May 30, 2002
| Bike | Run | Swim | Total | |
| Today | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Total to Date | 956 | 117 | 13.5 | 1086.5 |
distances in km.
May 30, 2002
Salt Lake City!
What a pretty, pretty town! Ultra clean and sparkly with the mountains towering up all around the city. The people I’ve met are extremely friendly as well – I really like this place.
view from my hotel room
I had a great day – I spent most of the day swimming 4500 meters and just lying in the sun at the Styner Aquatics Center. Get this: 9 OUTDOOR 50-meter lanes! It was 95 degrees today – a record breaker.
Since I left Calgary, I’ve experienced record breaking heat in Northern Montana, record breaking cold in Southern Montana, and record breaking heat again in Utah. It was so hot today that I could not walk on the concrete without shoes on, yet just a little more than a week ago I was pushing the trike through a couple inches of snow and placing foot warmer pads into my shoes because my toes were going numb from the cold!
This is interesting: With the arrival of the first pioneers under Brigham Young’s leadership in 1847, Salt Lake City became the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormon religion). Today, there are just over 1.5 million Mormons living in Utah – most of who live in the Salt Lake City area. Ok – that’s not interesting, but this is: I had a most enlightening conversation with two really nice University of Utah students on the train this afternoon. It started with me asking the girl for directions, and we started talking. Knowing I was new to the city, she brought up the Mormon thing – I didn’t. Then this guy overheard us, and moved closer to share his opinions and generally to join in the conversation. I guess it’s a huge topic here.
She was a lesbian and he was gay (no, they didn’t know each other). I have had conversations with exactly 3 people since arriving in SLC and two of them practice an alternative lifestyle that might be at odds with the majority of the population here. Interesting place so far….
I’m liking SLC, I’m liking my hotel, and I really like the Aquatic center, so I’m thinking of staying here for a few days and heading to Provo on Sunday. There are some stationary bikes at the Aquatic Center gym, and I’ll start putting some time in on a regular ‘upright’ bike in an attempt to get ready for Ironman in 9 days!!!
