Triple Threat

Almost 14,000 cyclists turned out for last week’s Hotter N’ Hell event in Wichita Falls to ride the 100-mile bike tour or do other weekend events such as the shorter cycling rides, trail run, mountain bike race or USA Cycling road races.

The Hotter N’ Hell 100 is the largest century ride in the United States, and for many cyclists just completing the 100-mile ride is a capstone achievement.

Some participants, however, want to test themselves even more, and 166 individuals took on the

That’s a total of 124 miles of cycling and running in the August temperatures that exceeded 100 degrees at times.

San Angelo’s Marlon Miller and Mertzon’s Brian Tillman were among 166 Triple Threat racers who successfully completed the three events to earn one of the coveted ‘I Survived the Triple Threat’ trophies.

Tillman, a runner and triathlete who trains on the rural country roads surrounding Mertzon, finished the three event competition in 31st place overall with a cumulative time of 9 hours, 16 minutes.

He finished the mountain bike race in just under 1 hour, 16 minutes; rode the 100 miles Saturday in 5 hours, 56 minutes; and capped off the weekend by running the half marathon trail race in 2 hours, 4 minutes.

“The hardest part was the section of the HHH 100 ride between miles 80 to 95,” said Tillman. “I knew it would be rough going straight into a 15 to 20 mile per hour wind in the heat but, I really paid the price on this section. I had to stop at the rest stop at mile 95, re-hydrate and re-fuel, and still suffered cramps in my legs for those last five miles.”

“I had really thought I could rank higher in the half marathon the next morning, but by the time that race started my legs were just rubber from the previous two days. Still, my time was only about 15 minutes slower than what I think I could have done on fresh legs.’

Miller, who notes that his strongest disciplines are mountain biking and road cycling, finished the Triple Threat competition in 43rd place in 9 hours, 43 minutes.

His 1 hour, 2 minute time in the opening mountain bike event was the fifth-fastest among all Triple Threat competitors, and he solidified his standing in the upper part of the field by riding Saturday’s 100 miler in 6 hours, 6 minutes and then running a 2 hour, 34 minute half marathon on Sunday.

“Although I’ve done the HHH 100 ride on four previous occasions with my best time for the century ride being just under five hours, this was only my second bike-run combined event,” said Miller.

“My training consisted primarily of just riding a lot. Running isn’t my favorite activity. I haven’t ran much since my Army days, so I didn’t start any serious run training until a month or so before this event.”

Remember — hats off to Miller and Tillman for great performances in this year’s grueling Triple Threat event.


Upcoming events
Sept. 13: Run to Remember, roadlizards.org
Sept. 27: Mason Lions Club 5/10K Run, masontxcoc.com
Oct. 4: Shannon Pink Ribbon Run, active.com/san-angelo-tx/running/shannon-pink-ribbon-run-2014-7777655
Oct. 11: Goodyear Race for Celebration, roadlizards.org
Oct. 11: Christoval Vineyards Half Marathon, runintexas.com/christoval
Nov. 1: 30K of the Dinosaur trail race, roadlizards.org
Triple Threat challenge by competing in an 11-mile mountain bike race Friday, the 100-mile bike tour Saturday and then running a 13.1-mile half-marathon trail race on the final day of the event.