Sprint Nationals... Swim cancelled!

TEAM iTz!

THE MANTAK CREW!

Just returned from adventurous travels to Newport Beach for the USAT Sprint Nationals race. It was very fun to travel with my sister and athlete; Thia and see friends from all over. Jim and Tracy Aust from Ohio, Stan and Marti from Utah, and USAT friends. A big Congrats to Neal for winning the 50-54 age group! It was weird not being able to race this race as I'm partial to this race because I had my first age group win at Sprint Nats in New York last year.

It was unfortunate that a huge South swell had come in and caused the swim to be cancelled. It was extremely treacherous conditions as Stan and David Reed from Castle Pines are still alive to tell about. Whew! It became a 1/2 mile beach run to transition to begin the bike.

Thia and I had a grand ol time and the high from our pleasure side of the trip came from eating at Bandera's in Newport Beach and watching the 10 foot waves on Laguna Beach. Have you ever had a grilled artichoke? Let me tell ya, we are making a day trip back... just for lunch at Bandera's in the very near future. The best food ever at only $$. Yummy.

The above photos are 1) Thia and I whom I have coached for 4 years and 2) the Mantak crew; myself, Neal, Stan and Marti. Melissa has coached the four of us anywhere from 3-9 years. I'm lucky to have found a coach whose training philosophy blends with my training philosophy being a coach myself.