Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Athletes gear up for back-to-back area events

By Times Staff
Published April 12, 2006

Training pace is quickening for area competitors, as the dates for the 20th Annual Escape from Fort DeSoto Triathlon and St. Anthony's Triathlon approach.

Last weekend, triathlon organizer Freddie "Rizzi" Rzymek announced the race registration for the Fort DeSoto event was close to being filled. That triathlon (swim .5 mile, bike 10 miles, run 4 miles) is set for Saturday at Fort DeSoto.

St. Anthony's Triathlon event director Philip Lahaye had an experience most organizers never have - the Dec.1, 2005, online race registration closed out before his office staff went to lunch that day. St. Anthony's Triathlon race weekend takes place at Vinoy Park on April 28-30. The weekend includes a massive outdoor race expo, Saturday's Meek & Mighty Mini Triathlon and the Sunday triathlon (swim .9 mile, bike 40K, run 10K).

To volunteer at St. Anthony's Triathlon race weekend, visit www.satriathlon.com.

FORT DESOTO TRIATHLON: The smaller, hometown race venue at Fort DeSoto Park has been the site of many training sessions during recent weeks. Many triathletes find the roads at Fort DeSoto inviting for their early season workouts, with light traffic and places to park near showers and the beach.

Each year, many tri-newbies participate in Escape from Fort DeSoto Triathlon as a dress rehearsal for St. Anthony's Triathlon. They say it's a great way to practice with a new wet suit or a new racing bicycle. And this year triathletes have a full 14 days to recover in between events.

"Our race is always a mix of elites and tri-newbies," Rzymek said. "They know St. Anthony's is getting closer, and they are anxious to get in the water and do a triathlon in the area. This way, our locals are gaining a huge advantage. When they line up for St. Anthony's, they know that they have already raced in the open water, and those who are coming in from New York or Michigan have not even put on their wetsuits. Everybody here loves having that local advantage."

To grab one of the last race entries for the Fort DeSoto event, log on to www.escapefromftdesoto.com or call race director Joe Fernandez at (813) 874-7223; to volunteer, call Rzymek at (727) 712-9999.

GOODLIFE GAMES: Carol Jean Vosburgh, 60, of Treasure Island, says she has been pedaling more miles this spring, preparing to join her husband, Kip, on the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, July 23-29. Kip has completed the ride several times.

Winning last Sunday's Goodlife Games 5K and 10K cycling events, held at Fort DeSoto Park, Vosburgh's gold medal sweep indicates she will be ready for the 480-mile ride.

More than 9,000 riders are expected for this year's RAGBRAI, which begins near Iowa's western border in Sergeant Bluff. The ride ends along the eastern border of Iowa, near Muscatine, where the Vosburghs have family. At the end of the ride, the bicyclists traditionally dip their front wheels into the Mississippi River.

To learn more about RAGBRAI, visit www.ragbrai.org.

NEW IRONMAN SITE: World Triathlon Corporation recently announced the official Web site for Ironman events worldwide will have a new address - Ironman.com. There will be two distinct areas within the site: one for the Ironman qualifying events for the Ford Ironman World Championship held each October in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and another focused on the Ironman 70.3 qualifying events that culminate at the Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater.

PUBLIX FAMILY FITNESS SERIES: Steve Tebon and Linda Meyer of Exclusive Sports Marketing have set the dates for the weekend series of triathlon, duathlon, open-water swims and kids racing.

ESM race weekends are: St. Augustine, April 22; Deerfield Beach, May 20; Sarasota, June 17; Fort Lauderdale, July 15; Fort DeSoto, Aug. 19; Lucaya Bahamas, Sept. 1; Miami Beach, Sept. 23; and the Championship Weekend Final at Cypress Gardens, Oct. 7.

For further information on Publix Family Fitness Weekend series, call Tebon at: (888) ESM-SPORTS; or check the Web site www.familyfitnessweekend.com.

[Last modified April 12, 2006, 08:39:29]