Los Angeles takes on annual test of endurance

According to Google maps, it takes 28 minutes by car to travel from Venice Beach, through Fairfax District, mid-Wilshire, Koreatown, and ultimately to Downtown Los Angeles. On the grey, overcast morning of Sunday Sept. 25, it took 1:46:34 for Cameron Dye of Boulder, Colorado to reach L.A. Live from the shores of Venice Beach.

Dye, along with over 2,500 other competitors from around the world, were competitors in the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon presented by Herbalife.

The Los Angeles Triathlon consists of two courses, an Olympic and a Sprint.

The more grueling Olympic course begins with a roughly one mile ocean swim, transitioning to a 24-mile bike course down Venice Blvd, Fiarfax Ave., and lastly onto Olympic Blvd, towards downtown.

The last leg of the triathlon is a 6.2-mile run through the city streets.

Triathlons are a unique sport--an individual undertaking of will with a sense of group mentality. A triathlete must stay focused, controlling one's own thoughts to keep energy high for three sports.

Each one is on an individual quest to reach the finish line, and yet the camraderie amongst the swimmers, riders, and runners is palpable.

In addition, the course is lined with cheering strangers providing motivation.

The Los Angeles Triathlon is a unique display of endurance and civic pride for both spectators and competitors.