San Diego Triathlon Challenge Set For Sunday

The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) will welcome over 5,000 supporters, made up of spectators and participants, to the La Jolla Cove for the 19th Annual Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC). The day-long event, which also includes the 24 Hour Fitness Tour de Cove cycling marathon and Kaiser Permanente Thrive-5K Fitness Walk and Wawanesa Family Fun Zone, will raise more than $1 million to help physically challenged individuals get off the sidelines and into the game.

“Being part of CAF’s SDTC was one of the most life-changing experiences I have ever had,” said four-time Ironman World Champion and SDTC participant Chrissie Wellington.  “I truly can’t put into words what it meant to me. It has inspired me more than anything else I have ever done.”

The event began 19 years ago as a small fundraiser to help a local injured triathlete regain his independence through the sport he loved. Today, the Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge has grown into a celebration of life and sport that is making a difference in the lives of physically challenged athletes around the world. SDTC is an event unlike any other. It features a “challenge” distance triathlon, a 1 mile swim, 44 mile bike, and 10 mile run, in which more than 200 challenged athletes will compete side-by-side with 500 able-bodied athletes, including celebrities and sports legends such as:

• NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton
• Two-time Ironman World Champion and legend Scott Tinley
• Professional sports announcer Craig Hummer
• Pro-triathletes Jordan Rapp, Meghan Newcomer, and Sarah Piampiano
• Legendary triathletes Julie Moss and Kathleen McCartney, who are competing in Kona to race on the 30^th anniversary of their 1982 Ironman® finish seen around the world
• Actor Kevin Compayre from The Unit
• Stars from ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette: Dr. Andy Baldwin, Roberto Martinez, Tenley Molzahn, and Kiptyn Locke
• NCAA Wrestling Champion, Winner of the 2011 ESPY Jimmy V. Award and above-knee amputee Anthony Robles
• Two-time Xterra World Champion, cancer survivor and challenged athlete, 2012 Leadville 100 Mountain Bike finisher Jamie Whitmore
• Recent Paralympic medalists Rudy Garcia-Tolson (swimming), Blake Leeper (athletics), Katy Sullivan (athletics) and Oz Sanchez (wheelchair racing)
• Bob Babbitt, CAF Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Competitor magazine
• San Diego City Council Member Kevin Faulconer
• Virginia Tinley, CAF Executive Director
• Challenged athlete, author and reality TV star Sarah Reinertsen of The Amazing Race
• More than 25 members of CAF’s Operation Rebound® program, which supports permanently injured service men and women
• SDTC award winners
• Recent Kona Ironman World Championship competitors

The triathlon itself is the culmination of a full weekend of events which also includes the 24 Hour Fitness Tour de Cove, a four-and-a-half hour stationary cycling marathon, and the Kaiser Permanente Thrive-5K Fitness Walk, both of which take place at La Jolla Cove.

Read more: Endurancesportswire.com

RELATED – Photos: 2011 San Diego Triathlon Challenge