THIS WEEKEND:  LOCALS HEAD NORTH

When the second annual Atlantic Coast Triathlon kicks off on Sat. at Main Beach Park on Amelia Island, almost 10 percent of the registered participants will be from Brevard County. The laid-back and low-key half ironman starts with a 1.2 mile swim in the Atlantic; followed by an almost pancake-flat 56-mile ride through scenic Amelia Island (the one bridge is the bubble on the griddle). The 13.1-mile out-and-back run course will provide plenty of shade as participants get to cruise through beautiful Fort Clinch state park.

Six of our local ladies will be gracing the women’s 45-49 division, so expect an exciting race there between Nancy Buonanni, Jackie Clifton, Suzanne Coullias, Belinda Jorgenson, Lisa Mangino-Friedland and Christy Zieres.

Other Brevard triathletes registered include Kelly Aleman, Bill Buonanni, Rachelle Butler, Alisha Causey, Bob Cooper, James Croft, David Daly, Melanie Elkhorn, David Friedland, Patti Hamilton, Ana McQueary, Liz Parker, Richard Ricant and Eric Turner.

Good luck and best of fun to all!!!

FLORIDA’S CHALLENGE

Those racing the 25^th annual Florida Challenge Triathlon on Sat., Sept. 26 were treated to the special brand of racing hell that only Clermont seems to be able to offer in this state.  Hills, heat, wind, and the high humidity battered between driving rain and scorching sun presented a special challenge to those competing in the 1.2-mile swim in Lake Minneola, 56-mile quad-busting bike and new, two-loop lonely but leafy run course on the Lake Minneola/Clermont Trail.

Four hours, twenty-six minutes and 48 seconds after the first wave’s horn went off, Clermont’s 27-year-old Zach Ruble took the victory. The Team TBB pro triathlete was using the race as a tune up for the Nov. 7 Ironman Florida where, last year, he posted his IM PR of 8:34:27 (ninth overall).

Finishing second -- rare in this winning season for the notorious Thong Man -- was Minneola’s Kevin Grogan, (above left at finish) who had to run down both Ed Donner and Gary Bushey for his 4:46:05. The man wearing mini material ran the fastest split of the day - 1:24:42 - perhaps making up for the four-minute penalty he received for ‘abandoning equipment’ when he handed his $50 Sable goggles to wife, Kimberly, so they couldn’t be stolen from transition (again).

Turning in the fastest bike split of the race (2:33:55/21.8 mph) was Melbourne’s Ed Donner, (left, with Elly Kabboord, post race) who took fourth overall - eight seconds behind Bushey’s third - in 4:53:06.

“I wanted to hammer the bike as hard as possible to make it a tough run to simulate an ironman - and it was,” said Donner, whose next race is the Heath First Olympic distance on Oct. 10. “It was a tough race with the heat, hills and humidity combo but (it) felt good as it was a training race for IMFL and Clearwater (70.3 World Championship).

Also finishing fourth overall was former Cocoa Beach high school and Florida Gator running star, Elly Kabboord (above left).  The Barry law student also turned in the fastest female bike split (2:57:15/19.0 mph) on the way to her 5:43:28 finish.

Other Brevard finishers include Danny Barrett, 7:16:22 - first half and used a fat-tire bike (left); Bill Farina, 7:22:21-first half; Laura Farina, 1^st 25-29, 6:22:07; Dennis Fertig, 7:14:03; John Lothrop, 6:01:15; Danny Silvea, 7:36:42; Mary Willis, 1^st 50-54, 6:57:46; Steve Winfough, 7:48:35.

Congrats to all for conquering Florida's toughest half IM course on a brutal day!

(GA) PEACH OF A RACE!

Farther north on Saturday, nine of Brevard’s triathletes became part of the inaugural Augusta 70.3 in GA. About 3,000 of the 3,400 registrants actually showed up to race, making the event  -- according to ESi race organizers -- the largest race of the distance in the world to date.

And the weather certainly cooperated. With moderate temps, little humidity and overcast skies at the start, it looked like conditions couldn’t get much better.  But in a best-case scenario, the point-to-point Savannah River course gave the athletes some help with a current that was described in the mandatory pre-race meeting as one where “if you just float, you can finish in an hour”. It didn’t hurt that wetsuits were also allowed  and post-race swim splits showed the advantages.

“You need to put an asterick next to your PR swim time,” joked Tricia Rydson, who turned in a 5:00:22 finish - Brevard’s fastest female. “From the shore you could see people in earlier waves stop to adjust their goggles but the current kept them moving.”

Rydson, a three-time All American high school and collegiate swimmer posted the fastest swim of 22:20 in the 35-39 group and then turned in a 2:44:24 (20.4mph) bike and 1:49:24 half marathon to finish seventh in the division.

“I was worried about the hills going in,” said the Melbourne Beach mother of two. “Racing in Tuscaloosa made me realized I’m not experience on hills.  But Augusta wasn’t bad. None were steep. There were enough to make it fun and interesting without killing you.”

Southern hospitality was also rolled out for the athletes and their families.

“The city was really welcoming to the athletes,” said Rydson. “It was a ton of fun.”

It also proved a big pay day for Greg and Laura Bennett (left after placying fourth in the Bejiing Olympic triathlon). The short-distance studs from Boulder showed  they are equally adept at the middle distance with Greg taking the male win in 3:47:07 and Laura in 4:18:36.

Congrats to all who raced including Brevard finishers Greg Akin, 6:36:06; Grover Brower, 6:09:37; Pete Carabetta, 6:51:35; Gina Caccamo, 6:52:16; Katie Halley, 7:26:42; Joel Kinnunen, Brevards fastest finisher, 4:32:36; Mike Melton, 6:38:29; Leeanne Nawrocki, 5^th 25-29, 5:12:33 and Adam Ullein, 4:35:06.

70.3: #40-PLUS AND COUNTING

Shut out of this season’s 70.3 events? Fret not as the company who couldn’t trademark the term ‘half-ironman’ has announced four new races on U.S. soil in 2010 including 70.3 Miami - yep - Miami, on Oct. 30 just two weeks before MultiRace's successful Miami Man. Ouch. Go to http://www.ironmanmiami.com/ for video, registration and course info.

Next year’s other confirmed additions include the former Lonestar Half in Galveston which, now rebranded at 70.3 Lonestar, will take place on April 25 http://www.ironmanlonestar.com ; The former Mooseman Half in New Hamshire, now rebranded as the 70.3 Mooseman on June 6 http://www.ironmanmooseman.com/ and a brand new event which will give you a Rocky Mountain high, the 70.3 Boulder, on Aug. 8 in CO http://ironman.com/

With 40 70.3 events and counting, it would be interesting if the WTC went public.  It would be fun to look at their financials.

LOCAL SECRET NO LONGER?

Clermont is a Tri Mecca for athletes

ROXANNE BROWN

Staff Writer

CLERMONT -- The triathlon geeks have voted, and Clermont is near the front of the pack of best places to live for triathletes. The city was ranked eighth in the October issue of Triathlete Magazine.

"We didn't use a scientific formula to put together this list," read an editor's note preceding the Top 20 list. "We didn't worry whether or not certain areas of the country were adequately represented. We just put a few of the world's biggest tri geeks in a conference room and asked ourselves one question: If you were moving, and triathlon training was the main criteria dictating your decision, where should you go?"

Read the rest of the story at
http://www.dailycommercial.com/localnews/story/092509triathletes

FLORIDA’S MULTISPORT ROOTS

Three years ago, Ed Donner was just testing triathlon’s waters. As Clermont’s 2006 Florida Challenge half ironman athletes were beginning to hit the finish line, the Melbourne wealth manager was receiving his first award after completing the sprint earlier in the day. This Sunday, Donner -- who has now notched six IM races including a PR of 10:13 -- will be one of the ‘boyz to watch’ on the tough Lake County course that offers a 1.2-mile swim in Lake Minneola; a 56-mile ride through some of Florida’s toughest terrain and 13.1-mile run in Florida’s special brand of Florida heat and humidity.

Also entered in the half ironman event that is celebrating its 25^th anniversary are Danny Barrett, who will be riding a fat-tire bike at his first tri longer than a sprint; Bill Farina who will also be tackling the distance for the first time and accompanied by his daughter, Laura, a Kona vet; Dennis Fertig: Elvira Johnson; Patricia Johnson; Loran Serwin, Danny Silvea and Steve Winfough.

The race kicks off Sunday at 7:15 a.m. at Waterfront Park followed by a sprint distance of a .5-mile swim; 15-mile bike and 5K at 8:45 a.m. Registration is still available for both events. Log on to http://floridachallenge.com/ for complete information.

A PEACHY INAUGURAL EVENT

Farther north the same morning, more than 2,000 athletes will gather at the Augusta 5^th Street Marina for the start of the inaugural Ironman Augusta 70.3 where they will swim a point-to-point course in the Savannah River. Exiting the water at the Augusta Rowing Complex, participants may or may not enjoy the hilly and somewhat rural 56-mile ride that takes them into South Carolina and back before they will dismount to race the half-marathon.

Weather.com is forecasting a Sat. evening low of 68 and a Sunday high of 87 with a 30 percent chance of showers.  The latest water tests show that the previous weather conditions that have affected the water around Atlanta have not materialized in Augusta and that the quality of the Savannah River is still ‘excellent’.

Locals christening the newest 70.3 event include Greg Akin; Richard Boggs; Grover Brower; Gina Caccamo, who has faithfully hosted the Thur. evening Indialantic open water swims at 6^th and Pine; Pete Carabetta; Katie Halley; 2009 St. Anthony’s Masters Champ, Joel Kinnunen; Mike Melton, Leeann Nawrocki and Tricia Rydson.

Follow your pals in the peach state live on Sunday at www.ironmanlive.com

SANDY CHEEKS?

Not up for multisport? Plenty of road racing available this weekend with Saturday’s Fall Into Winter 5K kicking off at 7:30 a.m. at Coconuts on the Beach. The 3.1-mile race -- which treks through the hopefully hard sands of Cocoa Beach -- is the first of the eight-race Space Coast Runners Runner of the Year Series and is open to all runners and walkers. Day of race registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at the race site located on the ocean at the corner of A1A and Minuteman Causeway.

EAT MOR CHIKIN

Want to run a bit farther? Registration is still open for the Miracle Miles 15K and 5K kicking off at 7 a.m. at the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando.  Sponsored by Chik-fil-A, funds from the event benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. Proceeds will provide life-saving equipment and services for the largest neonatal unit in the southeast and the fourth largest in the nation. Complete info at www.trackshack.com

DON’T TOUCH THAT FIRE HYDRANT!

And last but not least….Looking for a little more laid-back type of racing? The inaugural Long Doggers Beach Challenge 5K promises participants “a radically relaxed good time with fitness, music, refreshments and a beer.” The 3.1-mile course that touts “pavement is for poodles” will take walkers and runners out-and-back along the sandy beach of Indialantic.

“There will be a lot of soft sand,” said event organizer Mitch Varnes. “You won’t find a PR at this race but you will find fun. This is a family-friendly health event that has something for everyone to enjoy.”

In addition to awards for traditional overall and age divisions, the race -- which benefits the Surfrider Foundation and the Kelly Slater Project -- also offers prizes for the top finishers in “Bikinis and Board Shorts” as well as “Big Dogs” weighing 225 and up. All participants get a cool race shirt, beer or soda, good tunes and a lot of fun! The race kicks off tomorrow evening at 6p.m. at Long Doggers in Indialantic. Info at  http://www.longdoggerbeachrun.com

A MISSING STRING?

While it seemed rather ‘ho hum’ to hear that Kevin Grogan won yet another race at yesterday’s OUC Downtown Orlando Triathlon, the real news was that there were no shocked faces of adult disapproval or children screaming in horror as he crossed the finish line.

Instead of the usual thimbleful of thong firmly glued to his fanny, the Minneola minimalist seemed overdressed in non-descript tri attire.

“No thong, as it was a point-to-point (race) and I would have had to hang out in the thong while,” Grogan graciously explained post-victory. “I’m all for wearing it in a race, but not sitting around.”

But there was no sitting around to be done on the course.

Grogan emerged from the quarter-mile swim in Lake Underhill in six minutes and 56 seconds with Brevard’s own Ed Donner one second behind as they entered T1.

“Ed’s swim has come along this season,” said Grogan. “He was right on me the whole swim. Then on the bike we kept flip-flopping. I think I looked down on the tailwind section and we had cranked it up to 33 miles per hour.” (Above left, how Grogan's competitors wish he'd race)

We wonder how much faster the duo could have dusted if their wave (men’s 30-39) had the opportunity to start up front instead of in the sixth wave behind all but 34 of the individual 500+ participants.

Donner, left, who averaged 25.6 mph to Grogan’s 25.5 mph on the 11.5-mile crowded urban course, had a four second lead on the 2009 CFT Champ as he left T2.

“I know how Kevin runs so I tried to take it out of T2 and did,” said Donner. “But I ended up getting passed by him quickly.”

Grogan made quick work of the 3.7-mile run, averaging 5:28 per mile and taking the OUC victory in 57:23.

Instead of congratulating Donner as runner-up, John Bess came tearing through for a surprising second place finish in 59:15

Although Bess had left T1 two minutes and 47 seconds behind Donner, the 30-year-old from New Smyrna Beach gained 30 seconds back on the bike (26.2 mph average) and then turned in the fastest run split of the day -- 5:20 per mile -- nipping Donner near the last turn at the finish.

Melbourne’s wealth manager snagged third in 59:22 and Pam Maxwell, also from Melbourne, took third overall female with her 1:08:15 finish.

Other Brevard triathletes included Rafael Alvarez, 1:22:25; Jerry Bird, 1:14:30; Stephanie Bird, 1^st 19 and under, 1:16:17; Marc Buonanni, 1:12:16; Michael Burchfield, 1:32:15; John Campbell, 1:26:16; Ryan Caudill, 1:16:05; Ed Donner, 3^rd OA, 59:22; Bob Dow, 1:34:28; Suzie Enlow, left, 2^nd 45-49, 1:15:42; Ian Hardos, 1:28:34; Jeff Hedrick, 1:24:11;  Karen Hendenschous, 1:42:08; Tom Hoffman, 2^nd 55-59, 1:12:48;  Robert Jones, 1:30:49; Andy Keck, 1:34:11; Joel Kinnunen, 2^nd 40-44, 1:01:57; Stephanie Kinnunen, 1:21:28; Jennifer Lepper, 2^nd 25-29, 1:19:36; Colby Mack, 1:09:02; Pam Maxwell, 3^rd OA, 1:08:15; Thomas Mayer, 1:17:08; Allie Newall, 1:25:54; Rebecca Oostdyk, 1:24:32; Mike Pesi, 1:31:28; Keith Potter, 1:11:38; Angie Preston, 2^nd 40-44, 1:18:20; Debbie Rescott, 1^st 50-54, 1:25:35; Cheire Sangster, 1:20:43; Ashley Saxon, 1:37:14; Sean Sbato, Paul Setlak, 1:20:23; 1:33:29; Albert Steinger, 1:12:03; Samantha Tankersley, 2^nd 19 and under, 1:38:44; Robin Williams, 1:25:14.

Congrats to all!

SEVEN DOWN, ONE TO GO!

Only the Oct. 10 Championship race at Cypress Gardens remains for those chasing a Series victory in the Family Fitness Weekend tri and du events. Athletes needed to finish at least three of the Series events as well as the Oct. 10 event to be eligible.

After race number seven in Miami Beach on Sept. 12, Melbourne Villages Rob Downey just has to show up and cross the finish line to win the 55-59 division.  The professional photographer gained a strong lead early in the season and remained unchallenged by all but Bill Troy, who took the age group on Sat. by fifteen minutes (Downey, left at St. Anthonys, did not race). Troy, however, is training for Augusta and won't have the minimum three races required.  Garry Branch, from Satellite Beach will be racing for third in men's 45-49 at Cypress Gardens.

Congrats to all who swam 600 yards, rode 9.25 miles and then ran 5K at Miami Beach including locals Christina Alburquerque, 1:26:39; Garry Branch, 1:14:33; Gwen Foster, 1st Fat Tire 40+, 1:36:54; Annie-Marie Milburn, 2nd Fat Tire 40+, 1:45:59 and Mary Milburn, 2nd 25-29, 1:26:39.