2008 Carlsbad Triathlon: Down Under Thunder

by The Editors on July 13, 2008

Proswim1
The Pro Men charging the 8 AM surf at Cherry Street. (Click to full-size image)

Boyd Conrick, of Newcastle, Australia and Rachel Challis, of Carlsbadistan (by way of Christchurch, New Zealand) bested the field of nearly 1000 as the 2008 City of Carlsbad Triathlon finished up today at 9:20 AM under perfectly clear, warm skies. Conrick’s time of 1:08:37.8 was one-minute off Michael Simpson’s winning time in last year’s race.

Conrick Fin2Conrick was the first out of the water and for the rest of the race no one ever got close. “It was a great race,” he said moments after crossing the finish line. “I love the ocean swims, you know. I felt good.”

Having competed in the Lake Stevens Half Ironman just last weekend, where he placed 7th, Conrick was not sure he was going to be 100 percent for this race.

“I didn’t know whether my legs would be recovered, you know. But I got in a good rhythm on the swim and I didn’t push too hard on the bike, and then I went around one of the turns halfway on the bike and I realized those guys weren’t catching me and they were together, so I pushed a little harder and then got a good lead on the run and then was able to go off hard and then ease off a little in the last half mile.”

The women’s pro field was so small that Challis felt she didn’t really have that much competition even though she finished in 1:17:51.6. “There were only two pros in the field so that was already a good head start I’m sure the others are preparing for half Ironman and Ironman racers,” she said.

Challis-1But this is more than a race for the 32-year-old mother of two toddlers. “It’s still good to be back,” she said. “This is the first race that I did after my two year old was born two years ago. He was only two months old, so now I have to do it every year now. So it’s nice to win it finally.”

But those were just the winners. The real stories are your stories. Please follow Tom In Carlsbad’s lead and let us know how your race went in the comments section. The best stories will win Carlsbadistan sticker packs.

Follow the jump for all the race photos and Elite results.


[Editors’ Note: Click the photos to see them full size]

Lifeguards
State Beach lifeguards getting prepped.

Swim Wait
Elite competitors waiting for their 8 AM start.

Elite Swim
The swim stampede.

Transit 1
Out of the water, on to the bikes.

Jp Theberge
Carlsbadistan’s World Amputee Triathlon Champion JP Theberge on his way into the transition. He finished with a time of 1:31:22.2.

Bikes M
After the ocean swim, an ocean of bikes.

Bike 1
On to the bike leg.

Bike 2
Out and back.

Conrick Run
Boyd Conrick kicking off the run with no one in sight.

2N3
Aaron Kamnetz leading Juliano Teruel out on to the seawall in second and third place.

Run 3Rd
Juliano Teruel pushing toward the turn.

Run Mob
The turn around is in sight.

Elite Men Top 10

  1. Boyd Conrick 1:08:37.8
  2. Aaron Kamnetz 1:10:05.6
  3. Juliano Teruel 1:10:51.3
  4. David Valencia 1:11:51.8
  5. Thomas Taylor 1:12:28.5
  6. Felipe Loureiro 1:13:28.7
  7. Sebastian linke 1:14:38.4
  8. Bradley Tuck 1:15:19.6
  9. Isaac Smead 1:16:35.8
  10. Stephen Armes 1:18:26.5
  11. Avery Kintner 1:26:18.5
  12. Dylan Barr 1:27:25.5

Elite Women

  1. Rachel Challis 1:17:51.6
  2. Misako Win 1:22:49.3

Click here for complete results Men’s and Women’s results as soon as the Carlsbad Triathlon site is updated.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

tomincarlsbad July 13, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Great race…. swim seemed a little longer than last year (that’s another year of age talking i think) Could not have asked for a better ocean swim, clear water, warm and great skies!
The bike was good too, and I love this stretch of ocean to view while competing! (my home town)
The run….well the run for me is always a struggle and today was no different…but the cheers from the crowd DID help! Thanks to all the volunteers, the race organizers, and my wife for coming to watch (even though she only got to see me for a little bit before the swim (then lost sight, among all those yellow caps) and as I flew by on the bike and three times on the run (she got to see me for a LONG time on the run…almost like slow motion). Her being there was the best support of all!

Tom in Carlsbad

Scott July 17, 2008 at 11:19 am

I agree the swim was longer than last year. My goggles broke last year, I did the entire swim w/o and my time was the same. I swam much faster this year and with a wetsuit (didn’t use on e last year). Overall a great event and setting.

Pinkgirl July 21, 2008 at 7:03 pm

I’m a newbie to the sport and I loved the race. (second Sprint) For me it was the uphill bike that killed me. I know they were not killer grades but they were long grades which I was not prepared for. Maybe a litte more talk about that on the website would help us newbies. Since I burnt up my legs on the bike the run was tougher than most and my pride was hurt when the 80 year old man passed me by. Yes, and the crowd and other athletes were very supportive cheering me on especially the men which is unusual for an Athena athlete. So thanks guys !! Race ran like clock work and started right on time. I’ll be there with my bike legs next year.

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: