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
