When Ned Quest agreed to sign up for his first triathlon, he established three goals.
At the end of Saturday’s race at Innsbrook, he had accomplished two of those. Quest shot an email out to friends and family declaring his accomplishment.
“I finished the swim without drowning and finished the run without walking,” asserted Quest, a retired Warrenton High School teacher.
He was determined to complete the 18-mile bike ride without putting his feet on the ground, but one incline called for pushing his bike up the hill.
“When I got off the bike I was wiped out,” said Quest, who gives his daughter-in-law, Jaime, credit for talking him into racing.
He was one of over 500 competitors to participate in a variety of Ultramax Triathlon events at Aspen Lake. Three different challenges were held, including a MaxoMania that began with a swim and bike ride on Friday evening.
On Saturday morning, triathletes chose between the Quartermax and Octomax events.
The Quartermax featured a 1,000-yard swim, 28-mile bike ride and 6-mile run.
Quest chose the less-demanding Octomax event, which included a 500-yard swim and 3-mile run.
“The run was a little harder than I was expecting,” said Quest, who says he trained for the events individually but hadn’t done them all consecutively. “The swim went really well.”
Quest finished the course in 2:14 — one minute under his time goal.
“I was pretty pleased with myself,” said Quest. “I finished with almost all my goals intact.”
He says his son, Nathan, has also convinced him to sign up for another triathlon in Columbia in August.
“I really like the variety of these races,” said Quest.
Barry Knight was the overall Octomax winner, completing the challenge in 1:13. The top female finisher was Jennifer Meyer, who clocked a 1:21.
Jay Orr emerged from the field of 339 quartermax participants, finishing in 2:04. Returning winner Sunny Gilbert bested all other females, conquering the course in 2:11.
Participants in the Maxomania also took part in the morning Quartermax race before closing out the third segment of their challenge with a shorter swim, bike and run on Saturday afternoon.
Warren County was also represented by two Wright City residents. Jason Lahr clocked a 2:40 finish, while Erin O’Connor finished in 2:47 during the Quartermax.
