finisher Morgan Cotter with a time of 1:04:46. Locals David Englert (eighth) and Josh McLevy (10th) also placed in the top of the pack with times of 1:08:04 and 1:08:43 respectively.

Though it is his fourth time doing the race, this is Inall's first win after placing in the top ten the last two years. His time this year was a full two minutes faster than last year.

"It's an incredibly well-organized race and a lot of fun," said Inall, who will be competing in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Iron Man triathlon in three weeks with hopes of qualifying for the world championships in Kona, Hawaii.

After an eight-year hiatus from triathlons, Inall did Tri Ridgefield in 2007 and it inspired him to get back into racing and to try to earn a ticket to Kona.

He appreciates the message the race offers to the town about being fit and healthy and he said that "the nice thing about the race is it's so accessible for everyone. The swim distance is so that most people can do it."

Ridgefielder and racer Deb Povinelli, who finished second in her age group and 91st overall, knows all about being fit and healthy—she has coached many women of all fitness levels through her charity work for Mass General Children's Hospital and through her local personal training business, Beyond Baby Fitness.

Povinelli described the race as "safe, well-staffed and well organized."

Making it a family affair, she encouraged her husband to try doing triathlons and, this year, they were able to participate together.

Though interest from beyond the Ridgefield area is growing, almost all of the volunteers and sponsors were from Ridgefield this year. Some of the many local volunteers were main sponsor Georgetown Autobody's Pat Venus, Geoffrey Morris, owner of Morris Media Group and who was also the race co-director, Ridgefield Plumbing and Heating owner John Proctor, Robin Caruso and Run Like a Mother race director Megan Searfoss.

"It is the best time," McGerald said. "If I could do this for a living, I would. The competition is great, but the best part for me is the people doing the race for the first time."

One of those first-time racers this year was Ridgefielder Mary Maue, who said she got the idea to train for the triathlon when she was at a party.

"As I stuffed the third brownie in my mouth, my friend and I said that we needed a new goal," she said.

After being inspired by Run Like a Mother in 2009, her friend suggested training for the triathlon and being an easy one to convince, Maue replied, "Sure, I'll do the Tri."

She signed up on January 1, got in, and said, "I knew I had to train."

The swimming and cycling were the biggest challenges for Maue, who was already a seasoned runner, but she dragged herself out of bed at the crack of dawn on the weekends to swim and bike on borrowed equipment with her training buddies.

Though Maue was nervous getting there, she described the vibe as having tons of "positive energy" and recommends the race to any newbie.

"As long as you have the time to train, it's worth it," she said.