Working & Learning at the Pan-American Masters Games Cleveland 2024 Triathlon

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We can honestly say Sunday’s Pan-American Master Games (PAMG) Triathlon was easily our WORST ever effort documenting a Cleveland waterfront event. But it was our best experience helping battle-hardened outdoor recreation event planning veterans ensure the event was a fun and safe experience for locals and recreational tourists from Afghanistan. Brazil, Canada, Hungary, India, Mexico, Mongolia, and Switzerland enjoy Cleveland.

We had good reason to be terrible documenters as we were recruited to serve as a logistics volunteer/smokejumper for the PAMG Triathlon. The needs of the triathlon and participants far outweighed the need to document the event!

We’ve already had chances to document several local triathlon’s within an inch of their life with:

Destination Cleveland and greater cleveland sports commission CEO david gilbert with Pan-American Masters Games triathlon chair Mickey Rzymek

We love the triathlon for its ability to showcase a region’s urban waterfront with the opening swim kicking off affairs. The outdoor recreational lifestyle vibe also reminds us of the years we spent in San Diego before we moved to Cleveland. We also pay close attention to the multi-faceted logistics associated with the swim, bike, and run segments. We steal from the best and every event allows us to watch, learn, and hopefully evolve as an event planner and host for our local and out-of-town guests.

Speaking of stealing from the best, our time serving as a Greater Cleveland Sports Commission volunteer was also our way of paying a large debt back to Mickey Rzymek, owner of North Coast Multisports. Mickey is Share the River’s good friend, confidant, therapist, and operations manager for five previous Blazing Paddles Paddlefest’s and he’s a LARGE reason we’ve grown exponentially in a sustainable fashion. Jim Ridge, our executive director refers to Mickey in a self-effacing fashion - “Once you get past me, I have a very professional organization.” Mickey over the years has helped Share the River navigate its way through many uncharted waters. And yes, there’s still work to be done for our soon to be rescheduled 2024 event!

We loved watching Mickey’s bedside manner in action when he gently counseled an 81 year-old athlete who readily agreed it was a good idea for him to wrap up his race as temps climbed as the sun rose.

To paraphrase a classic military planning adage, “No battle plan survives contact with the triathlete”. This year the biggest foe of H2O events at Edgewater Park, weather, was a no-show for Sunday’s PAMG Triathlon. Lack of rain kept water quality in great shape, and Lake Erie’s notably fickle nature graciously provided calm waters for out-of-town guests with little to no wave action during Saturday’s swim practice and Sunday’s races. Sunny, humid, and warm weather in the upper 80’s made athletes mindful of their hydration needs. Many thanks to the kayakers and SUP’ers who responded to our on-the-water safety volunteer ask! Then there’s Bill, the world’s tallest triathlete, setting up and tearing down on either side of his race!

As pre-race staging wrapped up for Sunday morning’s triathlon we were reminded of Margaret Mead’s great quote: “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”

We found ourselves surrounded by great company with:

  • Mickey Rzymek, North Coast Multisports, owner

  • Natalie McMannamon, Tri CLE Event Director, USAT Level I Certified Race Director

  • Melanie Prohaska, Tri CLE Marketing & Communications Director, USAT Level I Certified Race Director 

  • Jay Toole, Run the Land Founder and Event Director, Cleveland Marathon Director of Operations

along with a boatload of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission interns!

and we saw you on the Lake Erie horizon Argonaut!

There’s no time for the above mentioned pros to sit back for a victory lap as their work continues. Say it with us - Cleveland loves to cram nine months of activity into three months of summer!

Bill Mcintosh shutterfly gallery

Bill Mcintosh Shutterfly gallery (odds are if you were part of Sunday’s PAMG triathlon, Bill got you in action). Click on above photo to go to the gallery.