By Linda Ellingsworth
When Kerri Thomas rode the Cape May-Lewes Ferry as a child to visit relatives in Delaware, she never imagined she would return to that ferry decades later for the express purpose of jumping off it.
That is exactly what the Middle Granville woman did on June 14.
Thomas and more than 1,700 other intrepid souls jumped off the ferry boat to compete in “Escape the Cape,” a triathlon that featured a one-mile swim to shore, a 25-mile bicycle ride, and a five-mile run.
“It was surreal,” she said. “When I jumped it felt like I was in slow motion. It took my breath away.”
Although the distance to the water was 15 feet, she said it felt like a long way down. Yet organizers kept the mood light, playing the theme from the movie “Jaws” as the competitors jumped about seven at a time.
“The whole thing was fun,” said Thomas. “It was a big party atmosphere.”
Once in the water, the current helped pull her along. Never having done a competitive swim in the ocean, she didn’t know what to expect. Her main focus at the end of the swim was to avoid stepping on crabs on the shore.
Following the swim, she had to find her bike at the transition point. That was a challenge, since organizers had moved the bikes since she placed hers the night before.
The 25-mile bike course was fairly flat, but road conditions were rough due to the crushed sea shells that slashed the tires of many competitors’ bicycles.
“I got through without popping a tire,” she commented.
With the bicycle portion of the race complete, it was time to start the run.
“By the time we hit the run, it was so hot,” she recalled.
The course went up the dunes four times. “It was very brutal, but on the run I felt strong.” Thomas hoped she had done reasonably well.
“I didn’t have any expectations,” she said. “I just wanted to do the best I could and enjoy it.”
The race results weren’t posted, so she hung around for the awards in hopes she might have earned a fifth place in her age group. When they announced her name for third place finisher in her group, she said she was “blown away.”
“They actually had a podium,” she said. “It was a really cool feeling.”
With her third place finish, Kerri Thomas qualified for the USA Triathlon National Age Group Championship, taking place in Milwaukee on Aug. 8 and 9. She plans to compete in the invitation-only event.
Her total time for the race was 2:36:30, ranking her third in the women’s 40-44 age group. She completed the swim in 28:15 minutes, the bike ride in 1 hour 15 minutes, and the run in 46:33 minutes.
When not competing in triathlons or running events, Thomas works for Glens Falls National Bank as a trust officer and retirement benefit educator. She resides in Middle Granville with her husband Timothy and children Devin and Brianna.