The largest field ever will test mind and body on Saturday, July
30, with over 1,000 athletes expected to toe the starting line at
the 22nd annual Full Vineman triathlon.
Another 1,000 of the most hale and hearty will compete in an
Aqua Bike and Barb’s Race, a huge fundraiser for cancer and the
only all-women’s 70.3 triathlon distance contested in the
world.
The longest continuously run full triathlon distance contested
in the continental United States will kick off at dawn at Johnson’s
Beach in Guerneville with a 2.4-mile swim, continues with a
112-mile bike segment through several of Sonoma County’s
grape-growing regions, and concludes with a full 26.2-mile marathon
run finishing up at Windsor High School.
Headlining this year’s race are former Vineman champions Dan
Arlandson and Windsor’s Bob Shebest, with Bob Dahlz, Raymond
Botelho, Brice Winkler, Slater Fletcher, Kevin Buchholz, James
Nielson, Todd Shoemaker, and Windsor’s Jady Palko expected to be
among a group of strong contenders.
2010 women’s champion Teri Albertazzi is also back to defend her
title.
At stake for the top finishers of the Full Vineman is a bonus
check of $4,000, split equally among the top men who break the tape
in under nine and a half hours. If only one does it, he will claim
the entire purse. The women will also have a $4,000 carrot dangling
for anyone that can finish in under 10:30.
Barb’s Race set to go over the half-million mark
Saturday also marks the 11th running of Barb’s Race, which has
donated over $438,000 toward the fight against cancer. Most of the
monies raised have gone to support organizations such as the Sutter
Breast Care Center, which provides services for women and their
families facing the diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer, and
the Commonweal Residential Cancer Support program in Bolinas. This
year’s projected total of $90,000 will put the race over the half
million mark in donations.
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