Final race for 2014 season @ Industry Hills Grand Pavillion this evening. Come on out and watch the excitement. Cruise the pits after races. Stop and say hi!!!
The Lava Report
It's just a whole lot of fun being involved. And we have found over the years Oceanside has so much to offer in the "involved" department. Whether it's entering the surf contest, the Semper Tri triathlon on Camp Pendelton as in 2 weeks ago, The labor day 1 Mile Pier Swim, The Hell Fire mountain bike race held on the base in March, the Water Warrior being held there next month on yet the base again, Ironman Oceanside, Brian Longs 2.4 mile Tiki Swim coming up, bodysurfing championships this past weekend, cheering the RAAM (Race Across America) athletes, concerts at the ampitheatre, surfing every inch of beach, volunteering charitable events (BTW: Beach Clean up Day coming up Sept. 20th)........stoked as the lists just go and on................
To refuel and another reason for a date night we stroll on over and pick up some fresh produce and fruits from the Thursday Farmers Market. Then w also have a whole lot of fun choosing which newly opened restaurant to try. (okay we do frequent some favorites often and our "favorites" are growing!!) Stratford in the Harbor has a new owner whom is very personable and then the food and service: Equally off the hook. The night before we sampled our neighbor Donovans workplace: The Hill Street Cafe. Over the top food and service there too. It is not difficult to eat clean and healthy in this town. Just one more huge appeal.....................
When not swimming, surfing, cycling , running: We walk everywhere. Everytime. Simple small trash bag in tow as it fills our soul reaching down and snagging the unfortunately left trash on the ground/sand. Which ironically is more so than not: Plastic. And I love taking the route that allows Jodi and I to visit our newly acquired friend/neighbor: "Scout". Just a beautiful specimen. Friendly, mellow, slow and beautiful. The owner gave the green light for us to share carrots with him. We pretty much don't leave our place without one in hand....................
This past Saturdays race on Camp Pendleton was fast/fun/ and very competitive. First and foremost: The Marines put on a stellar event. The swim in the ocean beautiful and well layed out. The out and back up and down 30K bike course: As good as it gets. The pounding flat pavement run I am not used to but running through all the military stuff was different and welcomed. Results are up and my mile splits were 6:15's. Cool. They emphasized USAT rules quite heavily. The same ol simple criteria: Easy to follow. But drafting on the bike was going on. I am old school and do not care to draft even in the very rare draft legal races. Oh well I kept my mouth shut and did not make any enemies.
USAT age for me is 55-59. But this race had the very uncommon (unheard of these days actually) 10 year age groups. 67 finishers in mine. To say I was stoked and satisfied with a podium 3rd is an understatement. You can bet many were still 49 yrs. young yet get to race as 50 year old under the USAT rules.
Jodi: She is another story. Coming off a 1st place and Ironman Kona qualified race from a few weeks ago she displayed once again she has speed to go along with her endurance. 3rd place female. Overall. Not too shabby for this little wahine/full time nurse, 50+ year old......................... Icing on the cake for the weekend surfing in the Oceanside Surf Contest Sunday. Pics to follow!!!!
Jodi qualifys for Ironman World Championships in Kona. She grabbed her qualifying spot this year and this will make it her 6th Kona- qualified appearance. Tough/cold/windy conditions in Idaho and this little spud baked her competition. LiveTracking allowed us to follow her on line. She was 8th place out of the water. 2nd place off the hilly and windy 112 mile bike. Jodi took the lead 15 miles into the run. And it then proceeded to gap her competition. Amazing. Dig the pic I got of her passing the dude with "Kona" on his back. Only 50 Kona qualifying spots with over 2700 entrants. Jodi trained solely for this race entirely in Oceanside/Camp Pebdleton. Pier swims. Longs repeat cycling thru the marine base with hills. Epic long/challenging runs in the sand from O'Side Harbor to Ponto Beach and return. Obviously was a great recipe!!!! Hawaii in October!!
Speedway motorcycle race this Wednesday @ The Grand Industry Hills. Then it's on to our more familiar event this Sunday where the motor is all you. Los Angeles Triathlon Series #3 and final race. Far unlike my speedway racing I am going into this undefeated. Cool. But what's even cooler: 'IF" I make top 5 overall it makes all 3 a top 5 finish. At 55 years old(young)! I guess that's what 30 years in the sport can do. So don't quit. Train hard, race harder and race fair. Hope to see you this Sunday. Stay stoked. Thank the volunteers. The event would not happen without them.
Been wrestling with the new computer, the new website, the new blog, and last Saturday @ Xterra Renegade I had to wrestle with a few previous and recent Xterra World Champion age groupers in my division: Tom Monica current WC in Xterra. And Bruce Wilson: Previous.
I was very stoked with finishing up second between these two guys whom each have big engines. Toms swim is freakish. As in Phelps fast. Bruce has a huge engine when riding. Having had the fastest run by two minutes I closed the gap on Bruce he edging me out by 44 seconds. One more hilly mile would have been nice! This race by far gets me more stoked compared to the two sand bagging wins recently in the road tri's. Bruce and Tom are multiple Xterra World Champions. I have raced it sporadically these past 10 years after having won it in 2001 (World Champ Title AND got married there the day before)!. These two guys keep going and dominating. With huge foreign contingency showing up at that. But I am all over it come October. No I am all over beginning last Saturday. A darn near two hour off road gnarley race: 44 seconds off first. Hmmmmm. I can make that up. And going to have fun doing it. It does not guarantee me anything. Others could appear out of the woodworks and have their day in Hawaii. But safe to say: Some of the fastest 55 year old Xterra competitors are still all from California..I mixed it up with two of them last Saturday. Maui in October Xterra World Championships, No Ka 'Oi...........!!! : )