Desert Tri 2009

A beautiful day at a beautiful venue

EE Trailer Master Craig helping Josh and Eric

Edgar, here with sweetheart Maria, is heading to Afghanistan with his Marine unit in April and came out to the desert to support his teammates.

Professional desert guide Scott Scott came to paddle a support sorfboard for the kids. (That's not a typo: His name is "Scott Scott." Really really.)

Robert looks like he's got his game face on but he's just waiting in line for the bathroom.

Old friend and super "para" athlete Rudy Garcia-Tolson is training for the Ironman. Today is his first race on new and shorter legs. (These are his everyday ones.)

Alan "The Coach" Woodruff gets ready to call the start of the duathlon. That's 2007 Ironman World Championship winner Michellie Jones in pink behind him.

Volunteers Mike and Kylie Donia with Stephanie, Cherie and Scott Scott.

Cherie ready to rock and roll.

Excited beyond belief

While the International distance triathletes were out on the course, the sprint entrants started coming in. Here's Jaime showing off his finisher's medal.

Brian.

Stephanie (She took a fourth place medal.)

Dorion, with a new haircut. We made him show ID before we gave him his race number.

Isi

Rudy finishing the International distance tri. The short legs were a success.

Rudy with Bob "Funky Dude" Babbitt.

Eric

Meli

Kylie

Cherie

Josh (glowering), Eric (in back), Cherie, Marlene, Isi

A big surprise. Cherie is the first recipient of the "Barbara Warren Inspiration Award," created to honor special people in the sport, in memory of a great endurance triathlete.

Isi (far left), and Stephanie (far right, in her jammies) take fourth and third places in their division.

The crew looking on as their teammates amass hardware.

Carlos hiding from the papparrazzi. We had to drag him to the award ceremony to collect his first place plaque.

Miguel grabbed third.

Marlene in first place.

Cherie notches another win.

A splendid time was had by all!