In a triathlon, drafting is not allowed, and riders are likely to go all out the whole distance. But advanced cycling skills, especially hill climbing, can help a triathlete gain valuable time. Last year, in his first full season as a triathlete, Mazzola was pleased to finish fourth in one of Fiske's races in Gardner. David, an engineer at Worcester Controls in Marlboro, was a founding member of the TRYP.I.G.s. The attraction, triathletes say, is the challenge.
People are intense.
You have to be, to be disciplined in three sports. I can spin rather than pushing down on the hardest sprockets. Oski has placed first in her age group in every triathlon in Fiske's series this year, and she was fourth in a qualifying race last weekend in Pennsylvania for the Ironman in Hawaii. Minuteman Road Club member Mike Dionne of Waltham is training for the half, too. Dionne did some running in high school, saw the Ironman on TV in college and knew he wanted to do it.