May 21, 2018 SouthBay Magazine Living in Southern California, the likelihood that you’ve met someone who has competed in a triathlon race is pretty high. Due to the required months of physical preparation, the commitment to participate in the three-sport competition is an achievement in itself—regardless of where you finish. An Olympic distance triathlon race, for example, begins with a 1,000-meter swim, followed by a 24-mile bike ride and a 6-mile run. Of course if that sounds too mild, you could always opt for a half Ironman, which just for fun doubles the Olympic distance, starting the race with a 1.2-mile swim, followed by a 56-mile bike ride and finishes with a half marathon. The full Ironman—you guessed it—doubles that with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and finishes with a full marathon. Add to those distances the extreme conditions of a 55º swim; cold and windy rainstorms; and 17,000 feet of vertical climbs at a [...]