The HLB Triathlon Team's fourth race of the year, held in Ventura, California, was titled the "Breath of Life" triathlon, and that's exactly what Team member Mark Hardiman's triathlon career got. Hardiman suffered a demoralizing 24-minute loss to fellow teammate Arnold Pamplona in the Triathlon of the Champions less than two months ago. And he hadn't been the same since.
"I lost faith in myself, and I couldn't face my two daughters," said the melodramatic Hardiman. Hardiman was so ashamed, in fact, that he contemplated retirement and opted out of the Team's last race, the Kring and Chung Newport Beach Triathlon.
"He should be embarrassed," said a nonchalant Pamplona before today's Olympic-distance race. "He is a seasoned marathon runner, and I'm an asthmatic with only 84% of his lung capacity." Pamplona announced that he was no longer concerned with Hardiman, and that his real motivation for the race was to beat his swim protogé (and HLB Tri Team Captain) Stacie Neroni over the 1.5-kilometer (.9 mile) swim course. But Pamplona would be well-served in the future to respect the progress Hardiman made over the last two months.
Although he predictably struggled in the swim, Hardiman was inspired during the 40-kilometer (25 mile) bike leg, which he astonishinly finished only 2 minutes slower than Pamplona, the Team's bike specialist. "Arnold should be concerned. He usually crushes Mark on the bike. I think this is a sign of things to come," remarked HLB Tri member (and founder) Jennifer Levy, who decided to support the team rather than compete in today's race.
Overall, Hardiman was only 8 minutes slower than Pamplona, 14 years his junior, over the swim, bike and run portions of the race. That represents a dramatic 16-minute improvement over his performance in Irwindale. Hardiman was ectatic when the results were announced. "The year of Pamplona is over. I now know I have what it takes to beat him!" Wishful thinking for the 43-year old triathlete? Perhaps. But his new-found enthusiasm for the sport he loves was refreshing, nonetheless.
"I don't know what the big deal is. I still beat him," mumbled a reticent Pamplona, clearly bothered by the fact that his swim split was a full minute slower than Neroni's. Her improvement in the water over the past months has been dramatic. Last September, she could not swim more than 25 yards without stopping. Today she regularly completes the grueling swim from Manhattan Beach Pier to Hermosa Beach Pier--a two-mile trip. Neroni is trying to establish herself as HLB Tri's swim specialist, and she made great headway in her impressive swim performance today.
The swim wasn't the only portion of the race that went well for Neroni. Despite racing on an ankle she badly twisted only week before, she posted her best-ever 10k run split, beating her previous personal record by over three and a half minutes. "No one was more impressed than I," remarked Team member Hope Levy-Biehl. She explained: "A few days ago we weren't even sure if she would be able to race!"
Levy-Biehl herself was impressive in her third triathlon ever. HLB Tri's newest member, Levy-Biehl chose to race in the sprint distance race, and did quite well. "I think she's ready for the next step: to race in an Olympic distance triathlon," said Pamplona. He continued: "to tell you the truth, she's the athlete I'm most worried about. She hardly has time to train, yet she posts such great times." In addition to being a triathlete, Levy-Biehl is the mother of two very active boys. And oh, yeah, she has a pretty demanding day job as well. It is clear that with just a little more training time, Pamplona will have three, and not just two, rivals on the Team.
Neroni focuses before the race in the transition area.
Hardiman looked confident before starting the 1.5k (.9 mile) swim.
Levy-Biehl is loose before the sprint swim.
Pamplona (center, silver wetsuit) dives to start the swim portion of the race.
Hardiman looked disoriented after struggling in the swim, but made up time in the bike portion of the race.
A frantic Pamplona reaches the swim/bike transition one minute slower than Neroni.
Lawyer. Wife. Mother of two. Triathlete.
Neroni and Levy-Biehl show great form in bike leg.
Pamplona, HLB Tri's strongest cyclist, managed only a 2-minute advantage over Hardiman in the 40k (25 mile)bike leg.
Hardiman suffered, but ceded only eight minutes to Pamplona this time around.
A relentless Neroni sprints to the finish of the 10k (6.2 miles) run.
HLB Tri: Teammates before the gun sounds, rivals during the race, and friends at the finish.
Breath of Life Ventura Triathlon
Olympic Distance Race: .9-mile swim, 24.8-mile bike, 6.2-mile run
Pamplona: Swim: 37:56:00; Bike: 1:19:48; Run: 59:11:00; Total: 2:56:53
Hardiman: Swim: 42:27:00; Bike: 1:21:38; Run: 1:00:44; Total: 3:04:47
Neroni: Sim: 36:56:00; Bike: 1:33:20; Run: 1:06:13; Total: 3:16:27
Sprint Distance Race: .24-mile swim, 12.7-mile bike, 3.1-mile run
Levy Biehl: Swim: 18:01:00; Bike: 49:29:00; Run: 31:49:00 Total: 1:39:17
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