Despite a course change, a few participants losing their way and a decline in numbers, participants in the 2005 Trapper Fitness Center “Just for the Health of It” triathlon enjoyed their experience.

“I thought the biking route was just about perfect,” said Jason Cristanelli, who was a member of the winning team. “It was my first time for a triathlon and it wasn’t too bad.”

The course, which traditionally started and finished at the Craig City Pool Complex still started at the pool but the bike leg finished at Cedar Mountain, which is where the run occurred.

“I always want it to be fun but I thought I would make it more challenging,” race coordinator Tammy Workman said. “There were some who protested the change, but we kept the tradition going.”

There were 18 participants, with four teams and six individuals taking on the 550-meter swim, 15.5-mile bike, and a 3.5-mile run. As far as times go, the new course was nearly 30 minutes longer than the previous race.

For the second straight year, Jon Freckleton, a local doctor, won the men’s individual race despite losing his way during a portion of the competition. Freckleton did several extra loops during the running portion. His final time was slower than Mac Zimmerman’s but Workman awarded Freckleton the title by taking two minutes off his time.

Finishing second didn’t deter Zimmerman.

Zimmerman and the winning team of Cristanelli, Brain Yeager and Jeannie Barton are all part of a Bureau of Land Management Fire Crew. With their regular training, the triathlon seemed like a no-brainer.

“We keep in shape as part of the fire crew,” he said. “It just made sense to try this. I’ve trained for it the last couple of years but we were on a fire. This year I didn’t train as much but we didn’t have a fire.”

Despite losing her way on the run, Marin Campbell won the women’s individual division. Sam Wood won the category he coined, “The Grandpa Category.”

Krystal Vorhees finished second in the individual female category. It was her first triathlon. “I’m not much of a biker,” she said. “But I thought, ‘heck I’ll try it.'”

Kelsey Conci, Caitlin Conci and Ashleigh McDonald won the 18-and-younger division.