The Great Floridian Iron-Distance Triathlon is scheduled to be held in Clermont, FL this weekend. Approximately 1000+ athletes will be coming to the area to race in the full and half distance events. A huge hurricane sitting off the coast tends to cause problems with an event of this nature. There are the obvious athlete safety issues involved, but large triathlons rely upon a number of local government agencies, specifically local law enforcement, and their first priority is to the community and not the race. If the Lake County Sheriff's office needs to use deputies for hurricane related efforts there will be no race.

The Sommer Sports web site forum is filled with posts from athletes discussing issues such as: shortening the race and athlete's responsibilities. In many cases these athletes have been training for one-two years in preperation for this event. They come from as far away as California, Hawaii, Maine and Wisconson to compete. In most cases, out-of-state athletes will want to arrive no-later than today for Saturday's race. The 'should I stay, or should I go' question needs to be made now.

Sommer Sports says they are meeting with local officials at 11 a.m. on Thursday and will post a course of action shortly after that meeting.

Sommer Sports founder Fred Sommer wondered if this was all a bad dream on early Wednesday morning.