It was an event whose time had come. After much contemplation, the Columbia Triathlon Association and its President, Robert Vigorito, brought forth, the big show in Maryland, CTA's very first. The new Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort in Cambridge was chosen as the host site, which would also serve as the swim start point for what would be a rarely seen, point to point 2.4 mile cruise down the Choptank River to Great Marsh Park. Even the river gods were with us as the tide was at an ebb, so any current would be at the feet of the swimmers. From here the race would unfold to include new loops on the bike to include the Shorter's Wharf area of the majestic Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, to end at the local high school. From here, the run down the flat and dark Egypt Road would be a reminder of the famous Queen K Highway in Kona, Hawaii; "dark" and lonely, and we mean dark! Lanterns would light the way at each aid station. The run would finish inside Viking Stadium on the school campus including a 3/4 lap run on the track to finish at the grandstands. This all sounded simple enough, but reality can be another thing. As we assembled for the start at Infinity Beach at the Hyatt waterfront, the early morning river fog, so often seen in these parts, was there to greet us. This was not something we planned on, but were aware of the possibility. So we sat and waited and played music for 2 hours, "waiting for the sun" to burn off the fog. And it did, barely giving us the luxury to maintain the 10 hour bike cutoff window before darkness set in! Let the record show, the mass start went off at 9:04 am, all made the 7 pm bike cutoff, the last by a scant 6 minutes and all, save one, made the "official" race finish of 17 hours, or in this case, the 2 am cutoff!!

Well, as we at CTA reflect in the glow of a very successful first time event, we are happy to report that the 2005 event is a Go, and will return to the Hyatt on Oct 1st, a week earlier than this year. One hundred and eighty-three entries were received for 2004, many first timers to this distance, and given the overwhelming response to our efforts, plans have begun for a bigger and improved ChesapeakeMan #2. It was a great thing to see the many family members and friends who greeted their triathlete finishers at the line. It was a thrill to see the tears of joy and accomplishment, the hugs, and the high fives abound as the finishers medals were also presented.

The finish times are on the web site for all to see and review. This was not about finish times or personal records but rather a journey to bring forth an event of endurance that has become a goal of so many in our great sport of triathlon. That goal is to complete an ultra distance event, a distance whose defining race is the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship, in Kona, Hawaii each October. That event brought forth in 1978, by Navy Commander John Collins and friends as a test to determine who was the fittest, athlete, has become the signature triathlon worldwide and one that has become the embodiment of the sport. CTA is happy to have been able to bring this event to our fellow triathletes and will continue to do so.