Culpeper Sprint is a great race. Just a lot of fun. About 400 competitors with many first timers. I passed quite a few mountain bikes during that leg of the race. Well managed and volunteers were terrific. It is one of the race in the Virginia Triathlon Series. All age groups well represented. They even have an age group 85-90. (unfortunately there were no entries in the age group, but it was available). I have done this race for the past several years and it is usually sunny and hot. This year was no exception.

Swim: This leg was in Mountain Run Lake. It was 750 meters of bath water and some kind of green foliage. The first 50 meters and last 50 meters was like swimming in a vat of spinach. No wet suits allowed. My time 20 minutes.

Bike: Described as "... a hilly technical course". What they mean is you are going either 4 mph or 40 mph and you have to may a sharp turn at the bottom of the hills. In between time you better know how to shift and use every gear you have. I loved the speed part; hated the up hills. 15 miles. My time: 58 minutes

Run: 5k out and back. Some hills, but with Reston as a training venue; no problem. My time: 27 minutes.

With transitions my total time was 1:50; good enough for 2nd place AG. Some guy from Burke who is evidently on performance enhancing drugs beat me and the six others in the age group by 9 minutes.

Highly recommend the race for newbies and for just plain fun.

Dave B.