Heading to the Triathlon During Carmageddon?

[The following information was taken from a press release issued by the Triathlon organizers].

* If you're planning on running or watching the Triathlon, event organizers suggest that Valley residents use the PCH to get to the start line in Venice.

Nearly 2,500 recreational, elite and professional triathletes will hit the Pacific Ocean off Venice Beach on Sunday, September 30 for the swim leg of the 13th annual Herbalife Triathlon Los Angeles. Designated by triathlon publications and websites as the Top Destination and Top Urban Triathlon in the United States, this year’s field is made up of competitors from 28 states, plus the District of Columbia, and 12 countries.

The Pros

The men’s pro field is led by returning 2011 L.A. champion Cameron Dye (USA). He will be chased by Americans Ben Collins and four-time Olympian Hunter Kemper. Dye, Collins and Kemper are 1, 2 and 3 in the Life Time Fitness Series Race to the Toyota Cup, separated by only 7.5 points. With four of the Life Time Series Top 5 women pros in town, the women’s competition, led by former Canadian, now American Alicia Kaye, will be wide open and, most likely, fiercely fought between Kaye, Australian Anabel Luxford, and Americans Jenna Parker and Jillian Peterson. The 43 pros, representing the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Bermuda, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, will be competing for $40,000 in prize money.

For a complete pro list, click here.

Olympians in the Pro Field

• Hunter Kemper (USA), 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 (has publically stated 2016 is possible)
• Flora Jane Duffy (BER), 2008, 2012
• Julie Swail Ertel (USA), 2008 triathlon, 2000 water polo (silver)
• Maxine Seear (AUS), 2004

13-for-13 in L.A.

Fourteen local triathletes, all men and ranging in age from 38 to 63, can say “I’ve never missed a Los Angeles Triathlon!” They were on Venice Beach on Sunday, September 10, 2000 when the starting gun went off and they raced to the ocean to swim 0.9 miles, then stripped off their wetsuits, jumped on their bikes and cycled 24.8 miles across Los Angeles to downtown where they ran 6.2 miles finishing at Olvera Street (2000 – 2003) and later, L.A. LIVE! The 14 competitors who are 13-for-13 are: Daniel Belson of Encino, Wayne Jones of Culver City, Craig Cooper of Beverly Hills, Steven Ogata of San Gabriel, Richard Crater of Agoura Hills, Steve Polley of Camarillo, J. Emilio Flores of Van Nuys, Howard Roth of Porter Ranch, Jason Gabelsberg of Redondo Beach, Frederic Uno of Los Angeles, William Heise of Fullerton, Carl Warren of Woodland Hills, Robert Husser of Topanga and Bob Zeiger of Sylmar.