Dedicated athletes gathered at Tumon on Sunday morning to participate in the XTRAIL Southern Mountain Gear Off-Road Triathlon Challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The triathlon was the first off-road XTRAIL challenge in five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Sardea, owner of Urban Fitness and organizer of the event, works to keep Guam moving and active in spite of the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople really miss it,\u201d Sardea said, regarding the experience of participating in challenges like the triathlon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He emphasized how the experience was different compared to those that were not restricted by the pandemic. The allotted number of participants was kept low to maintain social distancing guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event was split into two categories: 10 competitive personal goal participants and 10 recreational personal goal participants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athletes dove head-first into the event, starting with a 1000-yard swim at the Lotte Triangle by Tumon Beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They then made their way up to the Two Lovers Point Trail, circling two laps around the northern part of the track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After returning to the starting point at Lotte Hotel transition parking, participants ran from Gun Beach to Ypao Beach, finishing off by running the road back to the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First place finisher of the challenge and longtime triathlon competitor, Cameron O\u2019Neal, enjoyed another experience of challenging himself and pushing the limits with familiar faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of support too,\u201d O\u2019Neal said. \u201cI\u2019ve got friends that weren\u2019t in the race, but still came out to support. That\u2019s the goodness of a tight-knit community like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The triathlon started at 6:30 a.m., but participants finished to their own accord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each one received a finishers medal, an SMG BOCO endurance hat, an Urban Fitness Sports towel, and a UGM race pack for completing the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Participants start the swimming portion of the triathlon at the Lotte triangle. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Participants start the swimming portion of the triathlon at the Lotte triangle. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Participants bike the track on the Two Lovers Point trail for the second portion of the triathlon. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Participants bike the track on the Two Lovers Point trail for the second portion of the triathlon. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Participants bike the track on the Two Lovers Point trail for the second portion of the triathlon. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Event staff waits for participants to return to the starting point. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Participants run to complete the last portion of the challenge. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Cameron O'Neal poses with his finisher's medal after being the 1st place finisher. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Sardea hands out rewards to participants who finished the challenge. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Sardea hands rewards to the fastest female finisher of the challenge. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Sardea hands rewards to the fastest female finisher of the challenge. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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James Sardea, owner of Urban Fitness and organizer of the vent, smiles as he spots the camera. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Sardea hands out rewards to participants who finished the challenge. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Sardea hands out rewards to participants who finished the challenge. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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Bicycles are mounted after completing the triathlon challenge. Photo by Hacie San Jose.<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>