Travis Triathlon

U.S. Air Force Maj. Joshua Reno, 860th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, swims during the first leg of the Travis Triathlon July 27, 2019, at Travis Air Force Base, California. During the triathlon, which is in its 26th year, 31 athletes competed against one another. Participants had to swim 400 meters, bike 12 miles and run 3.1 miles. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte)

Travis Triathlon

Chad Baltozer, Travis Triathlon participant, runs during the third portion of the multi-sport race July 27, 2019, at Travis Air Force Base, California. During the triathlon, which is in its 26th year, 31 athletes competed against one another. Participants had to swim 400 meters, bike 12 miles and run 3.1 miles. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte)

Travis Triathlon

William Nichols, 60th Operations Support Squadron, rides a bike during the second leg of the Travis Triathlon July 27, 2019, at Travis Air Force Base, California. During the triathlon, which is in its 26th year, 31 athletes competed against one another. Participants had to swim 400 meters, bike 12 miles and run 3.1 miles. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte)

Travis Triathlon

William Nichols, 60th Operations Support Squadron, crosses the finish line of the Travis Triathlon July 27, 2019, at Travis Air Force Base, California. During the triathlon, which is in its 26th year, 31 athletes competed against one another. Participants had to swim 400 meters, bike 12 miles and run 3.1 miles. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte)

Travis Triathlon

From left to right, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Peter Realbird, 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, William Nichols, 60th Operations Support Squadron, and David Lausch, stand on the first, second and third place podiums July 27, 2019, at Travis Air Force Base, California. During the triathlon, which is in its 26th year, 31 athletes competed against one another. Participants had to swim 400 meters, bike 12 miles and run 3.1 miles. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte)

Travis Airmen push themselves to the limit during annual triathlon

Published July 31, 2019
By Airman 1st Class Cameron Otte
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Three dozen Airmen competed in the Travis Triathlon July 27 at Travis AFB.

The triathlon is a multi-sport race that involves swimming, biking and running with little to no breaks between events.

“The triathlon was split into three portions: The swimming, the biking, and running,” said Staff Sgt. Ashlee Folks, 60th Force Support Squadron special events coordinator. “Participants swam 400 meters then biked 12 miles and ended with a 3.1 mile run.”

This triathlon featured six brackets and awards were presented to the top competitors.

“The six brackets involved a junior bracket, which had boys and girls 10 to 15, two separate brackets for males and females 16 to 29, another two brackets for males and females 30 plus and last the team bracket which consisted of teams of three,” said Folks.

During the awards ceremony William Nichols, 60th Operation Support Squadron, was named the overall winner.

“It feels awesome to win, this is what I train for,” Nichols said. “My team and I train for events like this all year long, we swim, mountain bike and trail run. So, it’s a good feeling when all your hard work pays off.”

Nichols may be a triathlete earning top positions now, but he wasn’t always the athlete he is today.

“When I started getting into the athletic events I was 250 pounds, I struggled with running, swimming and lifting,” Nichols said. “I found cheering people on and staying positive helped me stay committed to exercise, even if you’re running slower than everyone else.

Nichols encourages people to train and sign up for future athletic events

“Even if your goals seem impossible make sure you never quit, just get out there and give it all you got,” he said.

This was the 26th year Travis has hosted the triathlon.

“This is an event we put on every year, we put on about 12 to 16 events a year, but this is the one we do consecutively,” Folks said. “Because this triathlon involves a lot of full body exercises and this area is very big for triathletes that always want to participate.”