Hundreds Swim, Bike, Run in 8th Annual PolarBear Competition

Story posted May 08, 2010

More than 450 swimmers, bicyclists and runners endured chilly weather with occasional showers — not to mention the grueling aspects of physical competition — for the 2010 PolarBear Triathlon and Duathlon Saturday, May 8.

"People came out even though the weather was a little questionable, but it held off for the most part and things went smoothly," says Will Thomas '03, the event's founder. "The vibe was really positive."

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Finish line at the 2010 PolarBear.

Bowdoin hosted the eighth annual event at the Farley Field House complex.

PolarBear 2010 Results

Triathlon

First place men's finisher was Mike Caiazzo, 34, of Westbrook, Maine, with a time of 53:48. The first women's finisher, and ninth place overall, was Catherine Sterling, 33, of Kents Hill, Maine, posting a time of 57:57.

Duathlon

Kurt Perham, 39, of Brunswick, finished first with 1:00:50. Carrie McCusker, 40, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, was the first female finisher, and seventh overall, with a time of 1:08:14.

Results here.


Triathletes began by swimming 525 yards (21 lengths) in Greason Pool, then took off on a 12-mile bike loop, returning to a transition area outside Farley before running three miles.

Participants in the duathlon ran two miles, biked 12, and then ran three more.

Thomas created the event during his senior year at Bowdoin.

He has gone on to establish Tri-Maine Productions, which produces and manages a variety of competitive events.

Thomas recently made headlines with his unusual journey to the 2010 Boston Marathon and beyond.

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Will Thomas '03

He kayaked from Peaks Island to Portland, from where he then biked to Hopkinton, Mass., to run the Boston Marathon.

Thomas crossed the finish line and kept running toward Boston Harbor, which he crossed by paddling a kayak until he arrived at Logan Airport to catch a flight to another marathon.

Just prior to his trek, Thomas was interviewed on the WCSH newsmagazine, 207.

Click here to see the segment.

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