Thousands expected for triathlon in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG - Thousands of elite athletes are converging on downtown St. Petersburg this weekend for what some describe as the triathlon equivalent of the Daytona 500.

It's the 26th annual St. Anthony's Triathlon, with more than 4000 individuals and 150
relay teams from all over the world expected to compete.

63 of those athletes are members of the Georgia chapter of Team In Training, the fundraising arm of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Michael King is one of four coaches who've spent the past six months helping them get in shape for one of the sports world's most grueling competitions.

"We teach' em how to swim. We teach' em how to bike, or some different skills in biking or running, and bring them up from whatever level they're at, experienced or inexperienced to the event weekend," King said.

This event will be King's 12th triathlon and he'll be swimming, biking and running with his late father and his sister-in-law in mind. Susan King was diagnosed with leukemia eight years ago.

"She's alive today because of the money Team In Training has raised. There's a drug called Gleevec, and she takes that drug everyday. And she's alive," King said.

Stacy Carto started training six month ago after a friend's 3-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. This is her first triathlon.

"I have to say there's definitely been some sweat, some tears, no blood yet," she laughed. "Thank God!, But it's been an incredible challenge."

Carto marvels on how generous donors were, enabling her to raise $3900 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

A triathlon is one of the most grueling sports competitions in the world. It includes a 25-mile bike ride and a 10K run, which is a little over six miles.

But the most intimidating leg is the first one: a nearly one-mile swim in the open water of Tampa Bay. Michael King says that can be daunting for veteran triathletes, much less first-timers.

"You look out into the water and those buoys go way out, and that's the first time they're going to see that distance in open water," King said.

King says they train in lakes, and try to simulate the crowded conditions of race day, but there's little to prepare you for the jostling of hundreds of other swimmers as you dive into the waves.

"People are touching your feet, bumping your sides. You get a little water in your goggles, you can't grab the side of the pool and rinse them out. You gotta tread water to get them fixed. It's being out there without the safety net," he says.

King says his team has a 99 percent completion rate, so he's betting they'll all make it to the finish line. They say finishing will be huge accomplishment individually, as well as for those suffering from blood diseases such as leukemia.

"To cross that finish line, especially that first time you're part of Team In Training and you have a personal connection to that disease, it's an emotional experience you just can't describe. It's overwhelming," he says.