Fielding a three-generation team for Sunday's Gold Nugget Triathlon isn't the Epperheimer family's only accomplishment.
That all seven family members managed to gain spots in the race is pretty impressive. The triathlon is limited in size, because there are only so many swimmers the Bartlett High School pool can manage in a single day.
Each year online registration opens at midnight, and each year anyone who snoozes loses. It took a mere 2 minutes and 26 seconds this year for the race to fill up.
The race begins at 9 a.m. and features 500 yards of swimming, 12 miles of biking and 4.1 miles of running.
Other numbers of note:
Total racers: 1,650
Race rookies: 422
Age range: 9 to 78 years
Three-generation teams: 9
Mother-daughter teams: 136
States represented: 15
Alaska towns represented: 31
Racers who will also volunteer on race day: 281
Bib numbers of note:
1: Defending champion Kinsey Laine
2: Amber Stull, three-time champ and last year's runner-up
181: Jackie Minge, the cyclist who was struck by a hit-and-run driver last week while on a training ride on Arctic Valley Road.
286: Shannon Donley, eight-time champion
366: Holly Weiss-Racine, who did the 2013 race while 30 weeks pregnant with son Wesley. Wesley died four days before Christmas last year and a number of racers plan to write his name inside a heart near their shoulders in his honor. Racers who wish to be part of Team Wesley can find Sharpies at the same place they get their bib numbers written on their bodies.