What a long, strange trip it’s been…

We’re a couple of Deadheads who like to swim, bike and run, specifically in that order.

Back in 2015, we decided we were going to get into shape and have some fun at the same time. Our goal was to complete a full Ironman event. The only trouble is, neither of us had ever completed a triathlon before. So we decided to take it slow and set a goal for each year starting with a sprint triathlon that year.

Each year got a little harder, with an Olympic then 2 Olympics, and then a half Ironman in 2018. Finally, in 2019 we finished the Ironman Maryland race. For the record, Elliott beat Nate in that race, but he was only a little bit quicker, but he did have time to say “How do you do?” before he left Nate behind.

Now, we like triathlons so much we’re just gonna keep on truckin.

Elliott

Well I ain’t often right but I’ve never been wrong…

In 2012, Elliott came to the conclusion that he was smoking and eating himself into an early grave and thought he’d do something about it. He started getting up early (which was around 6am then) and started doing some running/walking with a goal to finish a 5K race by the end of that year. Since he finished that goal, he set up another to finish a half-marathon the following year. So he started waking up at 5:30am and trained throughout 2013 and finished the Ocean City half marathon. With that in the rearview mirror, a full marathon wasn’t far behind and he completed the Atlantic City marathon in 2014 after a training season of 5am wakeups. Then came the fateful year in 2015 when he conned Nate into getting into triathlons. Now, Elliott enjoys(?) getting up at 4am to train 6 days a week because gone are the days he stopped to decide where he should go, he just rides.

Elliott lives in South Jersey with his husband, Tom, his daughter, Alice Catherine, and his two dogs, Xena the Warrior Puppy and Ripley the Alien Slayer, and step-cat, Opal. When he’s not in the water, on a bike, or in his Asics, he enjoys building furniture in his woodshop and escape rooms.

Nate

Goin’ where the wind don’t blow so strange. Maybe off on some high cold mountain chain.

After a change of job and new apartment in 2009, Nate decided a road bike was the fastest, most convenient, and cheapest (yeah, right) way to commute from Jersey City into NYC. There is nothing like getting on the bike at the end of a crappy day and letting it all melt away. When Elliott suggested a sprint triathlon in 2015, Nate felt good about the bike but hadn’t been in open water since summer camp 20 years earlier, and hadn’t run anything but some shows (haha! theatre joke!) and power tools for just as long.

Nate lives in Central Jersey (yes, it exists) with his wife, Marlene, Penny the cat, and their dog, Baxter Maxter. He is currently the Technical Director of Drew University’s Theatre and Dance department. When not training or recovering, Nate enjoys kayaking, canoeing, and camping.

Jimmy Row

You ain’t got half of what you thought you had…

Last year, Jimmy’s heart was broken which is what led him to triathlon. In his first attempt at a 70.3, Jimmy was able to get back on his bike after an ill-placed pothole tossed him into a double twist when he hit the air. When he was asked how training is going this year, Jimmy said, “Not too fast, and not too slow. Gonna get there? I don’t know”

Ruben and Cerise

I feel afraid and I don’t know why I do…

When they’re not racing, this husband and wife duo can be seen on their YouTube channel performing original music. Cerise has been racing for years and just recently got Rubin to put down his painted mandolin and start training. If you see Cerise cross the finish line, watch for her signature pirouette in red kit.

Delilah Jones

The bottle was dusty but the liquor was clean.

Back to racing after having twins, this brown-eyed athlete from Big Foot County is the only mother on the team. Delilah’s favorite part of training is when she gets caught on a run in a thunderstorm with the rain pouring down. All of Deliliah’s children come to cheer her on at the finish line…or else.

Jack Straw

We can share what we got of yours, ’cause we done shared all of mine…

Jack loves traveling to and from races by train. He has caught the Detroit Lightning out of Santa Fe, the Great Northern out of Cheyenne, he’s been from sea to shining sea. He does have an old score to settle in Tulsa. A small point of pride. If you see him on the course, watch out, he’ll cut you down. But after the finish line, we can share the wine.

Peter Black

Roll on up, gonna roll back down.

While other athletes feel like everything is leading up to race day, to Pete, it’s just like any other day. Pete is very dedicated to training and get’s started as soon as the light shines through his window. Pete’s favorite thing about a 140.6 race day? The sun going up and then the sun it going down. Run and see.