because I can: Normann Stadler, Bob Babbitt and the Triathlon Club of San Diego

Normann Stadler took time from his training to sit down with Bob Babbitt Normann_2_2 and discuss everything from his early years in the sport to the Chris McCormack, also a guest speaker in 2007, 'feud'. I have to say that after speaking with Normann a couple times at the club's August Aquathlon and again seeing him last night, he really does seem to be genuinely friendly guy and not the stoic German machine I had braced myself for.

Laura_2 Club members Dr. John Martinez, his wife Laura, pictured, and his incredible staff at Coastal Sports and Wellness Medical Center stepped up and provided an AWESOME venue for over 350 members when Road Runner Sports could not accommodate us due to another booking. It was a great venue, their facility is first rate and man I hope they have us back!! Thank you John and crew.

As usual the meeting starts with Chipotle Burritos with the addition of Rubio's Fish Taco from our gracious host. Inside we started with the announcement of our new club leadership due to the passing of Jim McCann and with Bill's resignation to spend time with his folks. I have been appointed as President with Dave Huff, here with Normann, as our new Vice- President. We will be holding election in January so watch for details. For me, this is very exciting and can at times also seem totally overwhelming. My main goal is to not screw anything up. We have the greatest club in the world and Dave and I hope to maintain that.

Once we got all of the crowd in and settled down, Normann turned to me and said with a big grin, "I thought you said this would be a small group. This is larger than the finish crowd at a triathlon in Germany!!" and he was right. TCSD turned out in numbers as we knew you would. My count was about 350.

Here is where I need to make an apology. I bought this new camera with all the bells and whistle at about 1:00 that afternoon. After taking the few pictures you see here, I decided to get cute and play with some of the features. All the pictures I took of Bob Babbitt interviewing Normann are bad. So....

Bobbabbitt_opt Bob Babbitt of Competitor Magazine was nothing less than awesome and spoke to Normann about his early days, Normann won the first triathlon he ever entered, but what was especially great were the questions and answers with regard to the meltdown in 2005 and the beginning of the feud with Macca.

Normann described what it was like sitting on the side of the Queen K after making up ground on the bike at a 30 mph, yes 30 mph, pace only to flat and not be able to remove the tire. He had called the support vehicle, but as he said, 2 cars for 2000 athletes doesn't make sense and he had watch in frustration as the leaders rode on. He described the throwing of the bike as, "the wind must have blown it", and even admitted to crying. I told you not the stoic German. He said he finally got going on a 36 spoke rear wheel and flatted again after working back in to 3rd place!!! He makes no bones about dropping out said that anybody who feels that the defending champ should finish no matter what is just wrong!!

With regard to the Macca feud it has all been written by far superior writers than myself, so here it is.

Something that was brought in a question was his opinion about cycling and all the doping. He spoke about how much impact it has had in Germany, dieing I believe was the word he used, because the big sponsors are fed up. The interesting thing though was that he and other German athletes pay out of their own pocket to be blood tested during training for doping. I believe he said he was tested 18 times this year. They do so that if they are given tainted food, water or whatever while out of the country, they can show a clean past to use in appeal. I wonder if Nina Kraft is now doing this?

All in all it was a great meeting and I know that I did not do it justice, but Lb_20061212_ficker2_2 had to put something down.

In 2007 TCSD was blessed to have Desiree Ficker, Michelie Jones, Chris McCormack and Normann Stadler as guest speakers at our club meetings. Think about that for a second. The #1 and #2 women and men finishers in Kona 2006. How special is that!!!

So for everyone who did not make it, you missed something special. For those that did, I hope you had a great time and that we get as nice a turnout for Jay Prasuhn gear guru for Triathlete Magazine.

Thanks again to Normann, Bob Babbitt, Kuota Bikes and Coastal Sports and Wellness!!!