According to a Web site where the results were posted, the water temperature off of Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Huddleston registered a chilly 65 degrees. Sampson said almost all the swimmers wore wet suits.

"Well, I saw one guy in a Speedo and one other in a swimsuit," he recalled. Sampson wore a body-hugging suit from his waist almost to his knees.

"I came out first," he said. "I couldn't have done better. There were six different [groups] swimming, and I was in the last group to go in so I had to go around a lot of people. I was following one strong swimmer most of the time, but I finally got even, and then I sprinted home and beat him."

Sampson said he'd like to participate in the triathlon again.

"I might even try to do the whole thing [swim, bike and run] myself," he said.

Team runner Karen McNew said she sympathized with Sampson.

"I felt sorry for Mike -- the water was cold, and when the swim started, the morning was chilly and windy," she said. "By the time I ran the final triathlon leg [at 10:30], the day had really warmed up -- maybe too much."

McNew admitted to a bit of nervousness before the race, but afterward, having clocked an improvement from her last 5K run in March, said she felt good about the experience. She came in sixth out of the 29 relay runners.

McNew hesitated to say if she would participate in a triathlon again.

"Well, it was really tough with my work schedule," she said. "I couldn't pick up my entry packet on Friday because of work."

Each participant had to personally pick up the registration packet and show a photo ID.

"So I had to get up 6:15 on race day, get to the park and get registered -- after not getting home until 12:30 the night before," said McNew. "I wasn't as rested as I should have been, and I don't like scrambling around at the last minute."

Cindy Handy, the team's bicyclist, said she was pleased with the team's performance. It placed 11th out of 29 teams.

"The relay competitors were complaining that all the relay teams were grouped together. Apparently other years there were groups of men's relays, women's and mixed relays," Handy said. "So we were competing against some teams with all men."

The 20K bike route went through the park, down to Saunder's Point and back.

"I enjoyed the ride, and the real hard-core triathletes urged on the newer participants," said Handy. "I think I need to use a bike with racing tires next time. Mountain bikes can't get the speed that I would like to have."

Handy's son, Brandon Handy, for whom the "Dream Team" was named, watched the participants come in from his wheelchair. He was excited, and he said, pleased with the team's performance.

All three team members felt they gained something from the experience. It was Sampson's first time to be in the last "wave" (relay group) to enter the water. It was McNew's first triathlon, and Handy's first time biking (she'd previously run).

The SML Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue was on hand to answer calls if needed.

"Three triathlon swimmers had to be rescued," reported Al Busch.

The squad had five EMT-manned fireboats and one personal watercraft on hand. Even with the three rescues, it was a slow year compared to others, said Busch.

"Other years, we've had as many as 14 request assistance," he said. "It's about our most nerve-wracking event -- trying to keep track of hundreds of bobbing heads out there on the lake."