Half is Good Enough For HLB Tri

La Jolla, California

HLB Tri Teams up With Bird Marella Tri to Complete Half-Ironman

How many health care lawyers does it take to complete a Half-Ironman triathlon? The answer, apparently, is four. HLB Triathlon Team Members Stacie Neroni, Mark Hardiman, and Arnold Pamplona reached the pinnacle of their triathlon season today when they completed the San Diego Triathlon Challenge. But they needed a little help.

"We really didn't train for this race, so I was glad that the Gluckster was there to inspire us," said Hardiman, referring to Bird, Marella, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg lawyer Benjamin Gluck, who joined HLB Tri for the event. Gluck, who builds his cardiovascular strength simply by repeating his firm's entire name every time he introduces himself (BMWNDL just doesn't have a ring to it), competed in the event even though he was coming off a hip injury and was suffering from a heinous sinus infection.

Pamplona, Neroni, and Hardiman drew from Gluck's determination, and finished the race--consisting of a 1.2-mile open water swim, a grueling 56-mile bike ride, and a challenging 13.1 mile run--in seven hours and forty-five minutes, crossing the finish line together. Amazingly, Gluck finished less than 30 minutes behind HLB Tri despite illness.

The four athletes overcame tremendous adversity to finish, especially during the mountainous bike portion. Neroni had a minor fall on the first of many ascents, a one-mile climb out of La Jolla Cove that seemed to go straight up. But she pressed onward, her bike intact. The same could not be said for Hardiman, however, who saw his drivetrain completely shatter with a mile to go in the bike course. With the heart of a champion, Hardiman pushed his bike to the transition area, inciting a standing ovation from the thousands of spectators who awaited him at the base of the cove.

In total, the bike and run portions of the race involved over 7000 of climbing. But these athletes did more than conquer personal mountains; together, they raised over $2000.00 to benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation.


A sleepy Pamplona checks into the transition area at 6:30 a.m.


Neroni and Hardiman get ready for a long day


L-R: Pamplona, Hardiman, Neroni, and Gluck


Triathletes waiting for the start of the swim leg


A celebrity sighting


Swimmers and support craft in La Jolla Cove


Neroni strikes a pose after her swim leg


Pamplona smiles (grimaces?) during the bike-run transition.


Pamplona, Gluck, and their good friend Robin Williams attack a steep hill at the beginning of the bike leg


Neroni completes the 56-mile bike leg


Hardiman walks his damaged bike home


A close-up of the damage


Gluck racks his bike in preparation for the half marathon


HLB Tri takes a group shot before setting off on the run together


HLB Tri finishes the race together, 7 hours and 45 minutes after starting

HLB Tri Comes Full Circle at Long Beach Triathlon

Long Beach, California

It was a year ago that Jennifer Levy assembled a rag-tag group of weekend warriors for the purpose of completing the 2004 Long Beach sprint distance triathlon. When they signed up for the race, neither Stacie Neroni nor Mark Hardiman could swim more than 25 yards without stopping. And none of the current HLB Triathlon Team members had a proper bicycle. But Levy, Hardiman, Neroni, and Arnold Pamplona started the race anyway, and the rest is history.

Since that fateful race, the HLB Triathlon Team has entered nine triathlons, crossed the threshold to Olympic distance contests, and has added a new member, Levy's sister, Hope Levy-Biehl.

The Team came full circle today, as it competed in the 2005 Long Beach Triathlon. It was a momentous occasion, as it marked the first time that all five members of the Team entered the same race. And the results were astounding. Neroni shattered her 2004 time by 14 minutes. Hardiman bested his time by three minutes, while Levy and Pamplona improved their times by 17 minutes and 14 minutes, respectively. Meanwhile, Levy-Biehl set a personal best for a sprint distance triathlon.


HLB Tri before the start of the race


Neroni, Levy-Biehl, and Levy prepare for the start of their wave


Neroni, Levy, and Levy Biehl run into the calm waters of Long Beach


Pamplona meditates before the gun sounds for his wave


Pamplona and Neroni get aerodynamic on Shoreline Boulevard


Hardiman hydrates himself during the bike leg


Levy-Biehl negotiates the final curve before the bike-run transition


She started it all: Levy crosses the finish line of her second Long Beach Triathlon


Your 2005 HLB Triathlon Team

City of Los Angeles Triathlon

Extra! Extra! Pamplona finally beats Neroni in a swim! All is right in the world again as Pamplona bests Neroni and Hardiman in all three disciplines! Jennifer Levy completes her first Olympic distance triathlon!

City of Los Angeles Triathlon--Olympic Distance Race

Swim: 1.5 kilometers
T-1 (Swim-Bike Transition)
Bike: 40 kilometers
T-2 (Bike-Run Transition)
Run: 10 kilometers

Neroni--Swim: 32:37; T1: 3:22; Bike: 1:27:50; T2: 3:31; Run: 1:05:26; Total: 3:12:46
Pamplona--Swim: 31:39; T1: 2:15; Bike: 1:15:18; T2: 2:12; Run: 59:50; Total: 2:51:14
Hardiman--Swim: 38:30; T1: 3:57; Bike: 1:19:28; T2: 6:52; Run: 1:01:07; Total: 3:09:54
Levy--Swim: 47:07; T1: 5:06; Bike: 1:45:32; T2: 4:30; Run: 1:27:05; Total: 4:09:20


Neroni and Levy skillfully exit the waters of Venice Beach


Hardiman and Pamplona race to the first transition area


HLB Tri Team members rocket down Grand Avenue toward the second transition area in Downtown L.A.


Levy at the finish of her first Olympic distance triathlon


Hardiman celebrates a strong finish


Pamplona and Neroni head toward the finish at the world famous Staples Center

Triathletes Trek to Wine Country to Prepare for Half Ironman

Sonoma Valley, California

HLB Tri Team members Mark Hardiman, Stacie Neroni, and Arnold Pamplona took one step closer to reaching their goal of finishing a Half Ironman Race. They competed today in the Vineman Aquabike, a race consisting of a 1.2-mile swim in the Russian River and a 56-mile bike ride through the vineyards of Sonoma. "All we have to do is tack on a half marathon, and we're there," remarked Neroni, anticipating October's San Diego Triathlon Challenge, which will be the Team's first Half Ironman. Neroni was right to be excited. She continued her dominance in the swim, completing the 1.2-mile course in under 40 minutes.

Vineman Aquablike--Swim: 1.2 miles; T-1 (Swim-Bike Transition); Bike: 56 miles

Neroni--Swim: 39.29; T1: 4:32; Bike: 3:29:50; Total: 4:13:52
Hardiman--Swim: 49.44; T1: 5:14; Bike: 3:15:03; Total: 4:10:02
Pamplona--Swim: 41:46; T1: 3:05; Bike: 3:01:43; Total: 3:46:35



Hardiman and Pamplona get marked for the race


The author of this website will get in serious trouble for publishing this picture of Neroni


Ever popular, the HLB Tri Team takes time to mingle with their adoring fans


A group shot before plunging into the Russian River


Hardiman completes a textbook transition


Hardiman and Neroni at the finish line

Two's a Crowd in Camp Pendleton Triathlon

Oceanside, California

Intra-team rivalry heats up as Neroni demolishes Pamplona in 1.5-kilometer swim.

The rivalry between HLB Triathlon Team Captain Stacie Neroni and her Teammate Arnold Pamplona is jeopardizing the cohesiveness of the team. "They can't be around each other without picking a fight," complained Team member Hope Levy-Beihl, who, along with fellow Team members Mark Hardiman and Jennifer Levy, decided to forgo competing in the Camp Pendleton International Triathlon today. "We're just sick of them fighting over who is a better swimmer. I coulnd't imagine driving down to Oceanside from Los Angeles with both of them in the same car," said Hardiman.

Ever since Neroni began consistently beating Pamplona in the swim portions of this year's races, it has been constant bickering between the two. "There's no way she's a stronger swimmer. I taught her how to swim. I just have issues with swimming in open water," offered Pamplona when asked why Neroni beat him by 21 seconds in the 2005 Newport Beach Triathlon, and by a full minute in the Ventura Breath of Life Triathlon.

"I feel sorry for him," said Neroni, albeit insincerely. "He can't beat me even though I just learned how to swim, and he used to swim competitively." Neroni was pejoritavely referring to Pamplona's stint on the Junior Varsity Whitney High School Swim Team, a distant past Pamplona likes to recall with Al Bundy-like euphoria.

With their antics turning off their teammates, the HLB Triathlon Team was down to the two feuding members at the start of today's race. Before the gun sounded A cocky Pamplona issued a guarantee: "I will beat her today, or this is my last race, ever!"

Pamplona changed his tune, however when he learned that Neroni swim split was 2 minutes, 13 seconds faster than his. "I let her win. I'm so dominant on the bike and in the run that I just wanted to throw her a bone."

"Nonesense!" shouted Neroni, when she heard of Pamplona's comments. "He almost killed himself in the swim trying to beat me!" Indeed, observers witnessed Pamplona foaming at the mouth and asking for "Mommy"as he exited the water.

"I'll get her next time," vowed Pamplona at the finish line.

_________

Camp Pendleton International Triathlon
1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10 kilometer run

Pamplona--Swim: 36:17; Bike: 1:20:24; Run: 57:14; Total: 2:53:55
Neroni--Swim: 34:04; Bike: 1:34:44; Run: 1:08:44; Total: 3:17:32



Pamplona exits the water tired and delirious. He was incredulous when he was told that Neroni beat him by more than 2 minutes.


HLB Triathlon Team members attack a steep climb during the Camp Pendleton race.


HLB Tri shows good form during the 10k run.