Reston Triathalon for Slouches

This Sunday, steer clear of Twin Branches Drive and forget about access to South Lakes Starbucks.  It's time for the 27th Reston Triathlon. 

 You are blissfully unaware of Reston Tri details?  Here's the scoop. 

Starting at 7 a.m., nearly 700 wet-suited competitors, ages ranging from ages 15 to 85 (An exaggeration? This is Reston, land of the overachiever) dive into Lake Audubon for the one-mile swim.  This is RA-approved lake swimming, so their will not be a fine. Also, Larry Butler, RA parks and rec director, is on the triathlon committee.   

Next, watch the racers strip off wet suits to bike 22.3 miles through moderately hilly Reston roadways — yes, blocking our course to Dunkin' Donuts.  Then they will run a 10K on shaded Reston paths. Note to runners:  watch out for dogs off leash—just sayin'.   

Finish the course with a victory lap at the South Lakes High school stadium. 

 I'm a Reston Tri wannabe.  Some of my best friends compete annually. I've been thinking about signing up for years.   Truth is, I'm lazy. 

I was picked dead last for every grade school sports team, so my athletic career did not began until college. I started running  for one reason:  lose the freshman 15 (OK, 30). 

Twenty-nine years later, my running has its own definition:  "slogging." That's slow jogging. OK,  let's face it, fast walking.

But I admire those Reston Tri competitors and wish them their best time ever. 

In their honor, however, here is my alternative race for Sunday:  The Couch Potato Reston Tri (Quint) athlon — since everything in Reston is over the top

•  At sunrise, log on and read  Reston Patch (shameless promotion noted). Read especially Around Town and anything by yours truly.
• Prepare for Redskins game—yes, kick off at 8:20 p.m. but opening chips and dip is time consuming. The beer takes time to chill too.
•  Drive to the Church of the McGriddle, avoiding the church of Exercise route.
•  Log onto Restonian's blog and laugh off your calories.
• Sleep in to prepare for the Great Grapes! Event at Reston Town Center. Better yet, crack open the great grapes at 0700 to get it started.

No worries about missing the real Reston Tri action as Reston Patch's  ace editor, Karen Goff, will be lakeside, video in one hand, latte in the other.  Get up at 0600 for Patch?  She couldn't be happier, I'm sure.  So come back here Sunday to see the whole thing in words and pictures.   

And, of course, good luck to my Reston Tri friends.