How does your city or town celebrate fitness? In the Southern California surf city of Encinitas you will find the Encinitas Sports & Fitness Festival. They organize a weekend of fitness events. On Saturday athletes of all ages can participate in a 5k running race, the San Diego Century or the Paddle Board race. While on Sunday, athletes get a chance to partake in a 1 mile open water swim, sprint distance triathlon or duathlon.
This morning, Sunday May 17, 2009, I arrived to observe the sprint triathlon. Athletes started arriving to set up for their race at 4:45am. Athletes that range in ages from 10 to 70 years old were greeted by the notorious "May Grey". The temperature never warmed up, holding steady at about 68 degrees and there was a hint of a light drizzle. Local favorite Patrick Baldwin was one of the first on the list of elites to show up. When asked why he likes this race he said "It's a fun race; it brings the community together and you can see the smiles on the competitors' faces. We have such a big triathlon community here in Southern California and our races are fun for everyone"
Sprint Cs
Down by the waters edge the water temperature was 64, surf was very forgiving, waves were 1-2 feet with 16 second repetitions. At todays race you can find some of triathlon's big stars: Scott Tinley, Kate Major, Rachel Challis, Jessi Stensland, Lewis Elliot, Karl Bordine, Caue Suplicy, Patrick Baldwin and Kim McDonald. Age groupers would start lining up at the waters edge 6 minutes behind the pro/elite group. On her way to the starting line, I asked Jessi Stensland if she gets nervous for this race? Stensland said "Not really, I believe if your not breathing your nervous and if you are breathing your excited. I am excited and I am happy to be racing in my back yard."
When the racers come out of the water they are greeted with a nice run back to the transition. They run barefoot through the loose sand and onto a blacktop path that takes them up, up a hill, to the transition area.
The top three men out the water were Caue Suplicy, Dave Valencia (last year's winner) and Montana's Lewis Elliot. Not too far behind the men were the top three ladies: Rachel Challis, Kate Major and Marit Chrislock-Lauterbach. Local pro Jessi Stensland was number four.
Things moved around a bit for the men while on the bike; however, Juliano Teruel was first in on the bike followed by Lewis Elliot (2nd) and Karl Bordine (3rd). Bringing in the ladies was Rachel Challis. Challis was able to maintain the lead on the bike with a closing Kate Major just seconds behind her.
Things changed once again for the men while on the run; it was a tight 5k. Coming down to the wire, Lewis Elliot gained a lead and didn't give up as he came in first. Following behind Elliot was Caue Suplicy to take second and Karl Bordine took third for the men. Slipping by Challis on the run was the seasoned Ironman veteran Kate Major, who held on to steal the victory. Rachel Challis took second while San Diego resident Marit Chrislock-Lauterbach took third overall.
As San Diego's Brent Howell and Brian Misiner came across the finish line I asked what they thought about the race. (Brent) "There was a little bit of waves at the start. The bike was awesome, my chain came off but I was able to get going again. This is such a great race; I highly recommend it. (Brian) "I felt good; the water was smooth and it was just fun. I love racing here and in San Diego."
After his finish I was able to catch up with the men's victor of the day, Lewis Elliot. Lewis Elliot started the long course race at Wildflower a few weeks ago only to be taken out by a piece of glass. I asked Lewis about the Wildflower experience
LE: I was disappointed, I had to get stitches in my foot because I was cut not just through the skin but it cut the nerves and muscle. I was having one of my better swims, I was grouped with Chris Lieto and Torbjorn Sindballe and I am usually a group behind them. If you look at my past results, when I am with those guys I end up doing well. The race was inconclusive because I wasn't able to bike or run and I really wanted to know where I was at.
KK: How did you feel today?
LE: Today I was able to hang with Juliano and Caue, the lead guys, and they swim really well. It was exciting. On the bike I felt awesome and good on the run. It helps me as I am doing Honu in two weeks.
KK: What is about a race like Honu that draws some of the biggest names in triathlon, especially when there is no money at stake?
LE: Alexander (Crowie) and McKenzie along with the others look at this race as preparation for Kona. It's not everyday that we get a chance to race on the big island. The serious people racing there are probably going to Kona."
KK: You had some glue applied to your cut, how did that feel?
LE: I was advised by a plastic surgeon out of Montana, Dr. Jerry McCusso. who is a great friend of mine. He told me to use three layers of super glue and I had no problems.
KK: In which future races can we look forward to seeing you?
LE: Honu, Alcatraz, San Diego International (maybe), Lifetime Fitness Minnesota and New York. After that am not sure; it depends on how Minnesota and New York go.
KK: Are we going to see you at Kona anytime soon?
LE: Soon! Maybe not this year but soon.
While the age groupers were making their way to the finish line, I bumped into Caue Suplicy.
KK: Caue how was your day?
CS: It was hard, I have been focusing on Honu. I didn't feel like I had the top speed. I thought I could keep my lead from the swim but Lewis was riding really strong. I am happy with finishing second.
In the transition area Kate Major was getting ready to head back into the water to compete in the 1st annual Machoman race.
KK: Kate how was did your race go?
KM: The weather was nice. With the drizzle I took it a little easy on the bike. This is my second time doing this race; it is so much fun, the people are great and all the locals come out. It's just a great event: a weekend full of different races so your family can come down for the weekend to a little bit of everything.
Also getting ready for Machoman was the legend Scot Tinley.
KK: Scott how have you been doing?
ST: I am doing good. This is the first time I am doing the Machoman.
KK: What is the Machoman?
ST: It is a 5k run, 6 mile paddle, the sprint triathlon and a one mile swim. This is the first year and it is open to the public.
KK: What else are you doing this year?
ST: I am working full time teaching and I am working on my dissertation.
As another fun filled weekend dedicated to fitness comes to an end in the surf city of Encinitas, California, you can see the gleaming smiles of all the competitors, spectators and volunteers as they fade away. If I know triathletes, they are all thinking about one thing: how they can come back and improve next year. It was another class act put on by two of triathlons premier race coordinators Paul Huddle and Roch Frey.
Encinitas Sports & Fitness Festival Report
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