Beijing International Triathlon: intimidating if you think it is (6)

Liu was particularly impressed with the social dinners in the Nan Gong hotel. "For me it's quite unusual, because in US races it's more business-like. You just go, check in, do your own dinners. But I suppose this is the Chinese hospitality. It really makes you feel welcome and important here. Loved it."

Nick Lara, an expat from California was still floating on endorphins. "It's definitely an experience," he observed. "It's great to see all the other people doing it because it's not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm glad I did it. And I'm glad it's over."

I could only agree with Lara, feeling happy to reflect on the event. Spaniard Javier Gomez Noya may have won the race in just one hour and fifty-one minutes, but even more than with other races, triathlons are about individual effort. All the first-timers I spoke with unanimously agreed that the race was tough but completely doable. We were all already thinking of ways to shave seconds off for next year's event.