So the shoot with Brightroom at the Napa Valley Triathlon went well. I had to leave to at 5am to get up there in time for the race, but I was done at 1030, which is the way it should always be.

I didn't get to see much of the famous wine growing valley but I did make a nie cruvy drive up the shores of Lake Barryesa that made me wish I had a Porsche instead of a Subaru.

The race itself was mostly unremarkable. That is too say that all triahlons are remarkable, just for the accomplishment. I should know. I ran one in Samoa. But this one was no more special that any other.

I sat out on the course and shot first bikers and then runners. I was flashed by some woman. This took me so much by surprise that I missed the shot. One second she was unzipping her top, and I thought she was just trying to cool off, but the zipper kept coming down and I was so shocked I forget to hit the shutter.

Then there was one racer that left me in awe. Number 500 was competing minues one limb. I saw amputee athletes all winter in Vail. Most of them were incredibly good and I formed this opinion that they were fearless because they had less to lose than the rest of this. It's probably way off base, but it's as good an explanation as any.

However this guy was a different story. Skiing might be hard work, even for the fully limbed, but it's also serious fun. Triathlons, however, are just gruelling labor. And for this guy to participate, let alone cross the finish line ahead of many competitors was an awe inspiring example of the will of the human spirit.