PRESS RELEASE:
Fifteenth Annual Vineman Triathlon
Clif Bar Offers $2000 Finish Time Bonus + $500 bonus for course record
2004 marks the Fifteenth Anniversary of the Full Vineman Triathlon in beautiful Sonoma County, California. The Vineman is the oldest independent ironman distance race in the country. In 1990 the Vineman was designed to be “the people’s ironman distance event” with an emphasis on making the average athlete’s experience of completing the classic distance the most enjoyable and personalized as possible. While the sport of triathlon has changed drastically over the past decade and a half, the soul of the Vineman remains the same.
Whether you are an athlete hoping to complete your first ironman distance race, you’ve been closed out of the Ironman franchise events, or you just want to be part of a great ironman distance triathlon, the Vineman is for you. With beautiful wine-country scenery, typically cool mornings and warm days, and a relatively small field of athletes that doesn’t make you feel like part of a “cattle call”, you’ll find the Vineman to be an “athlete friendly” race. For fifteen years the Vineman has been a favorite of many athletes because of the individual attention they receive at the event.
The Vineman course is a tour of Sonoma County vineyards & wineries, which passes through five distinct regions. The swim takes place at Johnson’s Beach in the Russian River, one of the most rustic swim venues you’ll see in the sport. The bike course is a mix of terrain, and travels through the Russian River, Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, and Chalk Hill grape growing regions. With slightly less than 4000 feet of climbing for the entire bike course athletes find the course to be challenging but not overwhelming. New for 2004 is a three-loop, out-and-back, run course which takes the athletes from the finish area to the La Crema Winery. This will allow athletes to see their fellow competitors, family, and friends more often and keep everyone closer to “home”.
For the 2004 Full Vineman, Clif Bar is offering a special prize money opportunity. Clif Bar will be offering $2000 to be shared by any men finishing under 9:30 for the race and any women going under 10:30. For example; if only one athlete goes under the appointed time they pocket the entire $2000. If five athletes go under the appointed times they will each receive $400. This marks the first time prize money has been offered at the Full Vineman in since 1990. Clif Bar and Clif Shot are the official energy bar and gel of the 2004 Vineman events and will be used exclusively on the Vineman race course.
NOTE: Vineman Inc. is also offering a $500 bonus for the breaking of an overall course record!
-Male Record is 8:50
-Female Record is 10:13
Anybody want to go fast?
For complete information on the Vineman events go to: www.vineman.com or email: dave@vineman.com