Onset's third annual Escape the Cape triathlon and first ever women-only race were spirited and energized -- even in less-than-favorable conditions.

Rain on Saturday, June 2, hampered the co-ed Escape the Cape race, causing organizers to cancel the swim portion of that event and replace it with a run, effectively changing the race to a duathlon (run, bike, and run).

"I think everybody had a great day" despite the weather, said race director Tim Richmond of Max Performance. "The spirit was great!"

If the rain didn't make things difficult enough, temperatures were chilly, in the low- to mid-50s.

"Very challenging conditions out there," race director Tim Richmond of Max Performance told the athletes gathered at the Onset Band Shell on Saturday, many whom were jumping up and down to keep warm.

The swim portion was canceled and replaced with a 1-mile run due to wind and choppy water.

"There should be no record-breaking times today," Richmond noted.

Escape the Cape had near-perfect weather in previous years. In telling the athletes about the running course, Richmond used the description he's used since bringing the race to Onset in 2010.

"It's all throughout the East River," he noted, before adding with a laugh: "Beautiful views of the water...!"

Hey, the views were there -- just behind the fog!

Despite the conditions, the atmosphere was energized, with friends and family of participants yelling and cheering on everyone who made the effort to complete the race.

The overall male winner of the race was Nathan Buttrick of Boston, who finished in 47:11. The first female to cross the finish line was Carolyn Pfalzgraf of Brookline, with a time of 54:10.

Wareham participants and their times are as follows: Roger Spring, 55:15; Christopher Smith, 1:06:00; Susan Clavin, 1:10:19; Martha Maguire, 1:18:46; Nichole Jones, 1:18:50Sue Blazejewski, 1:28:20; Shawn Bartlett, 1:34:27.

For full results, click here.

The unlikely Wareham teammates profiled in Wareham Week last week -- Richard Wheeler, Larry McDonald, and Dolores Cleek -- were ready to go on Saturday.

Unfortunately, 81-year-old Wheeler did not get to participate in his first triathlon, as he was to complete the swimming portion of the race. Cleek, an experienced runner who participated on team during the 2010 Escape the Cape triathlon, completed both running portions of the event. McDonald, who lost 70 pounds after he was diagnosed with diabetes last year, completed the bike as planned.

"It was very slippery," Cleek noted.

But the conditions didn't stop the team from achieving its goal.

"Our plan was to finish in two hours," Cleek explained. "We actually finished in less!"

Cleek and McDonald finished in an hour and 53 minutes.

"We'll be back next year," said McDonald. "I can't say enough about Tim Richmond and Max Performance. They're awesome."

The first ever women-only Escape the Cape triathlon went off without a hitch the following day, with more than 170 ladies taking on the 1/3-mile swim, 10-mile bike, and 3.1-mile run.

That spirit was magnified, as some of Saturday's athletes returned to cheer on the participants in the "Title 9" women-only race.

The overall winner of the race was Leslie Battle of Warwick, R.I., who finished in 1:04:06.

Two Wareham women participated. Kelly Spring finished in 1:06:39, while Donna Simmons completed the race in 1:45:28.

For complete Title 9 results, click here.

Max Performance had an army of volunteers who helped with both races. The volunteers included everyone from local residents to members of the town's Bike Path Committee and Selectmen Steve Holmes, Alan Slavin, and Peter Teitelbaum.

Richmond said the enthusiastic support Max Performance receives from the town is one of the reasons he hopes to continue hosting races in Onset.

"We're very happy with the community involvement," he said.

Though some participants had decided not to race due to the weather, Richmond said he was happy with the turn-out for both of the events.

"We'd love to be back," he said.