Triathlon takes extra day

Coral Wilson

More than 1,200 people started off the day Sunday morning with a

half-mile swim in the ocean, a 12-mile bicycle ride and a three-mile

run. But as they crossed the finish line of the Pacific Coast

Triathlon at Crystal Cove State Park, they looked more exhilarated

than exhausted.

“Ten minutes after you are done, you forget the pain and it

becomes fun,” Cathey Curtis, 34, said. “You feel like if you can do

this, you can do anything.”

Organizers of the Corona del Mar race also heaved a huge sigh of

relief. In its sixth year, the race’s organization and challenging

course has received recognition from the International Triathlon

Union and USA Triathlon. For athletes, it could be a significant step

toward the Olympics in Athens.

“It started off as amateur and has quickly grown to become a

professional event,” said Tina Hoover, administrative director.

For the first time, the event was held over two days, dividing

professional and amateur races. The Saturday race was part of USA

Triathlon’s “Race to Athens” Series, drawing more than 70

professional and elite athletes from around the world who competed

for points and $20,000 in prize money.

The Sunday USA Triathlon Regional Sprint Distance Championships

race was open to amateurs and beginners. Athletes were ranked by age

groups.

But the extra day and added growth meant a lot more work for the

race’s primary organizers: Hoover and race directors Bill Leach and

Bob Cuyler.

“A lot more work went into this race,” Leach said. “It is sort of

like asking a woman just after she has had a baby if she wants to

have another one. And being a male, that makes it even more

excruciating.”

Leach, a father of four children, said for the last five days he

has been waking up at 3 a.m. and working long days in preparation for

the race. More than 250 volunteers worked on the event.

“There is no way we could have put it on without volunteer

support,” Leach said. “It’s like juggling 10 to 20 balls in the air.

Every ball is caught with hope in the air, but there is always one

out there about to fall and hit the ground.”

After every event, the organizers only take a couple of weeks to

recover before they start planning the next race, Hoover said.

Cuyler and Leach, both nationally recognized athletes, have

competed in triathlons around the world, in Hawaii, France, Mexico,

the Caribbean, Tahiti and Canada. They tried to bring the best

aspects of their experience to the Corona del Mar race, Leach said.

“When people come through and say that it was a great race, that’s

what makes me happy,” Hoover said. That makes it all worth it for

me.”

In charge of fund-raising and administrative duties, Hoover

insisted that she is not an athlete. But she said she takes pride in

adding a touch of class to the event, pointing out the cloth

tablecloths, bouquets of flowers and a buffet donated by Gold Coast

Catering.

“It says we really care about the racers, we are going to lay it

out,” she said. “When they come here, they are going to be treated

first class.”

As soon as racers had caught their breath and finished wiping off

their sweat, they migrated toward the free massages, pastries, fruit

and pasta bar.

“The food is unreal,” said Lisa DeVol, 45, of Newport Beach.

The race is DeVol’s birthday gift to herself every year. She said

she competed in the first Pacific Coast Triathlon in 1998, shortly

before her 40th birthday, and has been doing it ever since. The food

and organization gets better every year, she said.

“For me, it’s just the challenge and it keeps me youthful,” she

said. “I’ve always been active, but it was like going that next

level.”

Friends John Janiszewski, 26, and Mark Wachendorf, 37, said they

flew in from Chicago for the weekend just to compete in the race.

Wachendorf, who competed on Saturday, said he was impressed with

the beauty of the course, but disappointed with his personal time.

“I was not used to the ocean swim, and the hills took their toll,”

he said. “From the flat Midwest to the hills out here, there is a big

difference.”

Still wet from the race, Janiszewski said he had reached his goal.

“It’s a personal challenge to get up and do it and train

everyday,” he said “For me, it’s just crossing the finish line and

doing better than the year before.”

* CORAL WILSON is the news assistant and may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at [email protected].