USA Triathlon coordinator Jim Flint says he's seen "the good, the bad and the ugly." This year, he decided to produce his own series of tris, and it's all good. From the time-trial start -- swimmers enter the reservoir every few seconds instead of in one teeming mass -- to the rolling bike course devoid of car traffic, to the "pancake flat" running route, the series promises to be a winner. Flint's seen to all the details: a luscious catered lunch, fresh flowers at the hand-washing stations -- even a cardiac doc on hand. "I figure if I'm gonna do this, it should be fun," he says, "even for a beginner." And then there's that cool name: Wouldn't it be nice to be able to say you just finished the Rattlesnake?