2008 San Diego triathlon series season ends for 1600+ athletes

The 2008 San Diego Triathlon series came to a close today on a high note of great racing conditions and friendship.

Each year the race weekend starts with an off site expo at Paradowski's swim shop in Kearney Mesa and this year was no different. XTERRA wetsuits was offering a 50% discount on suits, Tobi from ART of TRI had his 100% organic cotton casual wear on display and there were many other vendors and businesses there.  It was especially nice to see my good friend Dee Dee McCann of wetsuitrentals.com back at the expos after the unexpected passing of her husband and the tri community's great friend, Jim McCann.

The race venue opened at o'dark thirty(5:00) with the wave starts beginning at 6:30 and going through 8:30. I believe there were 12 waves total. The water in the bay was a wetsuit perfect 65 degrees, super glassy and I loved the swim start. It was a water start done 'drag race' style. It was a  perfectly straight 500 meter swim and this combined with the water start made the swim tussle free.

I personally have not raced in over a year and I was stoked when I came out of the swim towards the front of my age group. It ended there however. I was talked in to doing the race at the last minute and bought a new Felt B2 the night before.   We didn't have time to get it fit properly, so while it was super fast and stiff, I had trouble staying aero. That combined with spotty training had my race goal nothing more than a finish with a smile!! The bike course was very flat with a loop around Fiesta Island being the highlight. There are quite a few little weaving turns and some water in the parking lot of Sea World to pay attention to, but it is an incredibly safe and beginner friendly bike leg.

Hitting T2 we racked the bikes and headed out on a single loop 5k course with the Ingraham street bridge being the only 'hill'. It's a great course that winds it's way around the bay on concrete running paths. I have to say   that for all the people on the course, both running and biking, I saw no drafting and everyone seemed very aware of what they were doing and their fellow athletes. I had to stop during the run and have a friend document that I really do race, if only occasionally. Plus, I had to give my fellow age groupers some time.:-)

The after race expo featured a beer garden and some great calypso music by Bill Harris and his band. With the year ending, Stewart from Imaging Healthcare Specialist raffled off an Xterra wetsuit, won by TCSD club member Rick Laird, seen here sporting his McMannman shirt, while Erica Rios won the Kuota Kalibur frame.

Once the raffle was done the awards ceremony started and the Triathlon Club of San Diego was represented well in both the female and male age groups. I was hoping that I could steal a set of results sheets to keep all the names straight, but.. So here goes what I remember. I will update this post if I am made aware of my mistakes. Top finishers were Paul Todd, Clayton Griessmeyer, Brad Golden, Craig Zelent, Greg Zack, Anita Flagg, Bob Babbitt, Neily Mathias and husband and wife team, Barbara and Mike Olson. Think their kids  are fast?

The women's podium consisted of all locals. First place went to Susanne Davis with a 58:46 followed by perrenial local podium finisher Misako Win and  third went future club speaker Katya Meyers.

The men's podium had a very familar face at the top, Caue Suplicy who has now won this event for the last three years. His finish time was 50:56. Erik Nau and Luke Walton from Breakaway Training finished second and third respectively. All the results can be found here.

I am so very glad my friends pressured me in to doing the race. I had a great time and was able to go to my favorite restaurant in Pacific Beach. See many people think of Pacific Beach as a drinking college kid crazy place. It actually is a great beach town with some great neighborhoods, beachy  architecture, surrounding communities and, well, crazy drinking college kids.

But PB to me is Wienerschnitzel. See when I was a kid my gramma used to take for chili dogs, so they are  personal comfort food. Even though this a franchise, there aren't many in north county, so when in PB I get two dogs and medium Pepsi. Heaven!!

As a sponsor of the San Diego Triathlon Series, I would like to thank everyone who participated this year!! I love being affiliated with these events and getting to know and spend time with so many great people!!! 

Lastly, have to pay the bills, if you ever need help with residential real estate, even just needing a question answered, shoot me an email at brianalong@msn.com or give me a call at 760-415-3329.

Comments

[Felipe Loureiro]

Nice article Brian!
Good Job on your race.
See you soon.

[Brian]

Thanks!! Looks like you have a great group of coaches and athletes!! Congrats on your success.