Athletes of various ages and skills levels will test their swimming, cycling and running skills on Sunday when the 8th annual Redondo Beach Triathlon sponsored by CaliforniaHealthPlans.com begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Veteran’s Park/Marina area in Redondo Beach.
Rick Crump, a physical education teacher at Adams Middle School in Redondo Beach, produces the annual event with his wife Connie and expects another strong field of athletes among the 600 who will participate in the sprint competition.
“This has turned into a great community event that draws many athletes from outside of the area,” Rick said. “The city has really supported the triathlon and it’s a fun reunion for not only the athletes, but for our crew who may not see each other eight months out of the year.”
Crump said many families have signed up for the event which will include a commercial airline pilot from Germany who arranged his schedule in order to compete and a couple from London who are spending their honeymoon in Santa Monica but plan to race in Redondo on Sunday.
Slated to compete are Redondo Beach Triathlon veterans Jimmy Wills and Bill Bell. Wills won the race in 2007 and was a runner-up in 2006 and 2008.
Now 90 years of age and living in Indian Wells, Bell is a former Redondo Beachresident who last competed in – and finished – the Redondo Beach Triathlon in 2009.
“He called me and asked if I would add a 90+ age division,” Crump said. “I told him I could arrange that.”
Bellis an Ironman legend. The Redondo Beach Triathlon is a sprint triathlon consisting of a ½-mile swim, 6-mile bike and 2-mile run. Ironman competitors must complete a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and a run a marathon (26.2 miles).
When he announced his retirement in 2003 after the Kona Ironman, Bell had finished 32 Ironman races in his career which he didn’t begin until the age of 59.
Jason May, a nine-year veteran of the Redondo Beach Fire Department has won the previous two Redondo Beach Triathlons, recording his best time of 41 minutes, 46 seconds last year.
The 1993 graduate of Mira Costa High School has used his experience as an L.A. County Lifeguard to get a leg up on the competition. Most triathletes feel the swim is the most difficult part of the race.
“The Redondo Beach Triathlon is a fantastic event,” May said. “Rick Crump puts on a great race and the community support is fantastic.”
Debbie Richardson, 50, of Palos Verdes Estates is the defending women’s champion after captured her first Redondo Beach Triathlon with a time of 47:07. The longtime triathlete and distance runner finished second place in the women’s division in 2006 (48:54) and 2008 (50:15).
Thousands of spectators line the USAT sanctioned scenic course, supporting the participants with cheers, applause and the ringing of cowbells.
The sprint event begins with a ½-mile swim. (A non-competitive mini-sprint of half the distances will also be held). The Rocket Science Sports Swim Course starts just north of the Topaz Jetty, goes out around an orange buoy and head north towards the Pier before returning to land where competitors quickly strip out of their wetsuits while running toward the transition area where they will mount their bicycles for the second leg of the race.
The 6-mile Triathlon Lab Bike Course runs south on Catalina Avenue, west on Knob Hill before making a quick left onto Esplanade. Going south, riders made a turnaround at Avenue I and return to Catalina Avenue where they make a left to Torrance Boulevard.
Gaining downhill speed after heading west on Torrance Boulevard, riders make the loop around by the entrance to the Pier quickly changing gears as they head uphill back to Catalina Avenue for a second loop ending back at the transition area.
The 2-mile Village Runner Run Course heads northwest towards the pier. After a left at Kincaids Restaurant, competitors go onto the wharf, running past the arcade and around the boats, then past the Happy Clam.
Head to the breakwater, a right turn sends runners past Seaside Lagoon returning to Portofino Way and across the parking lot in front of Ruby’s restaurant.
After going through the parking structure, runners head south before making a left around the amphitheater, up the hill in Veteran’s park to the finish line past the historic library steps.
Proceeds from the event benefit Cheer for Children, a nonprofit organization that gives seasonal parties and raises money for acutely ill children at Harbor UCLA Medical Center.
Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each division and the top two relay teams. Sprint fees are $80 (ages 13-19 and 65 and older), $90 (ages 20-64), $120 (relay). Mini-sprint fees are $70 and $100 for the relay. For more information, visit www.rbtriathlon.com.
