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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 2, 2003
Mountain bike racers and dirt-jumping BMX competitors enjoyed a perfect weekend in the 12 Hours Of Markham Park Fat Tire Fest on Saturday in Broward County.
The festivities attracted some bay-area families. They mixed in with the extreme sports crowd to enjoy live music and Mountain Bike TV's free giveaways. Tampa's Ed O'Dea was all business in the competition, as he tore around the 7-mile cycling course in pursuit of Steve LaRue. Racing for National Offroad Bicycling Association ranking points and the $1,000 first-place prize, O'Dea pushed to the limit before finishing a close second to LaRue. The 27-year-old O'Dea (Team Specialized/Chainwheel Drive) rode in the lead for 4 hours, relying on his heart rate monitor and family members. They helped him maintain his energy by passing him water bottles each lap.
"It was brutal out there, especially after 6 or 7 hours," O'Dea said. "I went through 8,000 calories during the first half of the race.
"Steve and I were ahead of the field of 50, and we kept passing each other back and forth.
"He passed me near the end, and I had a huge blowout," O'Dea said. "I had to stop and change the flat, and I wanted to quit."
O'Dea said his cousins convinced him to finish the event.
He knew the hilly, technical course well after riding it in practice. O'Dea's speed over the tricky Snakebite Ridge section showed his improving bike-handling skills. "I would have quit if it weren't for all those people cheering for me to keep going," he said.
"I was running out of energy. We all needed about 13,000 calories for the entire event, and it's so difficult to keep eating and drinking."
Trading places at the end of the race, O'Dea and LaRue had the spectators ringing bells and cheering all around the tight, wooded course.
But it was sheer pain for the two cyclists so closely matched.
"I passed him back and crashed big time," O'Dea said. "Then Steve passed me again, and he flatted. He passed me that last time, and I barely hung on to finish.
"I ended up in second place, but it's all good," O'Dea said. "I did 16 laps, and I was glad that last lap was over. Next year, I'll win it for sure."
For his next off-road endurance adventure, O'Dea will join Specialized teammate Susie Marston in the 24 Hours Of Adrenalin on May 10 in Montero, Calif. For NORBA racing information, go online to www.usacycling.org.
BBC: On the skinny-tire front, Best Of The Bay Cyclists scored a major victory after Sherri Stedje, 37, of Lutz won the women's Category 1-2 race during the Gruppo Strada weekend in St. Augustine.
The BBC's Kurt Fritz, Palm Harbor, placed second in Category 3; David Stedje, Lutz, was third in Pro 1-2; Tampa's Geoff Lanier took third in Masters 30-plus; Steven Fritz Ortiz finished third in Category 4; and Katie Neill was fourth among Category 4 women.
Florida Points totals are updated weekly in the various USA Cycling categories. For information, go online to www.floridacycling.com.
FORT DE SOTO: Tampa's Joe Fernandez has announced that the Escape From Fort De Soto Triathlon field is closed. The April 12 event received 700 entries.
"Registration may be filled up, but we would love to see more race volunteers come out and join in the fun," said Fred Rzymek, who helps organize the local season opener in Tierra Verde.
The competition will consist of a .5-mile swim, an 11-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. Big surprises on the course in past years have included stair climbs up and over the fort and sandy stretches on the running segment.
Team In Training coach Lewis Bennett of Largo and Clearwater Aquatic Team Masters swim coach Joe Biondi, Clearwater, will be in attendance, encouraging novice triathletes who are using the event to prepare for the April 27 St. Anthony's Triathlon. Working as a volunteer is "a way for families and friends to feel like they are a part of the race," Rzymek said. "It also inspires them to learn to swim, bike and run."
To volunteer, call Rzymek, (727) 712-9999.
20TH ANNIVERSARY: Fred Sommer and the CFT/Sommer Sports staff have planned a Sunday celebration at Clermont's Waterfront Park. Sommer has emerged onto the national scene after 20 years of playing host to triathlons at Clermont, including sprint events, half-Ironman distance races (Hawaiian Ironman qualifiers) and an award-winning hometown Ironman competition, the Great Floridian.
Now offering duathlons (run/bike/run) along with kids racing, Sommer's weekends have attracted 1,500 competitors. USA Triathlon's National Training Center has training camps near by. The fields will be competitive in the Great Clermont Triathlon, a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run.
For information, go online to www.triflorida.com. or call Sommer at CFT/Sommer Sports, (352) 394-1320.