Giuliano Wins Galena Triathlon

I don't cover a lot of triathlons on this blog, but as a follower of the sport, I couldn't help but smile when I saw that Ryan Giuliano, a well-known local runner, came out on top today at the Galena Triathlon. The event consists of a 660-yard swim, 16.8-mile bike ride and 4.3-mile run. From what I see, they held the swim as the water reached the magic 60-degree mark just in time. Giuliano, 27, of Schaumburg, did the swim in 9:02, the bike ride in 41:39 and the run in 22:29. Adding in his transition times, he won in 1:15:00. Mike Lavery, 26, of Madison, WI, was second in 1:17:42, and Dan Litwora, 36, or Chicago -- also a strong runner -- was third in 1:18:50. Christine Anderson, 29, of Boulder, CO, was the women's winner with a 1:28:02. Adrienne Shields,32, of Chicago, was second in 1:30:33, and Karin Langer, 34, of Chicago, was third in 1:34:39. Some good friends did well, including some age-group titles. There were at least 697 finishers. Way to go! In the duathlon (2-mile run, 16.8-mile bike ride, 4.3-mile run), 187 people finished with Tim Petrie, 32, of Fond du Lac, WI, winning in 1:26:34. Katie Iserman, 30, of Chicago was women's "du" champ in 1:40:31. I haven't done a triathlon or duathlon in a few years. I need to get back into it. Believe it or not, I was one of the "original 50" at the first Muncie (IN) Endurathon in 1980. Those were the days.