Archive for the 'Aquathlon and Duathlon Race Reports' Category

Solana Beach Triathlon and TCSD Cares Dave Martin award

SOLANA BEACH- Yesterday was the first Triathlon Club of San Diego sponsored Solana Beach Dave Martin award scholarship Solana Beach TriathlonSprint Triathlon. It to was the first time the Dave Martin award was presented by TCSD Cares,  which is the newly formed charitable arm of the Triathlon Club of San Diego.

For those not familiar with Dave Martin’s story, he was the Solana Beach veterinarian and TCSD club member that passed after being involved with a great white during a club ocean swim. There was a fund raising effort done within the triathlon community for his family. Fortunately they were in a healthy financially position, so they decided to give the money back to the triathlon community. It was decided to make sure the money was used to help a worthy candidate with their education expenses and TCSD Cares would be charged with caring for the funds raised and granting this annual award.

The first recipient of the Dave Martin award, chosen blindly by the grant committee of TCSD Cares, is Jaclyn Trosper. I think most active TCSD members know Jackie and her mom Bobbie Solomon. Jackie is a mother of two and her husband is a 3rd class Petty Officer in the US Navy. She has been working towards her RN license, which she recently tested for and passed, and is now taking specialized classes hoping to become involved in organ donation. Jackie and her mom have been very involved in TCSD as volunteers and I am sure Dave would be very happy with her selection. I know that the Martin kids are as they participated in the selection process. tanner martin solana beach triathlon Congratulations JACKIE!!! You are a fantastic member of TCSD and very worthy of this award.

One last note on the Martin Family, Dave’s grandson Tanner Martin has became involved in triathlon immediately after his grandpa passed, as did Jeff his father. Yesterday Tanner CRUSHED the course and finished first in his age group, 12 and under. I am currently in negotiations with Tanner to work as his agent as I think the kids gotta future!!

The triathlon was blessed with PERFECT conditions, if you like your swim entry and exit with plenty of surf. A big swell started rolling in to the San Diego area starting Thursday with surf up to 10 feet in some areas of the county. By Sunday the surf had subsided somewhat but for the beginning of the Solana Beach triathlon it was still in the 3-4 foot range with occasional 5 foot sets rolling through.

Having grown up in the water, I forsaked racing and decided I could better support and represent TCSD as a swim buddy. As always it was a blast. I LOVE the surf and it’s always a good day when you can help someone get through conditions that would otherwise end their triathlon. Shelby Madden TCSD Cares

My first swim was with Shellby Madden, who too is a recipient of TCSD Cares. Next was with TCSD  member, Helen Barker, who came out of the water in 7th position in her wave. By helping keep up her confidence during the surf entry and exit, she did very well.  My favorite victim, I mean athlete was Sophie. I truly believe that she would have not completed the event had I not been there to pretty much demand that we keep going. That whole tough love thing.

I knew she was having a tough time when I saw her surface from a wave and do what most inexperienced swimmers do and that’s take a quick gulping breath. In this situation, and it proved true this time, you take in a mouthful of water as the undercurrent is still active and usually pulls you back down a bit. The look on he face at that point was one of panic as is often the case when the O2 you were hoping for is actually H2O. I grabbed a hold of her, made sure she stayed above the water, could feel my presence hopefully giving her some security and refused to hear her pleas of turning around. I knew she was OK and it became my mission to build her confidence. Two waves later we were passed the surf zone and she was on her way to finishing and I received this promise from her;

I know you have heard this a thousand time but thank you thank you for this morning. Without you I don’t think I would have made it out. I hope one day I will be the person that helps other but I think for now I will learn how to get better at those surf entry and solana beach triathlon surf conditions big waves exit!

Thanks it meant a lot to me and I was able to go through the swim without going on full blown panique(panic) mode and thus have a "strong" second part of the race!

Yes my goal is to spend a lot of time in the waves that I have been avoiding until now and learn how to go under them deep. Until I decided to go do triathlon I was very happy to stay on the beach and watch the waves…. Now I have decided to do something that forces me to learn how to master surf entry/exit!

So that was my Solana Beach Triathlon. Hope to see you out there next year and a HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS!!!

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Camp Pendleton Sprint triathlon raffle winner

elaine gower san diego international triathlon 6-27-2009 2-06-40 AM

 

SAN DIEGO- Claudia Flynn subscriber #53 is the winner of the Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathlon entry.

If you have not done the Camp Pendleton Sprint triathlon it is a very fun and unique race. Here is my race report for the sprint triathlon from last year’s event.

Also Congrats to TCSD member and CAF supporter who won the San Diego International Triathlon entry. We caught up with her picking up her packet at the race expo.

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San Diego International Triathlon entry winner

SAN DIEGO– The winning email for subscriber number 122 is ejgowie@aol.com. I have sent an email to the winner and they have until Monday to get back to me.

Next drawing will be for an entry to the Carlsbad Triathlon.

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Quintesential La Jolla 50s beach cottage for sale

SAN DIEGO– DO NOT MISS this opportunity to purchase a wonderful example of the southern California beach cottage. This hilltop 3 bedroom 3 bath La Jolla home sitting above Bird Rock features an amazing view that brings Pt Loma and the Coronado Islands in to your living area. If you are in the market for your ‘surf shack’, you have to see this home. Call me at 760.415.3329. Hinanos are on me.

 

 

Skylark La Jolla Blog

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Million dollar views for the first time buyers

Ethan allen 1SAN DIEGO– Lately I have been working with quite a few first time buyers. With the interest rates hovering at or under 5%, home pricing back to levels creating a near record high affordability rate and the $8,000 tax credit, it’s no wonder these buyers are entering the market.

For the first time buyer with the active lifestyle looking to buy in a central location with a huge upside potential, I have the perfect home in the north Bay Park area. How do I know this home is ideal for you? I have in the sold two homes within this pocket in the last two months and here is what those clients have said.

“This is one of those rare finds in San Diego.  It’s centrally located, easy freeway access, quiet, safe, and it has an amazing sweeping view of Mission Bay and the ocean.  It also has a unique charm found only in older San Diego neighborhoods.  With these amenities, this is easily a Ethan allen 2million-dollar plus neighborhood.  And most of the neighborhood is filled with expensive houses to prove it.  There are only a small handful of original houses available, tucked away in between these higher priced, remodeled homes.  If you are lucky enough to catch one of these original homes up for sale, you can live in a million-dollar oceanview neighborhood for a fraction of what such properties usually go for.”– closed escrow 2/11/2009


and

“After searching for 2 years, I found this house in Bay Park with an awesome view, in a great neighborhood that is centrally located. I saw a lot of fixer uppers in okay neighborhoods, or better houses in questionable neighborhoods, but this house and location had the best potential. I have been enjoying my bay/ocean view out on the deck every night!” -closed escrow 3/23/2009


princeton bunker hillThis 2 bedroom 2 bath home at 3635 Princeton Avenue provides you with amazing southern views from downtown over the bay and to the west facing the ocean overlooking Pacific Beach. From the deck you can see the transition area for the Triathlon Club of San Diego races on Fiesta Island on race day and on the 4th of July you will have front row seats to the Seaworld fireworks show.


It is a downhill coast to Mission Bay for your Fiesta Island workouts and it doesn’t get much more convenient for getting those extra minutes of sleep before heading down on race day for your triathlon or 10K.la jolla cove swims


Additionally all the events, including those Friday night swims at La Jolla cove, and dining opportunities of downtown and La Jolla are within 15 minutes of your new home.


If you are in the market for a detached home under $400,000 in a neighborhood of million dollar homes, call me at 760.415.3329 for your private showing.

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Triathlon Club of San Diego the best value in triathlon

San diego triathlon bikeSAN DIEGO– Over the last couple weeks there have been articles published regarding the impact of the economy on triathlon. While I think these articles are a bit premature I do agree that the triathlon community is heavy on white collar workers.

A article written by Pete Wilson for USA Triathlon states that, “It helps that the Ironman competitors have an average income of $161,000, according to WTC research”. In our local paper, the San Diego Union Tribune, Triathlete Magazine founder, had a higher number.

Industry sources say there are multiple reasons why the multi-sport is faring well. Demographics play a part. Duke said the average household income of Triathlete subscribers is $177,000.

“I don’t think they’re the people getting laid off. They’re the people laying off,” he said.– www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20081212

So where is the best value in triathlon whether your salary is five figures or seven? Easy, it is the Triathlon Club of San Diego.San diego triathlon club race

With the current membership fee of $60 annually, not including the discounts for family or military membership, I promise you you will get back your money many times over.

Firstly, there are the races.

TCSD holds a winter/ spring race duathlon series sponsored by RUNJUNK.com. This series of 5 races rotates throughout San Diego and even includes one off-road race held at Mission Trails regional park. In the summer there is the Aquathlon race series that takes place once a month at La Jolla shores. This race series, sponsored by Kashi, is a 1200 meter ocean swim followed by a 3 mile two loop run from the La Jolla Shores hotel to the Scripps pier. Then, staying true to the club name are the 9 club triathlons sponsored by San Diego Running Institute that take place March through November. Early in the year TCSD is on Fiesta Island and then finishes the year in the very gracious city of Coronado.

Now just being able to come and race 19 times a year for $60 represents a helluva value, but TCSD doesn’t stop there. After the races you will find fresh fruit, bakery goods and at times fresh breakfast burritos, breakfast croissant sandwiches or, when it is really chilly, Denise Pitre and crew breakout the fresh oatmeal and accompaniments.

Triathlon club of san diego racesThe aquathlons however go even further. After the race you will find the most amazing Italian feast made up of 45–60 pizzas, greek, ceasar and apple and walnut salad, garlic bread, munchies and homemade dessert made by club member Elizabeth Daubner. Additionally, there is a raffle and two pair of ZOOT running shoes as well as a two ZOOT fusion suits are given to the winner. All of this at no additional cost!!!

If that isn’t enough for you, TCSD meets one a month at either Road Runner Sports or Coastal Sports and Wellness. To make sure everyone no one leaves hungry, Chipotle, provides us with burritos and chips and salsa. But what really sets these meetings apart are the speakers and raffle.

TCSD has hosted so many great speakers including Kate Major, Chrissie Wellington, Normann Stadler, Chris McCormack, Michelie Jones, Dean Karnazes, Mirinda Carfrae and so many others. The January 2009 meeting will feature Craig Alexander and Joe Friel of Triathlete Training Bible and Normann stadler san diego and crewTraining Peaks coaching will be speaking and holding clinics in March.

The monthly raffle is second to none and typically has a value in excess of $1500. XTERRA wetsuits, Rudy Project helmets and glasses, Beaker Concept products, and certificates ranging from $20 to $100 toNytro, Hi-Tech Bikes, Moment Cycle Sports and BnL Bike and Sports, free massage certificates from ReHab United and ART certificates from University City Physical Therapy. FREE!!!!

Now let’s assume you are still not seeing the value. Let’s see, you gotten to race 19 times. You were fed at least 30 meals, potentially won at least $100 in schwag and potentially more than that, but you still are holding tight to that $60. Well there’s more.

All those tri-shops mentioned offer 10–15% discounts to members and have member only sales. Rudy Project offers our members 40% discounts as does Beaker Concepts. There are discounts on races from local race director KOZ enterprises  producer of the San Diego Triathlon Series and more. If you purchase a bike this could equate to $150 to $800 savings.

Swim buddiesWant more? Triathlon Club of San Diego has beginner programs, coaching clincs, their own swim program, ocean swims 5 times a week March through October, track workouts in north county and University City, group rides, social events, the famous La Jolla Cove Friday night potluck swim and MORE!!!

Clearly the best value in triathlon and the best club in the country!! You HAVE TO join today!!

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San Diego’s busy weekend of endurance sports

Coronado bridge swimmersSAN DIEGO– Well we are in the heart of the thoroughbred season currently running at the Del Mar fairgrounds, but this weekend was all about endurance junkies. Young and old!!!

Triathlon Club of San Diego

Saturday, the Triathlon Club of San Diego hosted 170 triathletes at Glorietta Bay for our monthly San Diego Running Institute race series. Behind the scenes, the race was experiencing some hiccups as TCSD race director Cory Osth, timing guru John Hill and big time race volunteer, TCSD VP Dave Huff were both absent. This left TCSD member and co Race Director Karam Gill with a pretty large task. The beauty of the tri club is that it only took Karam one email to round up a solid group of Triathlete Magazine Mitch Throwervolunteers and the race went off perfectly!!!

A couple notables at the race were Triathlete Magazine President Mitch Thrower as well as Brennan Lindner of Generic Events and founder of the Playa Del Run series.

The bay was perfect, no one crashed on the bike and everyone was greeted with a wonderful breakfast buffet, croissant sandwiches, parfaits with Kashi granola and fresh fruit, taken care of by Denise Pitre and her crew. If you are not a member of TCSD, you are missing the VERY BEST part of the San Diego Triathlon scene.

Y-TRI youth triathlon

While the grown ups were doing their thing at Glorietta Bay, tri club member SAN DIEGO Kids triathlonTroy Cundari with ZEAL Optical, was putting on the first annual Y-TRI youth triathlon.

The race featuring approximately 80 kids, took place within the grounds of Mt. Carmel high school and was open to kids ages 8–13. The kids 8–11 did a 75 meter swim, a 1.5 mile bike and a one mile run while the 12–13 year olds did a 175 swim, a 2.5 mile bike and finished off with a one mile run.

Look for another larger edition of this race next year.

Playa Del Run Solana BeachPlaya del run solana beach swim buddies

The ZOOT Playa Del Run series rolled into town for the second time this year. The six race Aquathlon, swim/run, series kicked off in San Diego’s Mission Bay on April 27th 2008.

Sponsored locally by Solana Beach’s own BnL Bikes, this race features a 1000 meter ocean swim followed by a 5K run. Starting at the newly redesigned Fletcher Cove beach, the weather was perfect with some surf, but not too much. As always Triathlon Club of San Diego volunteers were on hand as swim buddies to help those get through their first ocean swim. Every week TCSD hosts a swim at Fletcher Cove Friday mornings, so there was a lot of local knowledge working to help newer swimmers.

ZOOT rep Sonja DohertyPersonally the best thing about this race was seeing ZOOT sales representative and former TCSD beginner coach Sonja Johnson Doherty. Back in April, Sonja was hit by truck on a training ride and shattered her lower leg. Because of the work of great doctors, a great healthy, fit and positive patient and a whole lot of hardware, Sonja was swimming today and has been back on the bike. The run is still in the future, but it was FANTASTIC to see Sonja back competing and wearing that ear to ear grin!!!

AFC Half Marathon

I told you it was a weekend for endurance junkies and the America’s Finest City half marathon closed the weekend. America's finest city half marathon course

This 13.1 mile run starts with a nice downhill from Cabrillo National Monument and finishes with a strong uphill into San Diego’s famous Balboa Park. Along the way runners race along the San Diego Bay and briefly visit sites such as the Embarcadero and the Star of India.

Now in it’s 32nd year, make sure that you do this race at least once.

Well that’s it. Tired?

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Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathlon not to be missed

Camp Pendleton Sprint triathlon courseSAN DIEGO– The Camp Pendleton Hard Corps race series features some great events. There are of course the two Mud Runs, running races of various distances, a duathlon, international distance tri and a bike race. But the best race of all is the Camp Pendleton sprint triathlon held on the Navy based home of the Swift Intruders.

What makes this event so unique and I mean one of a kind unique, is that the event is that the majority of the race takes place with in the ‘secret wall compund’ that houses the hovercraft. When you travel on hwy 5, you can not help but notice the towering cement walls and wonder just what the heck is going on in there.

The transtion area is set at the base of the landing ramp used by the craft Camp Pendleton triathlon transition areafor entering and exiting the ocean. This landing ramp also is the worst hill of the whole course and you climb it twice when leaving transition on the bike and run. So for your first event, know it doesn’t get anymore difficult than that.

The swim is an ocean swim and during the summer you should expect some surf as we see a predominant south swell and this area of San Diego county is usually a couple feet larger than most areas south. This day the surf was 2–3 with an occasional 4 foot set waves. The only real challenge was a large 7–8 foot deep trough and then a sandbar again which is where the surf broke again. This caused some funky current conditions. When the surf was down, there was a bit of a north current, but once the waves came the current turned and pushed north. Another thing you can count on is a Camp Pendleton sprint triathlon ocean swim startperfect 68–70 water temperature.

The bike route is a very easy out and back with no real hills at all. Truly the only ‘hills’ are an overpass to cross hwy 5 and a rise out of a storm wash. Do they slow down your effort? Yes, but they really are not a climb. When you make your turn on to Las Pulgas, it does seem as though it is a constant elevation gain, so do not let your necessary extra effort discourage you as once you make the turn it will be time to drop down a couple gears and let the legs go!!

Coming back in to transition the prevailing thought for me was, “dang, now we have to run up that ramp!!” It really isn’t that bad. Just short quick turnover and get it over with. The run course is contained within the Intruders compound and you run through and around numerous hovercraft as well as the hangars, cranes and other machinery used to maintain the fleet. It really is pretty cool to be there amongst the workings. Additionally, with all the distractions and the winding unmarked course, you never really know where you are, so you don’t know if you are hurting or not. What I mean by this is, if you see a mile a marker, you gauge your effort and how your legs feel towards what is left. Sometimes this a negative mentally when you calculate that if I feel this way now, I am bummed with ‘x’ number of miles left. I guess it could be surmised as ignorance is bliss!!!

Now that the run is winding down, you come around the corner of the last Camp Pendleton sprint triathlon finish resultshangar and there is the finish line. What distinguishes it is not so much the balloons and banners, it is the parked hovercraft that you cross thorough with Marines waiting for your bib and chip. That’s another thing about any of the Hard Corp races. Being on the base there are so many ‘voluntold’ Marines out there helping to make all the events GREAT. It makes these events a great opportunity to thank those guys for what they do and they really do appreciate it.

As for results, local Ironman Champion and Carlsbad resident Michelie Jones rode her bike over to make sure she got in her warm up and won the womens Triathlon club of san diegofield in 1:17:15 only beating me by about 15 minutes ;-). The Triathlon Club of San Diego had a great presence at the race and had two club members, Philippe Krebs and Shane Byusse place 2nd and third overall. Funny thing, Phillipe beat Shane by three seconds, but was in a later wave. Wonder how both their times would have been if they were on the course together?

I would have to say that this race in my opinion should sell out as fast as the Mud Runs and should certainly sell out before the International. As a sponsor of both of these races my inbox was flooded with requests for entries because the races sold out. make sure you sign up early and if you can not race, call it a donation to the guys who are out there supporting our country everyday. The money from the races goes towards Marine Corps Community Services. It is a small amount of money for what these guys are doing. Especially given the current situationS our military is involved in.

Posted by Brian Long | Currently 2 Comments »

Local triathlete JP Theberge wins World Championship Gold

SAN DIEGO– Former triathlon club of San Diego member, CAF athlete and Jp thebergeCarlsbad resident J.P. Theberge won the Gold medal for Team USA at the Vancouver Triathlon World Championships competing in the Athletes with a disability division. JP had his right leg amputated in 1997 following a motorcycle accident in San Francisco.

With the conditions on race day being downright ugly, the triathlon was turned into a 3k-40k-10k duathlon and it took JP into the second run to catch and pass eventual second place finisher Martin Falch of Austria.

Once in front, JP had an auditory advantage over Martin.

“The Austrian had a prosthesis that made some sort of hissing noise, so I could hear him behind me,” Theberge said. “I knew I had to keep up my intensity to keep that noise from gaining on me. He had beaten me twice before so I was motivated, especially since my wife and kids were watching and my in-laws flew in to spectate.”-North County Times, 6/15/2008,Rick Hoff

Rounding out the top three was another American, former New York police officer Tommy Koehler.

If you see a handsomely tan 6’0 man running down the coast highway betweenLeuacadia and Carlsbad, chances are that’s JP. Give him a shout and a wave he’s earned it!! Congratulations JP!!!

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Do it yourself Boston Qualifier

SAN DIEGO– Triathlon club of San Diego member, 64 year old, Carl Johnson Carl johnsonwanted to run the Boston Marathon this year with his daughter. He had run it before in 1996 and planned to qualify for this year’s race at the Long Beach Marathon.

As often happens, the wheels fell off the wagon around the 20 mile mark and after a curbside lounge, Carl missed his qualifying time and finished in 4:35.

But you see, we triathletes are an unusual lot, full of ‘outside the box’ thinkers. We set cycling on it’s ear with aerobars and steep framed bikes and Carl applied that thinking to his problem. See AerobarsCarl, a retired art teacher, put the creative energy to work and set up his own marathon course. The Otay Lakes Marathon was laid out starting in Jamul and ending at the Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre in Chula Vista. The course was submitted to and certified by Ron Scardera of USA Track and Field. Now the first of the two requirements that would get Carl his entry, a certified course, was met. The other, run it in under 4:00, was about to be confronted as well.

ON January 20, 2008 with the help of family as volunteers, Carl ran the first annual Carl Johnson Invitational Otay Lakes Marathon and he not only beat the Trophyqualifying time for Boston, he finished first AND set a course record!!!!

It did take awhile, 43 days, for Carl to get the Boston Athletic Association to acknowledge the results of his race, but they did and father and daughter will be spending a nice New England Monday together looking forward to heartbreak hill!!!

When life gives you lemons………

Congratulations Carl and for Don Norcross’s article, go here.

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