LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
James Bales, an orthopedic surgeon medicine resident at Wilford Hall, raced in on foot and Karrn Bales, 37th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, followed shortly on her bike.
"Sorry, I didn't readjust my calculations for the wind," Karrn said.
Just days after competing in the Armed Forces Triathlon Championship on May 31 at Point Mugu, Calif., the couple was using spare moments in their day to continue training.
James Bales finished the competition second overall and first for the Air Force. His total time was 1:52:01.48. He finished the 1.5 km swim in 20:30.45, the 40 km bike ride in 56:47.40 and the 10 km run in 33:02.29. James' run time was the best time at the race.
"It's amazing what a good night's sleep can do for you," James said.
Last year, because of his residency obligations, James flew out the night before the race after pulling a 30-hour shift. This year, James was able to arrive on the normal date, days before the event.
The Armed Forces Triathlon Championship featured the top male and female triathletes from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard as well as the top competitors from the Canadian armed forces.
Karrn finished 12th in the women's race, third for the Air Force team and third in the Master's Division. Her overall time was 2:19:33.12. She finished the swim in 26:04.16, the bike portion in 1:06:25.80 and the run in 44:31.48.
"I was real happy with my performance," Karrn said. "I was a little slow getting out of the water, but it was my best run."
The third-place Master's Division finish qualified her as the alternate for the United States Women's Combined Forces Master's Team that will compete Sunday in the 2008 Triathlon World Champion-ships in Otepaa, Estonia. The competition features the best military triathletes from countries around the world.
Because of his residency requirements, James will not be able to compete in the Triathlon World Champion-ships. It is the fifth time that he has had to give up his spot because of his occupation.
"In the medical world, June and July are short-manned months," James said. "It's hard to participate in these types of events when those months roll around."
While the 70-degree weather provided optimal biking and running conditions, it was not as kind to the competitors during the swimming portion of the race.
"It was about 55 degrees in the water. It felt like you are getting nails driven into your face," James said.
Because of the drastic difference in temperatures, some of the participants had to adjust to competing with some numbness in their feet and hands.
"You don't adjust to the temperature," James said. "I remember I was three miles into my run before I could feel my feet again. That was about an hour and 15 minutes into the race. My heart was working at 180-200 beats per minute, but my feet weren't warm."
Another drawback of the race was the couple could not find a Dairy Queen in order to fulfill their ritual of eating a blizzard before the race.
"That was the most disappointing part of the trip. I think that's why James got second place," Karrn said jokingly.