Published June 5, 2009 04:52PM
The longest running ironman-distance triathlon in the continental U.S. will celebrate its 20th
Anniversary when it is contested on Saturday, August 1. The Vineman Triathlon presented
by AVIA will host 700 athletes from all over the world, including 71-year old Peter Schloemp of
Santa Rosa, who is the only returnee from the inaugural race started by race director Russ Pugh in
1990. The racers will compete for time and course bonuses as well as swim and run primes. Last
year’s winners, Dan Arlandson of Mendota Heights, Minnesota and Whitney Henderson of Lafayette,
Colorado are returning to defend their titles.
The ninth Annual Barb’s Race will also take place on August 1. Barb’s Race is the only all-women’s
half-ironman distance triathlon in the world. Named after a long-time volunteer and two-time cancer
survivor, the race has raised $265,000 in the past 8 years to support local cancer organizations. 1500
athletes will be racing Barb’s Race, the Full Vineman and AquaBike events on that day.
On Sunday, July 19th current Ironman World Champion Craig Alexander, and Ironman 70.3 World
Champion and returning Vineman Ironman 70.3 champion Joanna Zeiger, will lead the field of
professional triathletes competing in this year’s Vineman Ironman 70.3 for a $25,000 prize purse
and qualifying spots at the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida.
2100 age group racers from around the world will race alongside the pros to earn age group awards
and qualifying spots for Clearwater in November. The Vineman Ironman 70.3 presented by AVIA
is one of the most popular and highly competitive races on the Ironman 70.3 racing circuit.
For the 20th year racers, their family and friends – as many as 10,000 supporters – will converge on
Sonoma County, California to participate in the Vineman events as well as enjoy the beauty and bounty
of the wine country.
All Vineman events begin at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville with the swim. The second leg features
a bike ride through wine country which finishes at Windsor High School. The final segment, the run,
takes the athletes from Windsor High School to the La Crema Winery and back.
Entries are currently available for the August 1st Vineman events (the July 19th Vineman Ironman is
sold out) at Vineman.com.