Coit takes Silver Medal in Triathlon
 at Firefighter State Games
 

May 11, 2001

TAMPA - Firefighter / EMT Chuck Coit, competing in his second straight Firefighter State Games brought home the silver medal again this year.  The grueling sprint triathlon consists of a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike and a 3.1 mile run.

    "This was my fastest race ever" said Coit.  "The last two races that I competed in that were of this distance, were 8 min. and 11 min. slower than this race."  Coit's finishing time was 55:21, good enough for second place, in the state, among firefighters in the 30 to 39 year old age group.  This years games were held in Tampa with the triathlon being held at McDill Air Force Base.

    "The swim was great, the water was calm and I managed 3rd out of the water.  The bike segment was a little rough (roads) but I was able to manage an average speed of 20.6 mph with no one passing me.  The only problem came in the run segment of the race when I watched the gold medal go breezing by me.  That was tough to swallow." 

    The Firefighter State Games, and the upcoming Madeira Beach Triathlon are tune up's for Coit's big race in early June.  The World Police and Fire Games which are being held this year in Indianapolis, IN. will be the real test.  The 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run is the same distance as the inaugural running of triathlon at the 2000 Sidney Olympics.

    "I have competed at this distance before (St. Anthony's) but never at this level.  This will be against the best Cops and Firefighters from across the globe.  Nervous is an understatement.  I'll approach it like I do all races; concentrate on nothing but the swim until the swim is over, then concentrate on the bike leg until that's over then, depending on how badly I am hurting, take it mile by mile.  That's how I have to deal with the pain."

Coit's 2000 Silver Medal Story - Boca Raton