The pace is the thing ...
... but so's the hooting, hollering, cheering and fun at Eppie's 34th Great Race
By Alison Roberts - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, July 22, 2007
For a few sparkling hours Saturday along the American River, there was no talk of Harry Potter, overdue state budgets or presidential polyps.
There was only hooting, hollering, cheering and gasping for breath at the annual running, rolling and splashing party known as Eppie's Great Race.
Retired restaurateur Eppie Johnson started the tradition as a little promotional event way back in 1974.
"I did it as a lark," Johnson said just before the 8 a.m. race start.
The race has become a huge lark, judging by Saturday's spirit and numbers. For the 34th annual event, there were 1,958 adult competitors who completed the race, the most since 1988. (Last year, 1,614 completed the course.) Of those, there were 627 iron competitors (solo rather than team competitors), the most in the event's history.
The race is a three-part event: a 5.82-mile run followed by a 12.5-mile bike ride and a 6.35-mile paddle.
Competitors can tackle all three legs as ironmen or ironwomen (they have red numbers on their race bibs), or they can divvy up the course and compete as a team.
The fastest of the groups was Team California Canoe & Kayak, which finished in 1 hour, 32 minutes and 12 seconds. Team members were: Patrick Boivin of Chico (running); Michael Brown of Rancho Cordova (biking); and Craig Tanner of Benicia (kayaking).
It was a great day for older solo competitors. The winning ironman was Vic Vicarri of Sacramento in the 40-plus division. He finished in 1 hour, 43 minutes and 28 seconds. The fastest ironwoman was Vickie Ammon of Carmichael in the 50-plus division. She finished in 1 hour, 58 minutes and 41 seconds.
It was also a great day for younger competitors, who had their own event: a duathlon in its second year and sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. It consisted of a run of just over 2 miles and a bike ride of about 4 miles.
Although it is designed for the 7-to-17 set, there was a 4-year-old who competed, accompanied by a parent. The duathlon drew 269 kids, about double the inaugural year's count.
The fastest duathlon team was Alex Nelson of El Dorado Hills and Sam Bolster of Camino who finished the race in 30 minutes, 18 seconds. They competed in the 14-15 age division.
The ironwoman duathlon winner was Maggie Lloyd, 17, of Sacramento. Her time was 37 minutes, 20.1 seconds. The ironman winner of the duathlon was David Stagg, 16, of Elk Grove. He finished in 32 minutes, 22.2 seconds.
(You can find out more about the event and results at www.thegreatrace.org.)
Organizers say this is the world's oldest triathlon. It may well be the world's most cheered. In addition to the competitors, there were more than 800 volunteers and countless family and friends. (Organizers said they figure there are at least two people there for every competitor.)
Betty Dainty was there as usual, sitting alongside the course on a bridge near the starting line.
"This is my Eppie's hat; I wear it every year," Dainty said, speaking from beneath a headdress sprouting an oversized bouquet of faux flowers and a butterfly. Dainty, who is 83 and lives in Fair Oaks, has grown children who regularly compete.
Sierra Martin, who is 7, carried a bright-pink poster that said "Go Dad, Go Fast," to motivate her father, Josh Martin.
Barbara Del Bonta waited at the finish line, holding two bouquets of flowers -- one for her friend Sue Williams, who was competing as an ironwoman, and one for Williams' 14-year-old granddaughter, Leilani, who was competing in the duathlon.
Del Bonta, who lives in Elk Grove, had never come out to an Eppie's race before. Now, she's thinking about joining in next year as a competitor.
"I'll be 60 and sassy," she says. "And probably the last one."
The fun didn't end at the finish line. A shaded picnic area became a lively party after the race, complete with live music, food and various vendors set up under tents.
"It seems a little more laid back than other triathlons; I loved it," said Danielle Gregan, after her first Eppie's race. She traveled from her home in New York City to compete.
Gregan, who is 27, regularly participates in triathlons with friends, including one who lives here and suggested this one.
"We're kind of extreme girls," she explained. She said she hopes to return next year.
When Eppie Johnson started this race, it was a way to advertise his Eppie's restaurants, long since closed, while giving him an excuse to do a little paddling of his own. Johnson, who is 79, gave up competing as a kayaker in the race three years ago.
Over the years, as the race has grown, it has also gained a more serious profile as a charity fundraiser. It has raised more than $800,000 over more than 25 years for Sacramento County Therapeutic Recreation Services, which helps those with mental and physical disabilities master all sorts of life skills, from how to take the bus to how to find out when a movie will be playing. The race raises more than 20 percent of the program's budget.
Johnson said he doesn't worry about the race petering out as he pointed to his grandson -- and namesake -- 4-year-old Epaminondas George Johnson, who was there with his twin sister Athena.
"We've got another generation," he said.
This story is taken from Sacbee / Community News / Elk Grove - Laguna News.