INSIDE THIS ISSUE
JULY 2017
Sisters TCSD Contacts Board Members Member Profile
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TRIATHLON CLUB OF SAN DIEGO
Weekly Workout Calendar Congratulations! TCSD Conversation
any people assumed Maya and Selena were twins although Maya was nearly two years older. Growing up they were the best of friends, but their interests were often different. Maya liked everything fast—rollercoasters, run-
Aquathlon 10th Anniversary of McCannMan July 13, Thursday Location: La Jolla Shores Check in 5pm Start at 6pm Beginner Triathlon July 15, Saturday Glorietta Bay, Coronado Start at 7am
JULY CLUB POTLUCK Friday, July 21st, 6pm Location: La Jolla Cove Theme: Mexican Fiesta! Refer to the Club’s website for complete activity listings and information.
A Tribute New Members Coach’s Corner
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TriNews
M
JULY TCSD RACE CALENDAR
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Sisters A Tale of fiction by Barbara Javor
(Story inspired by TCSD member Maya Bryson) ning, and racing. Selena preferred more graceful activities—gymnastics, dance, and art. When they were teens, one summer Maya talked Selena into joining her in a boot campstyle physical fitness program. Maya was always among the top girls in the class but she never won the obstacle course races. With her nimbleness and strength gained from gymnastics and dance, Selena usually beat all the girls in those events. Maya was just as proud of Selena for those victories as she was of her own. In college Maya stayed with the regimen to build strength while Selena switched to martial arts which suited her natural agility.
As an adult, triathlon was Maya’s passion. The three sports consumed her free time, gave her a reason to go fast, and racing thrilled her when she won her age group or placed high overall. Selena gravitated to art, especially designing tattoos and drawing portraits of athletes. She had a flair for capturing their expressions winning, losing, and struggling in competition. Today Maya and Selena were at yet another local triathlon. As they did on many weekends, Maya raced and Selena set up a booth to draw quick, impressionistic portraits to sell to athletes and their families. Maya finished setting up her spot in the transition area and donned her wetsuit as Selena snapped pictures of her. “Don’t you have enough photos of me already?” “I use various body positions and facial expressions in some of my portraits of other athletes. The photos are my reference library.” She stopped snapping pictures. “You look concerned about something. Is everything okay?” “I just saw the woman who always beats me. I’ve seen her two or three times this morning. I hope it’s not a bad omen.” Maya grabbed her cap and goggles. “I’m heading down to the beach.” “I’ll be there in a few minutes after I make a continued on page 21
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JULY TCSD MEETINGS, CLINICS, RACES & RIDES*
CONTACTS Triathlon Club of San Diego P.O. Box 2580 Carlsbad, CA 92018 www.triclubsandiego.org Send correspondence to the address above or contact President, Kai Nakamura. Membership & Renewal $75/year, $60 active military (w/active ID). Additional years available at discount. TCSD membership (online) at http://tiny.cc/v3xypw TCSD e-lists Subscribe to the TCSD e-mailing list by sending a blank email with your name in the body to: TCSD-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
TRICLUB ESSENTIALS
TCSD BEGINNER RIDE
TRI SOCIAL
Monday, July 17th 6:00pm
Saturday, July 15th 8:00am <----NEW TIME
Saturday, July 3rd 8:00pm
Beginner Bike Ride is a 9.66 mile route in Fairbanks Ranch/ Carmel Mountain and the 56 bike path. The route has a total ascent of 727.06 ft and has a maximum elevation of 552.33 ft. Nobody gets left behind. If you are not a beginner still come out to join us, we can always use help and company. Helmets are MANDATORY. Remember to bring water, favorite sports drink and flat repair kit. Optional 5K run after the ride. Bring your run gear if you plan to join. Helmets are MANDATORY. Remember to bring water, favorite sports drink and flat repair kit. Option: 5K run after the ride. Bring your run gear if you plan to join.
Join TCSD for the coolest movie experience in San Diego.
Follow TCSD on social media for the latest information and updates on this event. Come find out what makes our Club awesome and hear about the latest and greatest and all things TCSD. This is a great opportunity to hear about all the Club has to offer, learn the basics about the sport of triathlon, and meet your new best friends/training partners. If you are new to the sport, or just new to the Club, this meeting is for you! NON-MEMBERS ARE WELCOME! (bring a friend!), no RSVP necessary.)
NEWSLETTER STAFF AND INFORMATION
Location: <---- PENDING
Publisher & Design/Production Sprague Design, Dean Sprague myhideano@hotmail.com (858) 270-1605
Contact/Questions: Deborah Jones Deborah.jonessd@gmail.com
Editor Alexis Barnes asdbarnes@yahoo.com (718) 216-8555 Newsletter Articles and Ideas Please send to Dean Sprague at dsprague@triclubsandiego.org and/or Alexis Barnes at asdbarnes@yahoo.com Contributing Writers: Barbara Javor, Craig Zelent w/Dee Dee Burton, Judy Seid
Watch TOP GUN at the “Divein” Theater at the Pearl Hotel on Monday July 3. Reservations for dinner at 7:30. Movie starts at 8pm. Swimming is free with a drink purchase (no reservations required.) If you’re in the swimming frame of mind, join us at the Shores before this event for a swim at 5:30 then eats, drinks, movie and a dip at the Pearl. RSVP please so we can score tables for 7:30 pm dinner before the movie. Use the event’s Facebook page; http://tiny.cc/23q1ly
Schedule of Events: NEW TIME 8:00am Bike Q&A and safety talk 8:30am Wheels Roll Meet up Location: Moment Bicycles - Carmel Valley 5965 Village Way, E-100 San Diego, CA 92130 (619) 523-2453 map: http://tiny.cc/jt94hy
Location: The Pearl Hotel 1410 Rosecrans St San Diego, CA 92106 Contact/Questions: TCSD Social Director, Elizabeth Kenny
Contact/Questions: James Ismailoglu, membership@triclubsandiego.org
*ALWAYS REFER TO THE TRI CLUB’S WEBSITE AND CALENDAR FOR THE LATEST EVENTS, UPDATES AND DETAILS. DATES, LOCATIONS, EVENTS, GUESTS. ALL EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
All dates and events subject to change. * Refer to the Club’s website/calendar for additional workouts and latest information.
WWW.TRICLUBSANDIEGO.ORG 3
TCSD BOARD MEMBERS
MEMBER PROFILE KATHY SPENCER Member since: 2013
President
Kai Nakamura
president@triclubsandiego.org
Vice President
Darrell Steele
vicepresident@triclubsandiego.org
Treasurer
Melissa Sosnowski
treasurer@triclubsandiego.org
Secretary
Tracy Cohen-Peranteau secretary@triclubsandiego.org
Program and Events Officer
Tim Price
eventsdirector@triclubsandiego.org
Marketing Office
Marison Beniek
marketing@triclubsandiego.org
TCSD Board of Directors TCSD Board Advisor
bod@triclubsandiego.org Brian Long
TCSD Mentors
advisor@triclubsandiego.org info@triclubsandiego.org
TCSD VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE MEMBERS Beginner Coaches
James Ismailoglu
james@triclubsandiego.org
Dean Rosenberg
coaches@triclubsandiego.org
Steve Tally
coaches@triclubsandiego.org
Bike Case Rentals
Bob Rosen
brosen@triclubsandiego.org
Club Historian
Ian Kelly
ikelly@triclubsandiego.org
Expo Coordinator
Danny Arnold
dannyarnold13@gmail.com
Ironman Coaches
Craig Zelent
tricraigz@yahoo.com
Membership Director
James Ismailoglu
james@triclubsandiego.org
Newsletter Editor
Alexis Barnes
asdbarnes@yahoo.com
(718) 216-8555
Newsletter Publisher
Dean Sprague
dsprague@triclubsandiego.org
(858) 270-1605
Race Director, Aquathlon
Tim Price
eventsdirector@triclubsandiego.org
Race Director, Duathlon
Jay Weber
Age Group: F50-54 Status: Married to Mark Spencer, also a TCSD member. Occupation: Neuroscientist. Favorite local restaurant: All of them! I love to eat. When not training, I enjoy: What is not training? Before I became a triathlete, I was: Middle of the pack runner. Who or what inspired you to start triathlons? Running injuries forced me to turbo training with friends. Their peer pressure got me into the pool. My training buddies inspire me with their endurance and perseverance, including after major medical issues and aging. My first triathlon: San Diego International Sprint, June 2011, 4th place. Pre and/or Post event ritual: neurotically obsessing over everything. Post-race; Oreos, wine, and a nap. Favorite Race/Tri event(s): HITS Napa half-ironman (until this year, when it was FREEZING Favorite segment (swim, bike or run): Biking, including all the hills. PR/Best race: HITS Napa half-iron 2016; 1st place F 50-54. 7th female overall; 5:43:31. I PRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d my half-marathon at this race 1:55:39.
JULY 2017 4
(760) 214-0055
Race Director, Triathlon Social Director
Elizabeth Kenny
Social Media Director
Jennifer Potter
Sponsorship Director
Tina Valle
sponsorship@triclubsandiego.org
Swim Director
Chris Costales
tcsdswim@gmail.com
Swim Director, Open Water
Trevor King
trevor@EnergyLabTraining.com
TCSD Cares
Steve Tally
stally@triclubsandiego.org
Track Coach, UTC (Spring/Summer) Bill Gleason
gleasoncoaching@gmail.com
Mark Alfaro Track Coach, North County
Mike Plumb
mplumb@triclubsandiego.org
Volunteer Coordinator
Monica Sberna
sbernamm@gmail.com
Youth Team Coach
Holly Stroschin
tcsdkids@triclubsandiego.org
Web Administrators
John Hill
jhill@triclubsandiego.org
(858) 717-1114
RUN
BIKE
SWIM
TCSD OFFICIAL WEEKLY WORKOUT SUMMER CALENDAR
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF OFFICIAL CLUB WORKOUTS, REVIEW THE WORKOUT SCHEDULE ON THE CLUB’S WEBSITE. Monday 6:00 AM Ocean Swim, advanced/expert swimmers
•
Location: La Jolla Cove.
6:00 PM
Ocean Swim in La Jolla
•
Location: La Jolla Shores.
6:00 PM
Ocean Swim in Carlsbad
•
Location: Tamarack Beach.
6:00 PM
Open Water Swim
6:00 PM
LJHS Swim Workout (Coggan Family Aquatic Complex)
•
Location: Glorietta Bay, 1975 Strand Way, Coronado. •
Location: 800 Nautilus St., La Jolla.
Tuesday 6:00 AM Pannikin Bike Ride
•
Location: Pannikin - 7467 Girard Ave., La Jolla.
6:00 AM Ocean Swim in Carlsbad
Location: Tamarack Beach.
•
6:30 AM Bike Workout in Point Loma, Group ride
•
Location: Moment Cycle Sport, Liberty Station.
5:45 PM
Track Workout at UCSD, Coached session 9730 Hopkins Drive.
•
Location: Triton Track and Field Stadium (UCSD)
6:30 PM
Run Workout in Carlsbad/North County, Coached session • Location: Starts at the Bike Trail that runs between Carlsbad Village and Tamarack Ave. parallel to the Coaster tracks.
Wednesday 6:00 AM Ocean Swim, advanced/expert swimmers
•
Location: La Jolla Cove.
Location: Tamarack Beach.
6:00 PM
Ocean Swim in Carlsbad
6:00 PM
LJHS Swim Workout (Coggan Family Aquatic Complex)
6:00 PM
Trail Run
•
•
•
Location: 800 Nautilus St., La Jolla.
Location: Pulse South Bay, 1020 Tierra Del Rey # A2, Chula Vista.
Thursday 6:00 AM Ocean Swim in Carlsbad 6:15 AM Pannikin Bike Ride
•
•
Location: Tamarack Beach.
Location: Pannikin - 7467 Girard Ave., La Jolla.
6:30 AM Bike Workout in Point Loma, Group ride
•
Location: Moment Cycle Sport, Liberty Station.
Location: Ventura Cove (every other week until June)
5:30 PM
Open Water Swim Workout
6:00 PM
BOWS Swim Workout (Beginners’ Open Water Swim)
•
•
Location: Bonita Cove, Mission Bay.
Friday 6:30 AM First light ocean Swim 5:30 PM
•
Ocean Swim in La Jolla
Location: La Jolla Cove.
•
Location: La Jolla Cove.
Saturday 8:00 AM Bike Workout, TCSD Group Ride
•
Location: Meet at Starbucks in Del Mar, Hwy. 101 & 15th St.
8:30 AM Bike Workout, Group Ride
•
Location: Revolution Bike Shop, 235 S. Highway 101, Solana Beach.
8:30 AM Bike Workout, Group Ride
•
Location: Moment Cycle Sport, Liberty Station
•
Location: Moment Cycle Sport, Liberty Station.
Sunday 8:00 AM Bike Workout, Group Ride
This year's athletic goal: I placed 1st F50-54 again at HITS Napa half-iron in April 2017, qualifying me for the USAT Long Course Nationals in Omaha. I hope to not embarrass myself, and to represent TCSD well. Can’t race without: A smile on my face. I was diagnosed with blood clots in my legs January 2014. I didn’t think I would ever be able to walk again without pain much less do triathlons. Since then, I’ve done four half irons and a bunch of olympics and sprints. I remind myself that I should have died, but I’m still here and able to race competitively. That makes me smile even when I’m miserable at the end of a race. Most embarrassing or disastrous moment: HITS Napa half-iron 2017. We were told the water was 62 degrees. It was really 56 degrees. The forecast was for temps in the low 50s; in reality it was low 40s and raining. The rain didn’t start until halfway through the bike… it was sunny and clear at the start. Over half of the field dropped out. I kept going but couldn’t feel my feet until 40 minutes into the run. I had my fingers in my mouth for most of the bike, trying to keep them warm. First place agegroup, but miserable race too early in the season. My equipment: Wetsuit: Xterra Bike(s): Colnago Flight (LOVE this bike!). Running Shoe(s): Sketchers Equipment wish list: 1) lightweight road bike, 2) spiffy new Garmin multi-function gadget, 3) Go-Pro to record aggressive drivers. Best advice: Remember we are doing this for FUN. Slow down to look around and enjoy the journey; it’s not ALL about going fast (although that part is pretty great!). Enjoy feeling strong and powerful. Let the crazy competitive people go out first, then smile when you pass them later. continued on page 18
* Refer to the Club’s website/calendar for additional workouts and latest information.
WWW.TRICLUBSANDIEGO.ORG
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SPONSORS OF TCSD
CONGRATULATIONS! You are an Ironman!
MULTISPORT
Moment Cycle Sport Contact: JT Lyons 2816 Historic Decatur Rd., Ste. 135 San Diego, CA 92106 (619) 523-BIKE and Moment Bicycles - Carmel Valley 5965 Village Way, E-100 San Diego, CA 92130 (619) 523-2453 www.momentcyclesport.com Discount: 10% off product, labor excluded.
Richard Sweet Al Torre Julie Dunkle Randy Schmitz David Piper
IM Boulder - June 11, 2017 AG AG Rank OV M 50-54 5 M 55-59 1 F 50-54 2 M 55-59 13 M 45-49 75
Rank 59 114 130 471 647
W
e are always looking for race reports. Share your latest experience, your first or 500th event. No two races are the same. Stories need not be just about triathlon, they can include running, cycling, tri travels… etc., whatever you think other club members may
Share your race report
or adventure.
Submission date is the 17th of each month for the
following month’s publication and should include photos whenever possible. Any questions on the submission process, please contact the publisher or editor for complete details. See page three for contact info.
7638 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 384-2867 www.pulseendurance.com Discount: 10-15% off.
APPAREL & EQUIPMENT
Aqua Sphere www.AquaSphereSwim.com Discount: Products sold through local retailers with TCSD discount.
SMXUDFWLYH
#SMXUDFWLYH
#SMXUDFWLYH
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JULY 2017
Finish 10:16 11:02 11:09 13:17 14:09
If you have completed an “iron” distance event (or longer) and wish to be recognized in the TCSD newsletter/ website, email TCSD’s Ironman coaches, at imcoach@triclubsandiego.org. That’s the only way they know you are out there competing.
just ads, and that is no fun.
6
Run 3:48 4:10 4:21 5:15 5:56
Indicates qualified for IM World’s Championship.
this newsletter will end up being
and
Bike 5:15 5:31 5:42 6:13 6:31
1,076 finishers. Transitions and seconds not included.
find interesting. Without content,
Pulse Endurance Sports Contact: Mike Drury 1020 A-2 Tierra Del Rey Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619) 656-5222
Swim 1:02 1:11 0:57 1:24 1:22
TCSD CONVERSATION WITH: By Craig Zelent
Dee Dee Burton
“
”
Jim McCann was TCSD President 10 years ago. Many, including me would say Jim built TCSD. Jim passed away unexpectedly in June 2007, and to honor Jim and Dee Dee, they are the focus of this TCSD Conversation. If you knew them, then you will love this interview. If you didn’t know them, you will love getting to know them. Grab some Kleenex and enjoy. Craig: How did you and Jim meet and ultimately end up in San Diego? Dee Dee: The story of how Jim
and I met is a pretty good one. It was 1998, and Jim had been studying wilderness medicine and wanted to find a challenging Dee Dee and Jim grilling at TC SD’s Xanthusia traini wilderness training program. I ng camp, 2004. was living in Ohio had been doing some solo backpacking and wanted to find a challenging Bill Gibbs, Rita Reyes (now Williams), Osamu wilderness survival program. So, June 1998 Chiba, Jonathan Toker, Henry Chan, GR – all of found us in the tiny town of Boulder, Utah, hav- these characters (and many more) played such a ing both signed up for a 10-day wilderness sur- big part in his life at that time and I couldn’t vival course with BOSS. I felt a powerful attrac- wait to meet them all! After I finally did go back to Ohio, we maintion to Jim from the moment I laid eyes on him. tained our relationship, and I moved to San He had such a solid, calm demeanor with a shy Diego in 2000 with my dog, Sante. She and Jim smile and very soulful eyes. At the end of those 10 days, I cancelled my formed an immediate and intense bond. She return flight to Ohio and instead drove with him never left his side. Sante didn’t recover from losto San Diego, a place I still think of as Jim’s ing Jim, and she died a few months after him. town. Over the course of that drive, Jim told me so many stories about the club and the people in the club! His passion for sport and for people was so contagious! Barbara Javor, Bob Doyle,
SPONSORS OF TCSD
Castelli Discount: Available on TCSD Member Discount web page.
Oasis One-Twelve www.OasisOne-Twelve.com Discount: 10% discount
Road Runner Sports 5553 Copley Dr. San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 974-4455
ROKA https://www.roka.com Discount: 30% off swim items, 20% off run apparel, cycling apparel, triathlon apparel, and sunglasses.
Rudy Project www.e-rudy.com Discount: 40% off helmets and sunglasses. CODE: Available on TCSD Member Discount web page continued on page 8
What was unique about being married to Jim? Dee Dee: I’ll start with our wedding, because that was very unique. We wanted to get married continued on page 8
WWW.TRICLUBSANDIEGO.ORG 7
SPONSORS OF TCSD
Xterra Wetsuits 7810 Trade St #200, San Diego, CA (858)565-9500
COACHING & FITNESS
Energy Lab Training Contact: Trevor King email: ftrevorwking@yahoo.com www.energylabtraining.com
Evolution Multisport Contact: Chris Holley www.evolutionmultisport.com www.chrisholleyhealthcoach
The Fit Stop Human Performance Lab Contact: Ken Nicodemus (760) 634-5169 kjnico@roadrunner.com www.fitstop-lab.com Discount: see TCSD website for details.
Gleason Endurance Coaching Contact: Bill Gleason email: GleasonCoaching@gmail.com www.GleasonCoaching.com continued on page 11
JULY 2017 8
CONVERSATION, continued where we met, so we contacted BOSS and they absolutely everything. Every idea, every comagreed to let us get married on their land, in mitment, every next step — he followed the heart of Utah canyon country. The only through. One time he met a woman in the hitch was BOSS didn’t want the local magistrate checkout line and got to talking with her about Burpee Seeds (he was on their land, so the Tibetan monks ma king a special appearance . a manufacturer’s rep BOSS CEO, a very nice for them at Jewish guy, went online the time). to become a Christian When he marriage celebrant! learned that A few days before the she ran a comspecial date, we learned munity garthat a group of Tibetan den, open to monks were in town for everyone, he the first stage of a US sent her boxes speaking tour. We were of vegetable unbelievably blessed and wildflower to have these monks seeds. He was participate in our wedconstantly ding ceremony by perdoing things like this; touchforming their very ing people’s lives for only a unique deep throat moment, yet forming a real chanting and bestowing connection and then followspecial blessings on us. ing through in unique and It was an absolutely magthoughtful ways. It was as if ical experience! Jim really understood that Our very unique wedlife can be cut short, and he ding set the bar pretty didn’t want to leave anyhigh for “uniqueness,” and thing undone. so much of the rest of our Another special thing married life met the bar! about Jim was his love of When Jim started wetsuithis family. He was very rental.com we were living close to his sisters, Patty in his small condo in UTC. and Linda, and he had six As the business grew, the nieces and nephews. He wetsuits kept taking over all the space in the condo until The beginnings of wetsuitrental.com went to incredible lengths to be involved in their young eventually there were racks of wetsuits in every room and right down the hall- lives and to be a good role model for them way. I thought we would get brain damage from about healthy and happy living. the overwhelming smell of rubber! The best example is that he created a summer Later we moved to a tiny cottage about a baseball camp for his two nephews, Ike and block from the Cove. The cottage was so small Willy. Every year, we flew them to San Diego for that we erected a mountaineering grade tent in a couple weeks and Jim created a complete the back yard and used that as our bedroom! baseball camp experience for them, teaching Our queen-sized bed and two bedside tables them skills and drills. One year, Bill Gibbs got were there, and we each had a headlamp for them all on the field at Qualcomm! By 2005 the baseball camp moved to Kingston, WA and had reading in bed! expanded to include half the town! Another very unique thing about Jim, someA final thought is how he encouraged and thing that I’ve tried to keep in my life, was his follow-through. Jim followed through on coached people to be their very best self. I’ve
been reading the stories submitted by so many club members, and I couldn’t do a better job of describing the impact he had on other people. Just read through all the stories and memories of Jim, and you’ll see the impact this unique quality had on others.
What do you think Jim would consider as his greatest accomplishments as TCSD President? Dee Dee Jim was proud of how the membership grew during his tenure. I think membership grew from around 350 in 2002 to about 1,200 in 2007. He was such a strong believer in the power of sport to transform lives, and he was constantly looking for new ways to improve the range of experiences the club could make available to people. Jim was adamant about only being around positive people and creating positive experiences. I think he would be proud of the hundreds of positive experiences he helped make happen. Oh, and the food! He would be proud of how well he used food to connect people with each other!
What are some of your favorite memories of being part of the TCSD community? Dee Dee: When we were planning my move from Ohio to San Diego, Jim said, “You’re not going to be a spectator, Dee Dee. You’ve got to be a participant.” So, the tri club became a very important part of my life! I remember the first club race I did. It was at Glorietta Bay in Coronado. I finished in the middle of the pack (as always!) but ended up in an intense down-to-the-wire battle with Malin. I had never exerted myself so much and had never felt so exhilarated! I remember the Midnight Century! I have no idea how Jim came up with the idea to start a century ride at midnight from Borrego Springs to Solana Beach, but we must have made six planning trips along the route, plotting every mile marker and identifying the best spots for break stations. I think 12 or 18 brave souls signed up for that event. I remember when Jim came up with the idea for the desert training camps – oh my gosh, the planning that went into those events! It was never enough to just bring people together for a weekend of training and fun; it was always about what new experiences we could bring to bear, like the Hilltop Challenge. I remember all the Friday night Cove swims and then later all the Monday night Shores swims – always followed by food and socializing.
How was TCSD helpful to you after Jim passed away? Dee Dee: In the days after Jim died I was blown away by all the new stories about him people shared with me. So
many stories I hadn’t heard; it was as if I was still getting to know him. And then, in the weeks and months that followed those first horrible days, I found incredible comfort in remembering and thinking about how many people Jim had touched through triathlon. Ultimately, it was too difficult for me to stay close to the club, but I have treasured those memories throughout the past 10 years.
Craig: What is your life like today? The universe works in strange ways. I’m sure I don’t deserve to have a second love of my life, and I’m grateful — every single day — to have met Pete. He’s an incredible person who has had a fascinating life and, as it did for Jim, the ocean plays an absolutely central part in Pete’s life. He’s a paddler (prone not stand-up), surfer, swimmer and professional sailor, and he has to be immersed in water on a daily basis to maintain his equilibrium. He’s got a huge cache of incredible stories about his experiences racing sailing yachts all over the world, and he can tell a story like nobody’s business! In 2015 I got an opportunity to work in Australia, which is coincidentally Pete’s home country. We’ve been in Sydney for a little over two years and plan to stay one or two more. We live in the beach suburb of Freshwater in a little apartment that is right on the beach – we can hear the ocean waves all night. I still work in financial services, and every morning I take a ferry through the Sydney Harbour, right past the Sydney Opera House and disembark under the Sydney Harbour bridge. What an amazing commute – I pinch myself every day. I don’t bike or run any more, but I do still swim every week. There’s an incredible swim from the south end of Manly Beach into a little cove called Shelley Beach – the water is crystal clear and the fish abundant. Back in 2000 when Jim said, “You’re not going to be a spectator, Dee Dee. You’ve got to be a participant,” he meant that both for triathlon and for life. It’s one of the many things for which I’m so grateful when I think about Jim’s influence on my life, and I think this is an apt way to sum up his legacy.
Craig – I asked our members this question - What are your fondest memories of Jim? Here are their responses. Bob Babbitt - The year was 2007 and we were at La Jolla Shores for an Aquathlon, one of the awesome series of social events continued on page 10
WWW.TRICLUBSANDIEGO.ORG 9
CONVERSATION, continued that Jim McCann added to the Tri Club of San Diego’s schedule during his time at the helm of the world’s best tri club. One of the reasons the club has been so successful over the years has been the spirit of the inclusion that Jim made such a huge part of the TCSD culture. It wasn’t about being an elitist, it was about being welcoming. Jim’s mantra was simple: come join us and let’s participate in and celebrate the world’s best sport…..together. While we were standing there that evening, a person brand new to our sport emerged from the changing rooms in a wetsuit that Jim had just loaned him so he could join us for the swim/run event that evening. One problem. This young man had the wetsuit on inside out. Now, if this was a different triathlon club, or if Jim wasn’t this very special man who gave so much to each and every one of us, he and the others around him might have drawn attention to the mistake and poked fun at the guy who couldn’t tell the outside of a wetsuit from the inside. Instead, Jim casually strolled towards him, put his arm around his shoulder and quietly suggested that there might be a different way to put this particular wetsuit on. That small moment is something that I see in my mind’s eye every time I think of Jim McCann, a man who gave so much to so many, a man who helped to build a loving and caring triathlon village here in San Diego and a man who left us way too soon.
Sergio Borges - I always remember Jim smiling, playful and well
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Sports Medicine Rehabilitation
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Barefoot Henry Chan - We joined TCSD about the same time back in 1988 (maybe '89). We were both new to triathlons, so the club was our life for years. My most memorable event was on a Friday evening Cove swim. We were the only ones that showed up, and the surf was up. We went out, and I got pushed up near the cliffs, and a lifeguard had to reorient me towards the way out. Jim and I regrouped past the breaks, and we decided to just swim to the Shores and walk back, barefoot. Nice that Road Runner Sports in Kearny Mesa has a permanent marker honoring Jim.
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first triathlon in 2000, I was “ready” to join TCSD. I was really intimidated by the club, but Jim had a warmth about him that made me feel as ease. Not only did I join the club, but he talked me into becoming the New Members Coordinator. With just his smile and presence, he made me feel welcomed and a part of a great TCSD family.
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Women’s Health
Wendy Harp - Jim is the reason I joined TCSD. When I did my
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loved by many. It was always fun to hang out with him. He always found a way to bring peace to all and deal with problems with an ease. Great guy, Will never forget!
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Richard Duquette - Jim was well respected by the TCSD membership because he empowered people. He would support those willing to contribute. I remember him saying, if the membership wants something (within reason), give it to them. Then Jim would follow through. He had integrity and was easy to approach. With the nay sayers, he would “appoint” them to lead the project they questioned. This thereby called out those genuinely interested in contributing. This had the effect of creating an inclusive team of membership and sponsors all pulling in the same direction. I do miss him and his lovely wife Dee Dee, who would attend club camp outs. I thank Jim for giving me a lifetime TCSD membership, as we had a great working relationship.
Drew Peterson - I remember the feeling of Jim McCann. You felt a certain way around him - welcomed and liked and valued. You felt like you had known him and were long time friends. I remember after my bike crash on Torrey Pines he went to the hospital and talked with my parents for a long time and supported them. We have never forgotten this act of friendship to this day. Jim was so encouraging and you felt a sense of happiness and inspiration around him. He was happy doing what he did and was such a cool person. In my mind he was the perfect leader and would have been the best president of anything he set his mind too. Confident, friendly, inclusive and a sense of deep peace and strength. Something so rare today. Strangely my late dachshund Pumkin shared many of the same traits. Ah right now I just thought of his dog Sante, I believe. OK shortly after he passed I was riding up on Laguna and saw someone who looked exactly like him. I turned my head and looked back at him and waved and he smiled at me. I will never forget Jim, and he will be in my heart always. I have always held him in my mind as the perfect leader.
Chris Costales - In five words, gentle voice and infectious smile. But my fondest memory was at the West Coast Xterra championships in Temecula where we talked about all the triathlon specific gadgets we could add to my 2001 Xterra. ”Right here we could add a water bottle that is heated by the sun. Attach a hose and bam, you have an outdoor shower. What about a pull out ramp so your dog can easily get into the back, like a moving
truck?” He had about 20 ideas, and we chatted for at least an hour. Great guy.
Barbara Javor - Before Jim was TCSD president, he was the race director full of ideas how to make races different from plain vanilla triathlons. I served as his assistant. When we raced at Glorietta Bay in Coronado, sometimes he tossed tennis balls into the water marked with numbers that represented time bonuses for the competitors. The catch was if you grabbed any of the balls, you had to carry them on the bike and run as well to get the bonus. At one of the races he put everyone’s running shoes in a pile, which benefited the slower competitors. At our Miramar Lake races, we rented row boats instead of swam, and rollerblading could substitute for running. Sometimes we had mystery events included, like grabbing a plant bulb from a box and running up a hillside to plant it at the top. One time each competitor had to figure out a charade before crossing the finish line. Before Jim took over as race director, there wasn't much of a post-race feast beyond bagels, muffins, and Gatorade. Jim started bringing a camp stove, and he cooked pancakes. From there, the post-race feast grew and served as the best way for club members to get to know each other both after races and before our monthly meetings. Before that, when people finished their races they would pack up and leave with participants still on the race course. That wasn't very inspiring for slow athletes like me. Jim instituted the fourth event, eating, to make the club events more social.
David Lang - His unsurpassed friendliness! He never “met a stranger” and made everyone feel welcome. Lianne Chu - I have such fond memories of Jim, and I agree with you that he truly built TCSD. When I first started TCSD years ago I remember that one of my first activities was the track workouts at UC high. I didn’t know anyone, and the practice was a series of 4x400 relays (2 members per team and we would each run twice). Jim came up to me (probably noticing that I was a little clueless and alone) to be my partner. I had no idea that he was the president of the club. He made me feel so welcome and introduced me to everyone around us. At future TCSD events he continued to remember my name and was always so good about introducing
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CONVERSATION, continued everyone around him, making TCSD feel like such a warm family. At the TCSD camping trips, Jim would put together the “hilltop challenge.” My kids were so young at the time- they are now 16 and 18 and to this day they still fondly remember him and this event. Jim would have us run up the steep mountain behind the campsite, collecting bags of random goodies… he would have prize bags stuffed with goofy hats and party supplies. No joke, we still have some of the hats from those events. Jim also supported a family friendly environment at TCSD by supplying us with huge bags of rubber duckies and prizes for a monthly kids event at the aquathlons. We called this the aquackathon and it introduced the next generation to the enjoyment of being active. About a month before Jim passed away, he and Dee Dee had a fabulous party at their house welcoming a huge group of TCSD members. It was the last time I saw him. What a fabulous and influential person Jim was to myself and my family. We all miss him and think of him with such beautiful memories.
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Darrell Steele - Jim had an unassuming way with people that was disarming, while also being a master at painting a vision for how they could get involved in the tri club. I experienced this first hand, and it changed my life. I was eating lunch after a Saturday ride with Jim, Dee Dee his wife and another friend. Bobby, the ride leader, had just accepted a position in LA and announced he was moving. As we ate, I causally asked Jim what he was going to do about the ride. He responded, “What are you talking about?” I then replied, asking “Who was going to lead the ride now that Bobby was leaving?” Jim simply smiled and said, “You.” I laughed at the joke until I realized he was still just smiling. I then protested, saying that I hadn’t been riding with the group long enough, that I wasn’t qualified, that I couldn’t commit and any other excuse I could think of. He continued smiling and assured me that it would be great and I would be fine. After I exhausted my excuses, I finally relented and agreed with a great deal of reluctance and several stipulations. That was more than 11 years ago, and those years have been more remarkable then I could have ever imagined. His belief in me and faith that I would grow into being the ride leader have been a blessing to me. Having the opportunity to be involved with the TCSD Saturday Del Mar Ride has enriched my life in incalculable ways. I’ve had the privilege of meeting remarkable people from around the world. I’ve gotten to know and grown close to many whom I call very dear friends and met one who has become my best friend, Laura, my wife. Jonathan Toker - This is both an easy answer, because there are many fond memories of Jim, and a tough one, because it’s painful to remember him and difficult to choose any particular memory or small subset of memories of my friendship with Jim. The odd thing is that it doesn’t feel like 10 years since Jim
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passed away. It feels almost like yesterday, and my memories of time in San Diego with the tri club feel both fleeting and enduringly indelible. Jim was a paternal figure, but in the best of ways as a friendship of equals. One of my fondest memories of Jim is at any number of summer Friday evening Cove swims and potlucks. I have a lump in my throat as I think about all the times he seemingly effortlessly got everything and everybody organized. He was a master orchestral leader. And his masterpiece was a coming together of strangers and friends with food, standing around with a soggy plate or two of the most delicious food. Often based more on circumstance than on haute-cuisine. Jim was so welcoming, without judgement or examination. It was as if Jim had an unMcCanny (sorry!) ability to just see the best in people. Again, at the Glorietta Bay club races or annual Pine Valley Duathlon, and Jim somehow managed to help direct the race, host the post-race spread, and keep everybody happy. I give Jim credit for helping give me the courage to live life and take chances, in particular as I started up my own company, and his passing was one reason I was able to get up enough courage to pursue my dreams and leave my job to pursue my dream - in October 2007, just a few months after his passing. In the absence of somebody loved, one finds solace and strength based on their memory. I still miss Jim today, though I know he would be (quietly) proud of himself and how he positively affected those who were fortunate to call him a friend. I miss Jim.
Judy Seid - Jim McCann built TCSD into what it is today due to his spirit of inclusiveness, encouragement and his true inner fun loving nature. The club had previously been viewed as a club for “elites,” thus kept away many who may have been intimidated to enter the world of triathlon. Instead, Jim transformed the club into a home for anyone and everyone to have support and training so they too could push their own limits without fear of intimidation. Jim started
the real beginner Sunday bike rides. Jim started the open water swim training at Glorietta Bay where people could get comfortable in the bay environment. Jim started the Borrego winter training camps, really just a super fun campout with a 60 mile bike ride on Saturday and the Hill Challenge on Sunday morning before breakfast. Jim had the tennis ball races at Glorietta Bay where we would collect time deduction tennis balls in our swimsuits and carry them back with us. Jim rented a house in La Jolla Village and slept in a tent in the backyard. Jim chose Dee Dee as his wife. Dee Dee shared Jim with all of us! There were prizes, always prizes. There was always food, lots of it. Jim started the Aquathlon and brought tables of food for afterwards...the club grew! Jim encouraged others publicly and privately. If you weren’t volunteering in the club, Jim would get you to start doing something. Outside the club, Jim, who played college baseball, encouraged my daughter to start a softball training camp after she graduated college. He taught her how to start a course online and then purchased and had two boxes of regulation softballs shipped to her to start her off. We were shocked at his generosity! Jim didn't need recognition, he did things quietly. Jim regularly practiced random acts of kindness. My daughter's second job now is coaching a high school softball team in her home in Masachusetts. She is 32. She will always remember him and is a better person because of him. Jim’s legacy is living on every day. Thank you Jim for everything you gave us!
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Bill Gibbs - I have countless fond memories of Jim. He was welcoming to anyone and everyone. His casual style of leadership was perfect for the club. He took ownership of the club so it was like family to him. The way he “delegated” is something that most people will probably remember. I was a victim of his delegation when he asked me to be vice president of the club. I enjoyed volunteering for the club but becoming vice president was the last thing on my mind. The next thing I knew I was VP. It was hard to say no to Jim. Jim
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helped give me the courage and confidence to take on other challenges in life, and I will always be thankful to him for that. Jim worked hard to organize club races, club meetings, social activities, and countless other events and somehow he made it look easy because he enjoyed it so much. I agree that Jim built the club. If I’m not mistaken, membership grew from a few hundred to 2,000 under his leadership.
Claudia Flynn - Jim McCann was a wonderful person and a great ambassador of triathlons. He really motivated and helped many of us with the open water swim at La Jolla Shores. He wanted us to have the best experience in the water and excel at it. He helped us overcome the fear of open water swim with his passion about the ocean and his love of dolphins. He took care of us and planted the seed to love triathlons and make it a lifestyle. Not only was he a great president, but he organized the aquathlons and beginner races and made TCSD a stronger club with a remarkable increase in the number of new members. His smile and positivism was contagious and undeniable. After our last swim with him, there were so many dolphins that night surfing and playing in the water. I will never forget after Jim passing, Dee Dee said that “it was like the dolphins were saying bye to Jim.” He definitely made an impression on everyone that had the privilege of meeting him and he will never be forgotten. I’m forever thankful.
Matt Sparks - I was having some sink or swim moments round about the time I met Jim. He was one of the people who helped me swim. He was my first client, and it was his enthusiasm that caused me to create what turned into the Corporation, MHS-Works, Inc. Originally called Trustworthy Handywork and Custom Projects or THCP, it soon outgrew its humble beginnings and became a licensed construction company. Dee Dee also hired us several times. And it was Dee Dee, who took me out in my first ever open water swim at LJ Shores.
Elaine Bergeron - I remember Jim being very inclusive and always connecting people. He even introduced a few people that later went on to get married. The first time I went to a swim, I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone. Jim told a few people who I was and where I worked to spark conversation. He had such an ease and
natural way of approaching people. From that point on, I felt like I belonged as part of TCSD. The first time I saw Jim on a Saturday TCSD ride, I was surprised to see him on a mountain bike. I learned that he did this so that he could stay with the folks in the back. Thank you Jim for the way you touched our hearts, and showing us how to live.
Jimena Florit (Dolzadelli) - Jim was one of a kind. He always found a new and extraordinary way of doing ordinary things. That put him in an exclusive club, that's for sure. He loved people, he loved sports, but what he loved most was helping people to be happy at doing sports. He dedicated his life to TCSD and the aquathlons at the Shores. Jim coached kids baseball and answered any questions anyone might have pretty much about anything. Genuine from the heart, he cared. And you knew it! Jim had a clear vision of where he was going, and lead the tri club for many years, growing the number of tri enthusiasts even if you didn’t own a bike! And if there was a Friday night swim at the Cove, with a potluck after, you knew you better step up your game with his NO CHiPS and SALSA policy. He had two loves to share his free time: his beloved wife, Dee Dee, and his sweet companion dog Sante. If you knew Jim, you knew Sante! Slow moving dog, sweet like him. People like Jim seem to often pop up in the memory at random but meaningful times. He was one of a kind who will be missed forever.
Denise Bienias - My fondest memories of Jim McCann was his very calm, yet strong commitment towards triathlon and all it encompassed. Jim was always the quiet guy off to the side at the TCSD Coronado club races, as they were getting bigger and bigger, fielding any questions and giving sound advice to any TCSD newbie that asked or appeared to need it. I remember always the smorgasbord of goodies, including the muffins, after all the club races. He just quietly went about, his business of running the club and going thru his own training. He loved the sport and it was evident from all his long hours and hard work he dedicated as President of the tri club. We were so fortunate to have been a part of Jim’s legacy and always remember him fondly. Bob Rosen - The year was 2001. Penticton,
British Columbia, Ironman Canada, I was up there with Bill Gibbs who served as club VP for the same time Jim was prez, About seven years. As anyone who’s ever done an IM knows, the evening before is pretty much on a schedule. Dinner at 5 PM, set out all your gear. Settle in early, which we did. Try to deal with the nerves. So the night before the race, at about 7:30 PM, the phone rings, it’s Jim. He asks if we'd like to join him for a picnic dinner at Okanagan Lake Beach. We were downright befuddled by Jim’s call. “It’s the night before an Ironman and you haven't eaten yet? Is your gear ready?” “Nah” Jim says, I thought it’d be fun to hang at the beach with you guys. I can pack my gear afterwards.” It was just another day in the life. Jim’s life. Living in the moment.
ized he took the trouble to learn names of as many members as he could. I could see the confidence it gave people at the turnaround. When I came in for the finish, he was still at it, standing there cheering each member on by name (we were admittedly a much smaller club then!). The way the Tri 101 started was also very typical of Jim. I had helped answer some of the beginner questions before a club meeting and mentioned to him that most beginners had the same questions and that we should have a monthly meeting to answer them. Those that knew him could guess his response: “OK, go ahead and get that setup and let me know what you need.” You had to watch what you said around Jim! It was an honor to know you Jim!
Steve Tally - I had the great pleasure to get to know Jim during my first few years in the club. In addition to his unassuming and gentle disposition that put everyone at ease, I have a few specific memories of Jim that stand out. One memory doesn’t sound like much but is very typical of Jim and his way. At one of my first aquathlons, I had just come around the pylon to head back for the second loop of the run and Jim was there. He said “Go Steve Tally!” which made me feel like a million bucks as I was a newer member and the president knew my name! Then I heard him calling out names of all those behind me as well, and this continued until I was out of earshot. I real-
Osamu Chiba - It's not easy for me to pick one particular day or event as my fondest memory of Jim McCann. Instead, I would say the overall closeness to him like family equals my fondest memory. Around 1999 ~ 2001, I would show up at Jim’s place every Saturday or Sunday afternoon. If he was there, I stayed for a couple of hours and talked about all kinds of topics, such as about triathlon, camping, his business, etc. And we would call each other if necessary, like taking care of his pets while he was out of town. I sure miss those years… continued on page 18
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A tribute to our great friend Jim McCann…
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by Judy Seid
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ho was taken too early from us for reasons unknown But whose lessons rise up and like the morning sun Seem to be shining on everyone
Sometimes in life we want to question
But sometimes in life we can’t find the answer To why someone who in heart was so pure Was taken too soon, but you can be sure That I have been yearning for what we are learning Is that a truly great person lives on & on
Through their inspiration, words, & deeds
And Jim McCann has planted these Like a million little flower seeds And his seedlings sprout forth in others’ actions By those who were touched…with every action there’s reaction In the people who knew him, the pollination has begun
You see, it’s always the doing that matters
The action counts, not the mindless chatter McCann was all action not talk, you see An idea quickly started, abra cadabra, it soon came to be And it’s hard to figure out how it always got done Jim’s magic was the modest and quiet way about him His smirk telling only a secret’s within An idea no sooner was spoken As the seeds started snapping and popping about him Oh, the crazy things that McCann could dream up Makes people stop thinking about what they “could have been” Cause in Jim’s world everyone gets to win It’s not about image, it’s about imagination
Cause that’s what Jim wanted, that was his plan
Everyone’s welcomed and everybody’s a winner You see after the race, there’s gonna be dinner Or lunch or breakfast or prizes so silly He’d get even the beer drinker to climb up that hilly Easter egg baskets and finger traps Silly string, rubber-ball paddles and stuff like that But the truth is you didn’t have to be fast
Being there was good enough, heck you could even be last! If you just grabbed the tennis ball at the tennis ball challenge And stuffed it successfully in your swimsuit Trying to remember, it’s not about looking cute The time written on the side of the ball gets subtracted And you get to go home with all the loot
WELCOME NEW TCSD MEMBERS Amy Dixon Andrea Jackson
Or that time he really made me smirk
Andre Brooks
At the Deadman Camp hilltop challenge, Oh that jerk! After reaching the top, I was huffing and puffing and I knew I was tricked At the top of that hill I was barely breathing and thought I had it licked Standing there waiting, his accomplice in crime, Dee Dee made us turn back around? There was Jim at the bottom with prizes for the first person back down
Angelica Oberleithner Dan Navilliat Glen Raines Hannah Stiegler Jayson McElhaney
There were raffles, race entries, hats, socks galore
All the schwag you could dream up, then there’d be more So come out and play with us, I’m not gonna nag Maybe we’ll start a new kind of Jim McCann tag You won’t want to miss out on all these new friends Jimmy would say it’s about the means, not the ends
Jim Roessling John Chipponeri Kimberley Brennan Marissa Casiano Nick Brugioni
Jim’s way was a kind and encouraging word
Organizing, inspiring, don’t be afraid Leading others to action, “Start small,” he would say, “Come and join us on the Slowpoke Ride Saturday!” A tiny suggestion, a little nudge from Jim And before you knew what you said yes for At Saturday’s race you’re the race director!
Jeremy McGarity
Sarah Quemada Tara Herd Thomas Boyer Young Duong
Like Jim, a legacy you can leave
If only you really truly believe In others a little more each day And there’s one more thing I’d like to say Random acts of kindness is the McCann way Random acts of kindness is where it’s at We’ve got one chance at life, One up at bat And now that Jim’s time has come to an end We realize that he was everyone’s best friend “Hey, I’ll give you a tip, climb the ridge route,” whispers Jim. Could we each try to be just a little like him?
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TCSD MEMBER PROFILE, cont Look at the beautiful scenery around, and be grateful that we get to train in this stunning environment. Triathlon is about the journey, NOT the destination. Embrace the training partners who understand your crazy obsession with tris. They make the workouts so much more delightful. Favorite Thing(s) About TCSD: Hearing the stories of our meeting guests. Finding other obsessed people with whom to work out. Being part of the Tri Club Challenge and proving that TCSD is the BEST!
Thomas Johnson (TCSD President 2009 to 2012) - I have many great memories of Jim.
encouraging influence on the beginners and me! 1997-99 I think.
Here are a few that stand out for me. I met Jim at La Jolla Cove on a Friday evening in the summer of 1998 looking out over the Cove. Jim was very outgoing and had a calm sense about him that was very welcoming. We both had a love of ocean swimming. Jim offered me a cheeseburger from the potluck after my swim. I asked him what group this was, and I had my first introduction to the freatest club on the planet! the Triathlon Club of San Diego. It was four more years and a few more free cheeseburgers before I joined the club. My first volunteer position with the club you ask? Potluck Captain! Very clever. I didn’t even see it coming. After a Monday evening La Jolla Shores swims in late summer 2002 Jim & Dee Dee invited me out for dinner to Su Casa over by Wind ‘n Sea. They shared their story of how they met on an adventure challenge in Moab and fell in love. I realized right then that I met two very special people and was grateful for their friendship and their love of trying to connect people in the club they thought would be a good match. I didn’t find my true love that year personally but I bet we have a marriage or two today thanks to those behind the scene efforts by the McCann’s. Back in Spring of 2005 Jimmy told me about this great idea he had for a new Tri Club event… The Aquathlon which has grown into one of the most popular TCSD events and really embodies what Jim’s mission was in connecting people, exercising and enjoying some food and a cold drink with friends and family at the beach with a killer sunset. I recall asking Jim what his goal was for participation for the aquathlon’s… can you guess? 25 participants was the goal. Jim would be so stoked to know we have to cap attendance now. Finally I will always remember the free seeds for plants, veggies and flowers Jim would give away at every club meeting. I didn’t know Jim had “another job” outside of the club. Home Depot Rep.
Raja Lahti-McMahon - Jim was the man who bound us all together. I had no idea what it was like running a "club," but felt his warmth with TCSD and became part of the family. He passed shortly thereafter. The club he left behind was one of the most empowering, friendly, wonderful groups of people I have ever met. I immediately volunteered to help run the sponsorship part of the club after he passed and learned so much along the way. My memory of Jim is one of complete friendship, no matter who you were... and for the love of the sport. Swim, Bike, Run, Fun. Whatever it needed to get there is what Jim did... and we will. We all miss you Jim.
John Montanile - I think my fondest memories of Jim were how generous he was with his time and knowledge. We did the beginner coaching together and he was so encouraging of anyone who wanted to try triathlon. A very positive
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Bob Doyle (TCSD President 1995 to 1997) Sadness but many smiles is best way to summarize life without Jim. There have been many times and situations where I would have wanted to have Jim there or be able to pick up the phone to get Jim's always unique perspective (whether it was serious or funny). He and I would talk about all things - news, politics, sports, and certainly the Tri Club and the world of triathlons. Every time these conversations always put a smile on my face. Jim was a great observer of people and situations. And Jim had a heart of gold. Jim was always there to help others whether it be people or animals. Jim got great joy from seeing others do well. Maybe it was doing a baseball camp for his nephew and friends, helping someone find a job or their career path, or thinking of ways to make the tri club, or someone in the club, better, Jim was always a positive force/motivator for so many people. Thinking about past times with Jim or future times without - I think of what Jim did or would have done or said - I smile. Of course, I am sad at times that I and many (including my children who never got to meet Jim) can't be experiencing more of Jim’s unique perspectives and humor. However, I remain thankful for the time with Jim and the many smiles he continues to generate for me and to those who knew him.
Brian Long (TCSD President 2007 to 2009) - In many ways Jim is still a big part of my life. He was very important to me as a model of service to others and the impact one person could have on another. His actions cultivated my desire to help others into a passion to help build an amazing community we call the Triathlon Club of San Diego. I had an amazing time walking with a Buddha and will be forever impacted and grateful.
Rita Reyes-Williamson (TCSD President 1998) - When I joined TCSD back in the mid 1990's, I had never done a triathlon. I recall going to a couple of meetings and everyone was so welcoming and encouraging. They didn't care that I was new to the sport. Jim, in particular, was “Mr. Welcome Wagon” although Gurujan was right there competing for that title! Jim suggested that I join them at the Tuesday track workouts, Friday night swims and the Saturday group rides, which I did, and every time I showed up Jim made a point of coming up to me and bringing me in the fold. And he did this for EVERY new person who came out. Through the years, Jim was the positive voice in my ear (literally) when I was sucking wind at track, suffering in my granny gears up Scripps Poway Parkway and my faithful draftee at La Jolla Cove - because I could actually swim pretty fast! To me Jim was and is TCSD. He was the heart of our Club and set high standards for those of us who remain to build the most amazing Tri Club in his honor.
Jim Vance - I remember Jim was always giving of himself. I was just an up and coming pro, and he pulled me aside and had a lot of great ideas to help me see the bigger picture. He transformed the Triathlon Club of San Diego, into a program that had so many events, he really knew what was needed to grow the sport and develop a true community. He always saw the bigger picture. We are still enjoying the benefits of many of the things he implemented, and developed. It helped me become the triathlete I was, and the coach I am today. I remember the day I heard he died. I was preparing to compete at Ironman Coeur d'Alene, and I got the news. I had to sit down and shed some tears. Suddenly, he had taught me the bigger picture again, that what we have in the sport is special, even in ways we don't know. I miss him still.
Tom Piszkin (TCSD President 1987 to 1988) - Jim joined the club in 1988, during my second term as president. He often engaged me with new angles for the club’s operations. Always inquisitive and creative never pushy, I could see the wheels turning as he pondered new approaches to how we were serving our then 300 members. Over the next 10 years of his
informal “internship” he gradually acquired all of the knowledge and skills that led to the most exponential growth in the club's 33 year history. He had the perfect personality to foster a decentralized structure. Jim was Tom Sawyer charging his friends for the privilege of painting his fence. His integrity and enthusiasm will always be encoded in the club’s DNA.
Jessica Gehl – I first met Jim at a La Jolla Cove Friday Night Swim of Labor Day weekend, 2000. He approached me after the swim and invited me to a group dinner. I hesitated since I didn’t know anyone, but he gently pushed me into it. He worked hard to make me feel welcome. During dinner, Dee Dee invited me on a 60 mile ‘chick’ ride the next day, which I also joined. It turned out to be an awesome first weekend in San Diego for this Midwest transplant. That was the beginning of my friendship with Jim and Dee Dee. He would always try to figure out how to get more people involved in triathlon. Once I asked him why he cared so much about growing the sport. He had three reasons, people’s health, purpose for people to come together, that it got people outdoors in the natural environment. He believed that if people were enjoying nature that they would fight to keep it as it should be. Jim had thoughtful intention in every action and word he spoke, although we usually didn’t realize it. He was always working to improve everything around him. He is still missed today and forever. Craig Zelent – Jim’s last name could have been Idea Man. He was always coming up with great new ideas. In 1999 Jim suggested that I create the new TCSD position of Ironman Coach. I had never been a coach before, but I decided to go for it. 18 years later, I have no regrets. I am so fortunate to have served as the club’s Ironman Coach for 15 of those years. I have met a lot of great people in the process and hopefully was able to help them achieve their dream. My favorite memory of Jim that illustrates the size of his heart was his Adopt a Dog program. Jim gave some time at the club meetings for a representative of the San Diego Humane Society to bring up a dog seeking a new home. I am sure quite a few dogs found their new homes because of Jim. Thank you Dee Dee for sharing Jim and sharing your story. We miss you in San Diego, but we are all so happy you have found Pete. You deserve the best! Craig Zelent is a USA Triathlon Level 1 Certified Coach. Craig can be reached at 760-214-0055 or tricraigz@yahoo.com.
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COACH’S
CORNER:
Courtesy of garneau.com and Lionel Sanders.
7 RULES OF AERO
The more aero you get, while being comfortable and powerful, the faster you’ll go, period. Every October the world’s best triathletes will race for glory in Kona. This is the climax of a year of physical, tactical and also technical preparation. All of these racers will ride with a different aero setup, trying to get as much free watts as possible. As your season is probably nearing its end, this is a great time to start rethinking your aero for next year, to try different things in easy training sessions without risking injuries. Here are Lionel Sanders’ 7 rules of aero to help you make improvements for your next triathlon:
There is always room for improvement: My mantra is No limits. This applies to every aspect of the performance. Let’s start by assuming we never find the perfect aero position, and that trying new things will make you faster… or slow you down. Tri bikes like my Garneau Gennix TR1 were made to give a wide range of options for fitting, both on the handlebars and on the saddle. There is so much to learn and try, so enjoy this exciting process!
Get low, but not too much: This summer, you probably saw Tour de France winner Chris Froome descending at full speed, sitting on the top tube and pedaling at the same time. You don’t need to get that low! :D Always consider the amount of power that you are still able to produce when you tweak your position. Make no sacrifices, look for a “win-win” situation. You can have low air drag and great power wattage together. Do not go out of your comfort zone: This sounds the opposite of what your coach tells you before a tough swim set or some hard running drills, but your aero position shouldn’t compromise your comfort on the bike. Of course you need to be comfortable on a 180 km bike ride during an IRONMAN, but also during the long hours of bike training. Finally, avoiding unnatural movements will help prevent injuries on the bike and during the run.
air-resistance fabrics like the M-2 on shoulders and arms. There are more free watts here, take it or leave it!
You CAN be overdressed!: Well, we’re talking about the outside temperature this time, let’s say it can get really hot in races like Kona or in other warm areas of the world. Some aero fabrics are not the most breathable ones. It is important to have an option for the hot racing days. I have a suit with M-2 aero fabric on the shoulders, where it matters the most, but everything else is made of highly ventilated mesh. It helps to keep me cool and the racer fit cut of this tri suit does not compromise my aero gains. This suit is bike-specific for IRONMAN races and I take a few seconds to put running clothes on before the marathon. By the way, you will see my new running outfit pretty soon. Be ready for some old school swag!
You can’t be overdressed: Getting aero for a race is like getting
Rethink you stretching routine: Yes, cycling-oriented stretching is as valuable as the stretches you do to improve your run. Ask for exercises that will give you more flexibility at your upper body. This will ease your adaptation every time you tweak your position. You think stretching is boring? Find a good triathlon race on the internet and watch it while you stretch. Stay focused on your goals, surround yourself with motivation.
ready for a big banquet where everyone will be well dressed. It is not the time to think “Is this suit is too nice or this tie is too fancy?” for the upcoming party. Everyone will be well dressed at the dinner and every racer is aero on the triathlon bike. That being said, there are a few seconds to gain every kilometer by wearing an aero helmet like my P-09 and an aero tri suit with low
Beware of the aero obsession: Don’t forget to train! You can’t win races by being aero. This sounds logic, but never forget that training hard, resting hard and eating well are the most important things. Then comes the aero aspect. Improving your aero is a continuous process. It is a performance-oriented journey, but don’t forget to have fun doing it.
JULY 2017 20
SISTERS, continued pit stop.” While Selena stood in line at the restroom, a competitor exited the facility and bent over to tie her shoelaces. Selena noticed she had a tramp stamp tattoo on her lower back of a racing fairy in a swirl of fairy dust. ‘It’s one of my designs,’ she thought with delight. Maybe she would find the woman in the crowds after the race to photograph the tattoo. She fixed the woman’s face in her mind. Selena found Maya on the beach shortly before the start of the race. “Stand next to me. I want to take a selfie of the two of us.” After she took the photo, Maya spoke quietly in her ear. “Don’t look now, but the woman standing behind us is the one who always beats me. I’ve never seen her talking to anybody.” Selena looked at the woman’s image in the selfie she had just taken. She spoke in Maya’s ear. “I just saw her at the restroom. She has a tramp stamp of a racing fairy that’s my design. Maybe that’s why she wins. Mystery solved.” Maya gave her sister a little punch in the arm. “Wish me luck, Sis.” Selena gave her a quick hug and then watched the wave of women enter the water to wait their turn to start. She started her
stopwatch when the gun went off and anticipated Maya’s race times for swimming, biking, and running based on her sister’s calculations. She planned to note the difference in times between Maya and the tattooed woman. Maya finished the swim about a minute before the mystery woman. Because of the security fence around the bicycle racks, Selena did not have a good view of the woman at her transition spot. She thought she saw part of the tattoo when the woman bent down to yank off her wetsuit. It did not look like a racing fairy, but she was too far away to be sure. Maya finished the bicycle ride about two minutes ahead of the other woman. Unlike when the woman bent over to tie her shoes at the restroom, this time she squatted to tie her laces. The bicycles blocked Selena’s view of her back. She watched as the woman jogged out to start the run. ‘Maya was running faster, or maybe I’m just biased,’ she thought. Maya didn’t finish the race in her best expected time. She was two minutes slower. The tattooed woman finished over two minutes ahead of Maya on a ten-kilometer course, which meant her run split was over four minutes faster than Maya’s. Selena woncontinued on page 22
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SISTERS continued dered where the woman found the speed, especially since she had no zip in her step when she started the run. Maya wore a look of disappointment when she learned she was out of the medals after checking the posted race results. “That woman beat me again and took second in our age group. How does she come from behind each time to win?” Selena was wondering the same thing. Something about the mystery woman bothered her, but she couldn’t name it. She pondered about the tattooed woman for the next couple of hours while she drew portraits and watched the awards ceremony. After the ceremony, Selena needed two trips to her car to haul her portrait materials and booth gear. On her first trip she carried her art supplies as Maya rolled her bike and lugged her triathlon bag. A six-foot chain link fence surrounded the large parking lot across the road from the race site, and all the traffic in and out was funneled through one driveway at the south end of the long block. There was no shortcut for those people who parked in the north end of the lot. When the sisters returned to the race site to gather the dismantled booth, Maya saw the woman wearing her medal while walking her bike towards the parking lot. “She looks smug.” Selena stared at the woman. “That’s not how she looked before the race.” “Well, duh. She hadn’t beat nearly everybody yet.” “That’s not what I mean. There’s something different about her in the selfie picture we took before the race. I know, because I study faces. Her face now is more like it was outside the restroom before the race. Something else—after she left the restroom I saw her tying her laces when she should have been pulling on her wetsuit. Isn’t that a little strange? Plus she bent over to tie her shoes before the race and squatted to tie them after the bicycle leg.” “What are you saying?” Maya asked. “Something doesn’t jibe. I’m following her to talk a moment and study her face. Besides, I’d like to photograph her tattoo.” Selena jogged to catch up to the woman with Maya on her heels. “Say, can I talk to you for a moment?” she said when she pulled up beside the woman. The woman glanced at Selena and Maya, then looked forward and pushed her bike faster. “I wanted to ask you about your tramp stamp tattoo,” Selena said, jogging next to her. They were still a block away from the driveway entrance to the parking lot. The woman suddenly jumped on her bike and weaved recklessly through the crowd of athletes and their families walking to the lot. People yelled and cursed at her. Selena and Maya ran harder to catch her, but then Selena changed her mind. “Keep following her. I’m heading this way.” Selena dashed across the road and sprung over the chain link fence in a smooth, flying motion, cutting off at least a minute of time it would take
22
JULY 2017
Maya to run in at the driveway. The mystery woman pedaled around and between cars across the lot. Selena tracked her by running up rows of cars, sometimes between them, and a few times vaulting over car hoods. “Stop!” she hollered. “I just want to talk to you.” The woman reached a van where a man tried to shove the bicycle quickly through the back doors, but the rear wheel hung out and he couldn’t close the doors. He resembled the mystery woman except he was a lot bigger. The woman entered the van through the passenger door and then slammed it shut. Selena stood behind the van. “What’s going on here?” she asked. “Nothing,” the man growled. “You’re going on to wherever you came from, and we’re leaving.” Selena took a few steps closer to the back of the van to see who was inside. “Get out of my way,” the man said. He shoved Selena backwards with both hands on her shoulders. Selena immediately transitioned, feet staggered and hands up in a defensive fighting pose. She focused entirely on the man. This was no longer about a tattoo and a face. Something was very wrong, and she sensed the man was losing control. She wasn’t ready to back off without answers to her questions. A few triathletes at their cars nearby turned to watch. “This chick wants to fight me,” the man said. “I don’t want to fight you. Why is she running from me, from us?” Selena caught a glimpse of Maya arriving at the scene. “None of your f***ing business.” He reached to shove Selena again, but she ducked, swiveled, and struck him with a sharp side-kick in the solar plexus. He doubled over with a loud groan. “Next time I’ll aim lower,” Selena said, ready if he made another move. Maya quickly sidled around the van to peek in the windows. “There are two of them!” she announced. “Twins!” “Let me guess,” Selena said. “One swims and bikes, and the other one with the fairy tattoo runs. They switch during the run.” By now a sizable crowd had converged on the van. The twins eventually emerged from the vehicle dressed identically and acknowledged what they had done. Over the next hour statements were made to race officials and videos exchanged. Selena’s agile leap over the fence, her cross-country race through the lot, and her confrontation with the twins’ brother at the van were captured in bits and pieces with cell phone videos. One of the twins had tossed her medal out of the van. Maya picked it up and hung it around Selena’s neck. “For the best performance of the day,” she said. She wrapped her arm around Selena’s shoulder and grinned. “My sister, my kick-ass little sister, proved there’s more than one way to be a winner.”
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30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SERVING OUR CYCLING COMMUNITY
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