I didn't know Alice personally, but we definitely crossed paths by bike during my first Sitka summer in 2005. When I heard that there was a triathlon in Alice's name, I had to see it for myself. The first event was playing a polka on the accordion; second event involved kayaking a short distance and the course finished up with a hilarious bike obstacle course. Some participants honor Machesney's spirit by dressing in spectacularly colorful costumes and money raised from the triathlon goes to community bike projects within Sitka.
I rode my bike down to the triathlon eager to see the silliness of Sitka locals, but before I knew it, I was registered, getting a number pinned on my shirt, and a pfd slipped over my head. I was teamed up with a wonderful older man who had worked Search and Rescue for years in Alaska; he wanted someone to join his team for the accordion event. Despite my dad being an expert accordion player, I had never played a single note until that day. I wish that I had a photo to prove my new polka playing status.
The first race was over so quickly, everyone wanted to go again and before I knew it, I was caught up in the activity. This time, another new friend played the accordion for me, I paddled somebody else's kayak with a paddle that didn't fit me; really, I just made a fool of myself in one of the nation's kayaking capitals and boy, I never heard the end of that. I came out of the water last, but in one of sport's greatest comebacks ever, I re-took the lead by bike and ended up winning my first triathlon!
It was one of the most fun times I've ever had. After awards were distributed (I got glow-in-the-dark bicycling gloves), I was formally admitted into the Sitka local community.
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