In deference to the Blood, Sweat and Tears anthem, if the third annual SportsPlex Super Sprint Triathlon proved anything, it's that "what goes down, must come up."

Heading out of the first transition, participants still wet from the SportsPlex pool swim rolled out onto the hills of eastern Hillsborough. What seemed like an even playing field, however, was a deceptive downhill ride initially; it took a little lactic acid to keep these spinning wheels spinning back to the SportsPlex for the second transition and a final running leg.

"The bike portion was really nice, but it was really hilly," women's overall winner Brianne Gaal said. "There's no time to just crank it out for several miles. It's all either up or down."

Alex Werden, the 13-15 male winner, agreed. "The way out on the bike course was a lot easier than the way back."

The Super Sprint Triathlon held Saturday at the Triangle SportsPlex benefited the American Heart Association. It comprised a 400-meter swim in the SportsPlex indoor pool, followed by an out-and-back 12-mile bike and finishing with a 5K (3.1-mile) run.

Dan Young (54:11), who finished just ahead of Chris Thomas (54:55) to capture the overall crown, found that an early morning start and an early finish was to his liking.

"It was nice that the sun wasn't out," Young said. "The bike course was hilly, but the run was good."

Training for longer triathlons, including a half-Ironman event later this fall, didn't hamper David Dirito's (58:16) third-place finish.

"I haven't really been training that much for speed," Dirito explained. "It was good today, but I've just been feeling real weak on the bike lately, and today was no different. The run was okay, but I just don't feel like I've got that fifth gear."

"Most people have a weakness in one of the three sports, and that tends to be the general fear," said David Bolger of Trysports Triathlons.

Saturday's event was part of the TrySports Triathlon Development Series, offering 18 events throughout North Carolina in 2008, which will focus on introducing participants to the sport.

"This series is a development series for beginners, and that's why it features pool swims instead of open, outdoor swims," Bolger said. "Swimming is often people's weakest link. If you can get through that and then get out and get on the road, it gets more enjoyable, and then obviously most folks can walk, jog, or run the last leg."

Indicative of the growth of multi-sport competition, TrySports recently opened its third store in Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall. Set-up Events, which administered the competition this past weekend, also helps fuel the growth of triathlons and duathlons throughout the Southeast USA.

"In this area, I think we've been instrumental in helping the industry to grow," Set-up Events' Greg Hawkins said. "Races have been filling up, so we're adding more races. ... We're giving folks a lot of opportunities, and we're creating a lot of visibility for the sport as well."

Hawkins said he's seen particular growth among certain demographics.

"The percentage of women has increased, and there are a lot more beginners," Hawkins said."

Triangle SportsPlex fitness director Susan Clayton said the accessibility of triathlons through events like Saturday's has helped to offset the intimidation felt among potential participants.

"This is a USA Triathlon-certified event, so there are some out here that are competing for places, but then there are some who literally walk," Clayton said. "This has something for everyone."

Clayton herself had a role in introducing one particular individual to the sport, possibly saving his life in the process. Gary Lawrence collapsed due to a heart attack at the Sportsplex fitness facility in Spring 2006, and Clayton resuscitated him with CPR.

"Gary had just quit smoking and had started to gain weight," his wife, Kathy Lawrence, said. "He had two blocked arteries, and he was actually gone for a while."

One year later, Lawrence competed in the March Super Sprint Triathlon in Hillsborough.

Thanks to inspiring stories like Lawrence's, the SportsPlex Triathlon now benefits the American Heart Association. Lawrence was on hand as a volunteer on Saturday and was one of many, noted fellow volunteer Sue Holaday, who is a member of the SportsPlex Triathlon Club under president Kari Wilkerson.

"We have some of our members who are participating," Holaday said. "Those who aren't participating are volunteering if possible."

The Super Sprint celebrated excellence in numerous divisions.

Among the women Saturday, Danielle Baker (1:05:11) and Karen Brazinski (1:05:54) were just off Gaal's first-place finish pace of 1:00:09.

Sonia Davis (1:07:39) coasted to a two-minute victory over Karen Kemerait (1:09:40) and Teresa Anile (1:12:25) in the Masters Women's division.

"I felt like I did pretty well," Davis said. "I'm glad it's over though. "It might be short, but there were a lot of hills on this course. And about halfway through the run, the sun came out."

It was Jeffrey Wilcox (58:48) earning first place in the Masters Men's bracket ahead of David Kaat (59:05) and "Diesel" Babson (1:00:27).

Karyn Long (1:11:29) captured the Athena bracket, while Scott Malzahn (1:11:04) place first among Clydesdales. Forrest Knowles (1:07:09) won the Masters Clydesdales division.

Female age-group winners included 12-and-under winner Grace Bishop (1:23:50), 13-15 winner Lilianna Fernandez (1:15:11) and 20-24 first-place finisher Lauren Richter (1:10:17). Earning a first in the 25-29 bracket was Bonnie Joubert (1:09:16), while Erin Fruland (1:08:34) stood atop the 30-34 podium and Nicole Thomas (1:06:38) took the 35-39 title.

Patricia Theriault's 1:06:12 was good as gold in the 40-44 bracket, while Katherine Lawrence's 1:12:55 took the 45-49 crown. Among 50-54 women, it was Jane Satter (1:13:36) finishing first, and Karen Katula (1:32:01) won the 55-59 division. Jane Landen's 1:34:55 was victorious in the 60-64 bracket, and the 1:38:48 posted by Barbara Bogart was the blue ribbon winner among 65-69-year-old women.

Among the males, it was Jacob Zawada's 1:10:31 that captured the 12-and-under crown, while Alex Werden (1:07:09) won the 13-15 bracket. Benjamin Jones (58:19) stood atop the 16-19 podium, while Mark Kohler (1:00:45) and Devin Gillis (1:03:57) won the 20-24 and 25-29 divisions, respectively.

Among males 30-34, Tim Gautreau's 59:07 struck gold, and T.J. Derrick took the 35-39 title in 1:01:27. Stewart Collis (1:01:20) was first among 40-44-year olds, and Bradley Miller (1:03:16) was tops among the 45-49 set.

Bruce Peyser (1:09:51) took the men's 50-54 division, while Dennis Bongiorni (1:10:54) won the 55-59 bracket, and Scott Crabtree's 1:04:35 was the blue ribbon mark among the 60-64-year olds. Bruce Adkins (1:27:39) was first across the finish line among 65-69-year-old men.

Next up in terms of large-scale multisport competitions are triathlons in Virginia Beach, Va., and in Wilmington.

Hawkins called the Virginia Beach triathlon "a destination event."

"People will bring their families, and there's Busch Gardens and Williamsburg nearby," he said. SportsPlex organizers were pleased with the outcome of their own event on Saturday.

"This is just such a great event for us," Wilson said. "Set-up Events did such a great job, the volunteers have been great, and our fitness director Susan Clayton has done such a super job organizing everyone. Plus, these athletes are just extraordinary."

Fall will be a time for finishing touches on ongoing construction at the Triangle SportsPlex.

A second-floor area will feature new fitness centers, with new fitness machines and free weights. Added space on the first floor will include locker rooms and office space.

"Renovations are going great, and we're hoping those are finished around mid-autumn," Wilson said.

With the addition of the new features and more events planned in 2009, the Triangle SportsPlex is proving that this is one fitness facility doing more than spinning its wheels.