PBC,
You are "cordially" invited to participate in 10th annual Lt. CJ Miller, USMC Full Ham Triathlon, and join the 60+ participants already eager to volunteer and compete, in person or virtually (from points across the globe).
Enter with your info here. Entries will be accepted until Thursday, December 9th.
10k erg.
10k run.
30 stairs.
Loosely - and we do mean loosely - affiliated with some of the most physically courageous and mentally imbalanced historical members of Potomac Boat Club's Men's Sweep Team, in its decade of existence the Full Ham has grown to embrace, challenge, and humble all challengers... and celebrate victory and achievement with a zesty high-five and absolutely nothing else... besides pride, of course. Maybe shame, too.
Just like the Boston Marathon or Head of the Charles, there's the "day of" race which will have an in-person component where public safety measures can be observed... and there's the virtual, OYO component.
Note that all appropriate protocols and guidelines vis-a-vis indoors/outdoors/distancing will be observed so... dress warm!
For those that remember CJ - a member in 2012 and 2013, by way of Springfield and the University of Washington who contributed to a number of wins including at the Head of the Potomac and San Diego Crew Classic - this is a fitting tribute to his spirit and attitude; for those that never met CJ, it's hard to explain - we're just glad he's on our side.
To be clear I need to highlight the fact that CJ is still very much alive. If this were truly in his memory I can assure you the format would be much, much worse.
WHERE is the in-person event? We will have ergs set up outdoors, well-spaced, by the Georgetown Aqueduct in front of Potomac Boat Club (3530 Water Street NW.) Flight assignments are first come, first serve. You are welcome, encouraged even, to do it on your own from some far more interesting location however.
So, when is the IN-PERSON "race": Saturday, December 11th. Is being fully vaccinated required? You bet. Is this endorsed in any official way by Potomac Boat Club? Absolutely not, and if it were we would cancel it. Going ham is about embracing the renegade spirit.
*Um excuse me, I have a question - I won't be there in person, so when can I submit VIRTUAL results? Monday, December 6th through Saturday, December 12th at 5 p.m. Complete and submit your three legs of the triathlon at any point between, and by that deadline. Entry form for results here.
Once again, it's:
10k erg.
10k run.
30 stairs.
You a purist? Figure out a way to do all three back-to-back. Trying to rack up a high score? Rest and max them out spread out across the week. Any questions - email peterdanclements@gmail.com and I'll try to talk some sense in to you; failing that, we'll come up with a format.
What if I can't do one of the above? Get creative. Here's the thing - there's following the rules, and there's following the spirit of the rules. Michael Cunningham has never not once gotten lost on the run (which is an out-and-back, and the same every year) but he still gets counted as a finisher. Can't run the Exorcist Stairs? Run a local stadium, the cooler, the better - just figure out what a rough equivalent in suffering units would be to 30 Exorcist Stairs.
Further instructions and a course map will be sent at a later date to all confirmed participants. Same as in 2020, entry fee is a suggested donation of $10 (or more) to Athletes Without Limits (AWL) in support of their mission to bring rowing to veterans, para-rowers, the Washington, DC community, and the #ergforequality challenge. If you saw AWL racing this year last year's donations helped with their uniforms, entry fees, etc. and went a long way towards supporting kids getting to row and race.
https://dcsports.athleteswithoutlimits.org/donate/
Stay tuned for more on the mission of AWL to support access to the sport for veterans and disadvantaged communities.
Lastly, by all means re-post, forward, share, and push this along using the hashtags #ergforequality and #fullhamtriathlon.
Oh, and while you're at it, join the PBC C2 team hereso that your meters from the Ham are counted - and you're ready for the VTC in January!
Director of HAMtivities
Peter Clements