One of the toughest tests of will and human endurance will be
renewed on August 1, when some 700 athletes toe the starting line
for the 20th running of the Full Vineman Triathlon.
Founded by Race Director Russ Pugh in 1990, the Vineman has the
distinction of being the oldest independent Ironman distance race
in the continental United States.
The grueling, almost legendary test of mettle will begin at dawn
in Guerneville with a 2.4-mile swim, continues with a 112-mile bike
ride through Sonoma County’s wine country, and finishes with a
26.2-mile marathon ending at Windsor High School.
The course runs through five distinct regions of Sonoma County,
beginning at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, among the most rustic
swim venues known in the sport.
The 112-mile bike course is an interesting mix of altitude and
terrain, with a climb of 4,000 feet through the Russian River, Dry
Creek, Alexander Valley, and Chalk Hill grape-growing regions, a
challenging but not overwhelming trek for most athletes.
The Vineman concludes with a full, 26.2-mile marathon,
consisting of three out-and-back loops of 8.7 miles that allow
athletes to see their competitors and determine exactly where they
stand in the race.
Over the years, the event has been a boon to Sonoma County, with
thousands of visitors patronizing local restaurants, hotels, and
businesses.
Billed as the ultimate “People’s Ironman distance event” since
its inception, Vineman race organizers have placed an emphasis on
making the average athlete’s experience a memorable one.
“We’ve done our best to keep the Vineman feeling like a
home-style event, which caters to the individual athlete to insure
that they have a great experience while competing,” said Pugh.
“Over the past twenty years we’ve had some minor course changes,
but overall, the event fundamentally follows the same course.”
The Full Vineman will run in conjunction with Barb’s Race, the
only all-women’s 70.3 triathlon distance contested in the world,
and an Aqua Bike event. In addition, each of the races will feature
relay teams made up of individuals who complete a segment of the
race. A total of more than 1,500 athletes are expected to fill out
the fields for each event.
Last year’s winners, 32-year-old Dan Arlandson of Mendota
Heights, Minnesota and Whitney Henderson, 28, of Lafayette,
Colorado, will return to defend their titles.
Battling extreme heat, Arlandson led the 2008 race from start to
finish in recording an outstanding time of 9:17.55, a full 41
minutes ahead of second-place finisher Robert Peterson (9:59.34).
Rounding out the top five were: Jorge Rodriguez (10:01.01), Mike
Gilbert (10:17.58), and Paul Verderber (10:29.36).
In finishing under 9:30, Arlandson bagged a race bonus of
$2,000.
Local men’s finishers included 35-year-old Windsor resident Jady
Palko (12th-place, 10:53.54), Clint Hamblin of Sebastopol (53rd
place, 12:20.54), Daniel Walters of Santa Rosa (130th-place,
13:45.07) and Healdsburg’s Mark Togher (194th-place, 15:32.30).
Henderson was nearly as dominant in winning the women’s crown,
negotiating the venerable Vineman course in a fast 10:44.42. Her
standout performance provided a 36-minute margin of victory,
representing the fastest time recorded for a female on the course
in four years. Also cracking the top five for the women were:
Elissa Ballas (11:20.34), Andi Ramer (11:23.21), and Jocelyn Pogue
(11:43.56). Defending champion Mady Stewart of Santa Rosa took
fifth in 11:49.49.
This year’s race will feature an interesting twist, with the
return of 71-year-old local athlete Peter Schloemp of Santa Rosa,
the only returnee from the inaugural Vineman in 1990.
