MULTISPORT RESOLUTIONS? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!

Maybe we're becoming the San Diego of the east coast.

In a nod to our exploding multisport community as well as the abundance of sunshine, warmth and water, Brevard County will play host to seven multisport events between April and October 2010; one per month -- with the exception of September -- Ma Nature’s favorite hurricane month.

The race that started it all in this county -- Pineapple Man Triathlon -- will celebrate its 25^th anniversary on June 6. The .3-mile Indian River Lagoon swim, 15-mile out-and-back speedfest on A1A and the 3.3-mile run through beautiful Mel Beach neighborhoods has sold out for the past three years. Registration for the 2010 race is limited to 550 participants and 140 athletes have already signed on. Complete info and registration available now at http://rotarypineappleman.org/ (above left, Pineapple Man athletes exit the Indian River Lagoon)

Mitch Varnes, left with family,  promoter of the Sebastian Inlet Pro surf contest and the Melbourne and Beaches Music Marathon, is stepping into the multisport world in 2010 with the introduction of the state’s newest series, the SurfCoast Trifecta.  The three-event series will offer something previously unseen in local multisport - a $3,000 prize purse to be split among the speediest overall and age group champs.

Complete details will be available on Jan. 10, when the website (www.surfcoasttrifecta.com) goes live. Below is a boilerplate provided by Varnes of the planned races, all of which will be limited to 500 athletes and start at 7 a.m.:

April 18, 2010
Ron Jon Triathlon
Cocoa Beach
1/4-mile river swim, 12.5-mile bike and 3.1 mile run
First stop in the inaugural Surf Coast Trifecta series along Florida's beautiful Space Coast. 

May 23, 2010
Space Coast Bikearathon (you might know it as a duathlon or biathlon) 
Viera
20-mile bike, 6.2 mile run
A bikearathon is a running and cycling event equal to the distance of a full marathon or 26.2 miles.  Join us on the open roads of one of Florida's fastest growing towns for the second stop of the Surf Coast Trifecta.  

June 20, 2010
Dad's Day Triathlon
Sebastian Inlet State Park
1/4-mile ocean swim, 15-mile bike, 3.1-mile run
The Dad's Day Triathlon is the final stop in the Surf Coast Trifecta and will determine overall and age group series champions and the recipients of the Trifecta's $3,000 in prize purse.  The Dad's Day tri features the only ocean swim tri in the area and will be competed along the awesome scenery of one of Florida's greatest state parks.  The Dad's Day Tri will include father and children relay divisions, best dad and granddad awards; along with other fun categories like the Big Daddy and Sugar Daddy (you know it if you qualify) divisions. 

For those who want something a bit shorter or dislike swimming in salty water, Jeff Kramer will return with the 6^th annual YMCA Family Challenge Triathlon at the YMCA in Titusville, tentatively set for the “last Saturday in July”.

The super-sprint event will offer a 100-yard pool swim, 4-mile bike and 2-mile run. Awards are given to the fastest overall and age group participants as well as the top three ‘fastest friends’ and ‘fastest family’ relay teams. Kramer initiated the mini-sprint event to encourage family togetherness, fitness and fun.

At left competitive runner, Kara Neidermeier, waves before the start of her first multisport race at the 2009 YMCA triathlon.

On August 1, the long-running Publix Family Fitness Weekend Series will be making a stop in Melbourne Beach.

“The Publix Family Fitness Weekend is a series of family oriented events that travel around the Southeast from April through October,” said Matt Lorraine, CEO of Exclusive Sports Marketing, who is teaming with multirace.com this year.  “Each event consists of a 5K run/walk; a kids’ duathlon; a sprint triathlon and a sprint duathlon.  The 5K takes place on Saturday evening; and the rest of the races are on Sunday morning.  We are still working on the exact location of the event site (in Melbourne Beach), but should have that sorted out hopefully within the next month.”

The Mel Beach race will be race number six in the nine-race series. More information and registration can be found at http://www.familyfitnessweekend.com/ Above left, Rob Downey on his way to another Publix Family Fitness Weekend Series age group win.

The last of the local races will kick off on Oct. 3 in Melbourne with the Health First sprint and Olympic-distance events.  Check out http://www.healthfirsttri.com for more info.

PINEAPPLE SANTA

Sometimes Santa shows up in the strangest places.

If you’ve been waiting to register yourself and/or a loved one for the silver (25^th) anniversary of the Melbourne Beach Rotary Pineapple Man Triathlon, the timing is perfect. Ho Ho Ho!

Registration is now open for Brevard’s oldest and most beloved hometown multisport event. The 2010 .3-mile swim, 15-mile bike and 3.3-mile run will kick off at 7 a.m. on June 6 from the Ryckman Park pier in Melbourne Beach.

This race has closed out prior to race day for the past three years -- ridiculously early in 2009 -- so check out complete info and then sign up yourself and/or a loved one at http://rotarypineappleman.org/

SANDY PAWS HELP ACHY JOINTS

We love a race that not only supports the prevention and cure of arthritis (One in three Floridians is impacted by one or more of the more than 100 types of arthritis) AND encourages the participation of our furry friends.

Apparently others agree. In spite of little advertising, no ‘series’ association and crummy weather, more than 200 two-legged athletes -- many with their four-pawed friends in tow -- gathered in Melbourne’s Ballard Park on Dec. 5 to run, walk and occasionally stop for a sniff in the Arthritis Foundation Jungle Bell 5K. (left is Sandy Paws and new pal, Dave Hernandez, who worked timing for the race.)

Racing amongst some savvy old-timers, 14-year-old Luke Redito laid down the law as he outbid Thaddeus Austin and Art Anderson for the overall win.  The West Shore freshman sped to the line in 18:45, leaving second up for grabs.  Austin, 33, took that honor in 18:41, leaving third 50-year-old Anderson, who finished in 18:43.

There was much more breathing room on the ladies side. Palm Bay’s Amy Clamons, 26, took the victory in 21:36. Michelle Garcia followed in 23:23 and Abby Cullen took third in 24:10.

Congrats to all who participated and volunteered for this great cause!  Complete results are available at http://mattmahoney.net/scr/09jinglebell.txt

HOW DO YOU SPELL OUC?

Chilly drizzle and slippery cobblestones did little to deter more than 2,000 athletes from completing the 33^rd annual OUC Half Marathon in downtown Orlando on Dec. 5. Although Ocoee’s Jay Lumpkins and Lake Mary’s Erica Taltas, left, took the overall male (1:09:09) and female (1:24:07) spots, Brian Kessler and Brittany Owens took top honors among the three dozen Brevard athletes.

Melbourne’s Kessler, 51, covered the 13.1-mile course in 1:25:04, good enough for 32^nd overall and first in the 50-54 age group. Owens, 21, from Merritt Island, finished first in the 20-24 age group and eighth overall female with her 1:32:18 finish. After a several year hiatus, Cocoa Beaches Liz Cerow is proving her comeback, winning the 55-59 women’s division in 1:54:22.

Congrats to all Brevard’s finishers including Christy Anderson, 2:17:56; Rosette Behymer, 1:51:09; Mike Blanchard, 2:20:06; Natalie Bobleter, 2:20:46; Liz Cerow, 1^st 55-59, 1:54:22; Cedic Ching, 1:56:36; Billy Clifton, 1:40:40; Andrew Collamre, 1:59:10; Garry Conrad, 2:5:24; David Cook, 2:24:19; Jayne Goehmann, 2:41:06; Jorden Halstead, 1:40:23; Karen Hedenschoug, 2:02:22; Andy Hennemann, 2:00:12; Dan Howick, 2:31:06; Kate Howick, 1:59:31; Mitchell Hughes, 2:05:17; Melissa Kastanias, 1:50:07; Brian Kessler, 1^st 50-54, 1:25:04; Philip Lintereur, 2:27:23; Linda Manzano, 2:09:31; Brittany Owens, 1^st 20-24, 1:32:18; Kelsey Post, 2:05:30; Kenneth Rivera, 2:02:22;  William Robbins, 1:51:48; Lindsay Roseland, 2:21:55; Brian Russell, 2:20:59; Loni Serven, 1:55:39; John Sherwin, 1:57:06; Christy Slyaman, 1:40:19; Danielle Stern, 2:08:40; Kim Tillett, 2:17:56; Michael Tuttle, 1:56:14; Kathryn Varnes, 1:55:39; David Winn, 2:02:03; Jessica Zeller, 1:49:02.

RIGHT ON (!) RIDE TO RECOVERY

On Dec. 12, Merritt Island’s Shelley Christian will join about 200 fellow cyclists at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa for the start of the Ride 2 Recovery Project. Five days later, the riders will complete their 350-mile journey at the Mayport Naval Air Station in Jacksonville on Dec. 17.

Along the route, the retired Air Force Colonel will ride amongst and for soldiers with bomb-blasted limbs, quadriplegia and other permanent wounds - many naked to the eye.

Held in partnership with the Fitness Challenge Foundation, the Ride 2 Recovery raises funds to support Spinning® Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at military and Veterans’ Administration locations around the U.S. to help injured veterans overcome obstacles they face.

The 52-year-old competitive cyclist understands the blessings and power of the sport.

“(Cycling) helps clear my head when I’m confused, helps me feel more physically alive, makes me physically stronger, fights disease and contributes to a deep sense of wellness and peace,” she said.

The goal for R2R is to offer those same miracles to all wounded military veterans.

“Cycling gives these men and women a sense of normalcy, pride, accomplishment, camaraderie and provides relief from depression and other problems that often accompany their physical challenges, Christian said. “To those who have lost a lower limb, cycling allows greater mobility that walking cannot provide.”

“Money raised from the Project will go toward counseling, indoor and outdoor bikes, bike skills training and technical wear.”

The goal for the upcoming R2R is to raise $600,000 for the Project which means that each rider is shooting to raise $3,000.

If you would like to make a tax deductable donation to honor and support our soldiers’ sacrifices, go to www.ride2recovery.com and click on the JOIN THE RIDE button. Scroll to the bottom of that page and click on Rider Sponsorship Page. Make sure to put Shelley Christian in the riders’ name box.

You can also make out a check to “Ride 2 Recovery”, with ‘Shelley Christian’ in the memo section and mail to Shelley Christian, 2870 S. Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL  32952.