On the evening of July 26, fresh sunburns abounded in the City of SLO. More than 1,000 participants and spectators spent the morning putting their bodies to the test in the traditional, swim-bike-run, triathlon stages of the 36th Annual San Luis Obispo Triathlon.
For the second year in a row, Team Joseph, a group made up of the, family, friends, physical therapists and well wishers of a local young man with cerebral palsy took to the course together.
Joseph Cornelius, 21, has little-to-no mobility on his own but is aided through the challenges by the team with use of a floatation platform specially designed last year by Cal Poly engineering students, as well as a bike trailer and wheelchair for the other challenges.
The course consists of a .5-mile swim at Sinsheimer Pool, a 15-mile bike ride (which required bus stop rerouting and road closures in the Orcutt Road area) and a 3.1-mile run to finish.
According to the City’s Parks and Rec Department approximately 300 people volunteer their time every year to make the event possible.