ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Early Sunday morning before the sun made its first appearance, athletes — focused and working almost in silence — began preparing for the big race. It was the third and final day of the St. Anthony’s Triathlon.

Among the competitors covered by darkness were triathletes, Dave Longacre and his wife, Jill Voorhis. Using the light from their phones to see, the two racked their bikes, took their helmets out, changed shoes and quietly made last-minute adjustments to equipment. It was 5:45 a.m.  

When the athletic duo arrived at check-in on Friday afternoon, they were buzzing with excitement. They knew they would soon see old friends and make new ones, all while doing what they love. And making things even sweeter is the fact that this is their 42nd year competing in the triathlon.

“You probably can’t see it, but I’m, like, electrified right now. I gotta calm down,” said Voorhis, beaming with joy. Her positive energy emanated from every part of her body.

Voorhis and Longacre first met in the early 1980s, competing in triathlons, but it was 20 more years before they fell in love.

“We love it because we’re able to do a sport that we both love — triathlons — and we’re not taking time away from each other,” said Longacre, with energy matching Voorhis’. “We’re spending more time with each other doing something we both love.”

After collecting their shirts, numbers and wristbands, they chatted with a few friends before making the four-block walk home — they live that close to the action. When they’re not biking or running through the wide city streets of downtown St. Pete, they’re in Tampa Bay — a stone’s throw from home.

“I gotta settle it down and not spend too much energy between now and race morning when I jump in that water and swim like a crazy woman,” Voorhis said, looking out at Tampa Bay.

“I keep coming back to my mantra. This is a celebration of health and a community event, and that just brings me down and puts things into perspective — instead of, ‘I just want to go out there and kick some butt.’”

That was Friday afternoon. On Sunday morning, however, when the sun came up, both Voorhis and Longacre were filled with the same level of excitement. It was game on. 

“We’re feeling good. We’re going to jump in the water and do a little practice swim. Then we’ll see you on the other side,” Longacre yelled over the wind and music.

They walked down to the water’s edge and, standing there with wetsuits and swim caps on, they dug their heels into the sand, gave each other a big kiss and ran into the Bay,  

Then back in their element — separately, but at the same time, together — they crossed the finish line.

A bond strengthened with every mile.