Is it the challenge of the kelp in the cove? The magnificent cypress trees? The elegant Craftsman houses. The Impressionist colors of the ice plant, the ancient granitic rocks along the shore? The elegant seabirds riding the waves of air in the sky? The occasional playful seal? The passionate azure blue and purple color of the water? The camaraderie of your fellow triathletes? Whatever is in the mixture of sea, sky, land, flora, fauna and modern triathletic contestants, Pacific Grove is magic.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson

Top four elite women ride along the classic Pacific Grove shoreline.

Early morning age group wave prepares to tackle the Kelp Crawl – milder and less tangled than in years past – in the waters off at Lovers Point.

Elite women scope out the best line to the far buoy.

Yellow caps charge into 60-degree water.

Blue caps run and dive into the swim.

Charging toward shore.

Elite rounds the marker at the beach and heads out into the second 750 meter loop of the swim.

Spectators cheer the hardy triathletes.

Mother and son watch an age grouper ride by.

Tommy Zaferes led the elite bike breakaway on his way to a second Pacific Grove win.

Elite pack rides past tall cypress trees.

The bike turnaround at the end of the 6.2 mile seaside loop.

Lindsay Jerdonek and Julie Ertel lead the women’s elite breakaway.

Age group triathlete runs out from a tunnel of trees.

Runner exits, pursued by a bear.

Chris Braden of the University of Colorado finished second elite male.

Age group woman, in Flashdance ensemble, runs above the Pacific Grove shoreline.

Brian and Becky Lavelle and their young daughter came to cheer on Brian’s father Tim.

Lindsay Jerdonek gave Radka Vodickova all she could handle for the first lap of the run.

The utter joy of racing Pacific Grove on a clear blue sunny day.