News and Community

Summary: U.S. Navy triathlete Eric Rehberg recounts winning his first triathlon on a rusty mountain bike in Guam, racing Kona for the Navy in 2005, and his role as race director of the SEAL-founded Superfrog Triathlon.

Summary: Jill Childers shares her journey from an overweight non-athlete to a triathlete and ultramarathoner, recovering from a life-threatening bike crash and brain injury before winning a lottery slot to finish the 2007 Hawaiian Ironman.

Summary: Katrin Szardenings, a German-born swimmer who once signed up for her first Ironman after a few margaritas, has raced Ironman-distance events all over the world—from California and Tahiti to Western Australia and Germany’s legendary Roth Challenge. A self-described “average” triathlete who loves the training more than the racing, she shares vivid travel tales and down-to-earth advice for first-timers.

Summary: Amanda Benedict—TCSD Club Liaison, workout leader, and former newsletter editor—shares how a former soccer goalkeeper and fitness competitor became a triathlete and finished her first Ironman at Vineman in 12:53:54. She describes overcoming a nightmare race-morning start with a “just have fun” mantra, her love of the Auburn Half, and racing through a string of injuries with a smile.

Summary: Andi Ramer, who came to endurance sport with no athletic background, describes her rise from a 16:30 first Ironman to a sub-12-hour finish (11:55:36) at Ironman Hawaii—her ninth Ironman. She recalls earning her Kona slot at IM Wisconsin by taking the pressure off, battling a flat and stomach trouble in Kona, and the constant support of her husband Don.

Summary: In this first-person race report, TCSD interviewer Craig Zelent recounts his own Ironman Canada, finishing in 10:43:21 and earning a Kona slot by just six seconds in a sprint finish. He describes a strong swim and bike, a brutal, stomach-churning marathon that nearly made him quit, and the hydration and sodium lessons that made the day a hard-won triumph.

Summary: Al Tarkington won the men’s 65–69 age group at Ironman South Africa (13:49:06) to earn a Kona slot—finishing in a wild lightning storm he was sure had left him dead last. A lifelong ocean swimmer and world bicycle tourer who has ridden through more than 40 countries, the retired CPA shares his travel-and-race philosophy and his goal to always finish with a smile.

Summary: Dennis Villavicencio, a new TCSD member and securities-fraud attorney, qualified for Kona with a 9:59:33 at Ironman USA Lake Placid (5th of 366 in the men’s 35–39). An extreme-adventure junkie who has raced Ironmans on four continents, climbed Kilimanjaro, and swum to Alcatraz on a dare, he shares his “Team V” sibling rivalry with brother Alan and his love of brutal mountain and desert challenges.

Summary: Bob Baranek qualified for Kona with a 9:49:06 (4th in the men’s 40–44) at Ironman Coeur d’Alene—his first Ironman in six years. A strong swimmer and cyclist, he describes his comeback as a father of two, an early-morning training overhaul after a back injury, and his wife Kim’s inspiring Breast Cancer 3-Day walk.

Summary: Jim McCann, TCSD’s President since 2000, revisits his journey from college baseball player to Ironman Canada finisher and reflects on leading the club through explosive growth—from 350 to more than 1,300 members. He shares his “buffet” philosophy for club activities, favorite race memories, and the welcoming spirit that makes TCSD special.

Summary: Carla Mason, a middle-school math teacher in San Marcos, qualified for Ironman Hawaii with a 12:14:07 at the windy inaugural Ironman Arizona. She talks about balancing training with teaching, the patience the sport demands, and the young cancer patient who taught her to always race with a purpose.

Summary: Dean Rosenberg, a TCSD Beginner Coach, tells how a workplace bet at the Mission Bay Triathlon hooked him on the sport—despite not being able to swim a lap three months before. He recounts a dramatic Ironman Arizona: a hard crash at mile 70 and a thrilling finish that came down to six seconds against training partner Jay Simpson in what they dubbed “Iron War.”

Summary: Mark Ford, an 11-year Ironman veteran, talks about completing four Ironman races in 2004 and his many trips to Kona. With characteristic humor he recalls tackling his own bike at the mount line, shares hard-won advice about not giving up your hobbies, and reflects on racing the world alongside his wife Tish and his devoted parents.

Summary: Joe Esposito—better known as the “Zippy Pig”—reveals the origin of his handlebar-mascot nickname and his self-described “Competitive O.C.D.” A triathlete since the sport’s early days, he recounts a gloriously grungy first race in the Hudson River, a 10:47:18 debut at Ironman Florida, and his gratitude for the TCSD training crew (the “piglets”) who carried him through.

Summary: John Holman finished his first Hawaiian Ironman at age 65–69 (16:48:12, 22nd in his group) after earning a coveted lottery slot. He shares how a comment from his late wife inspired him to take up the sport, how coach Roch Frey pushed him toward his first Ironman, and how his faith and gratitude shape the way he races and lives.

Summary: Debbie Gallo reflects on a breakthrough year that took her from winning her age group at Ironman France to a podium finish (4th place, women’s 50–54) at the 2004 Ironman World Championships in Kona. She shares the joys of racing in Europe, the lessons of a burnout season, and her philosophy on coaching, motivation, and welcoming newcomers to the sport.

Summary: Interviewer and TCSD stalwart Craig Zelent swaps the usual member spotlight for a travel diary of his own trip with wife Laurie Kearney — spectating at the 2004 Tour de France (including L’Alpe d’Huez and Lance Armstrong’s record 6th win in Paris) before heading to Denmark, where Craig raced the Duathlon Long Course World Championships for Team USA, finishing 16th and 2nd American.

Summary: A collegiate runner and the club’s sports nutritionist, Kim Brown moved into triathlon after a Boston Marathon injury and qualified for Kona in just her second year, running a 4:56 for 3rd in the women’s 25–29 group at the Half Vineman — overcoming a bloody lip, a dropped chain and a blocking trailer. Her run strength and detailed race-day nutrition are her signatures.

Summary: A runner turned triathlete since 1985, Rob Evans qualified for Kona at Ironman Coeur d’Alene with a 10:15:21 for 13th in the men’s 40–44 group — missing an initial rolldown by 9 seconds before a surprise call gave him the 80th slot. A late-race surge over the final five miles made the difference, capping nearly 20 years in the sport.

Summary: An above-knee amputee since age 7, Sarah Reinertsen became a Paralympic sprinter, a seven-time marathoner, and then a triathlete — earning one of six Physically Challenged lottery slots to the Hawaii Ironman. Aiming to become the first woman on an artificial leg to finish Kona, she validated her spot with a 7:49 at Buffalo Springs and works as program manager at the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Summary: A TCSD member since 1986 and the club’s beloved “Bike Case Bob,” Bob Rosen watched the club grow from fewer than 100 members to over 1,000. A self-described middle-of-the-packer who found his niche going long, he raced Ironman Canada five straight years and treasures the memory of running shoulder-to-shoulder with training partner Bill Gibbs.