A BEAUTIFUL MORNING FOR A RACE IN LANIKAI 2009 - 4/19/09 Jaco / Jamba Juice Lanikai Triathlon 2009 - photos by Hugh Gentry   WATERFRONT KEIKI TRIATHLON 2009- Pure Kid Energy! - 3/28/09 Congratulations to all the kids who participated in the Waterfront Keiki Triathlon. Its really an amazing sight to witness kids in action. Some exhibit apprehension initially, but most dive into the experience with a vim and vigor that we all wish we could tap into. They remind us how challenges should really be met--with freedom and courage. Congratulations Keiki--you are all an inspiration! Oh,... and the adults did a pretty good job at Waterfront, too! Congrats to Sunday's Champions, Alexander Eiler and Rachel Ross! RACE RESULTS - Keiki Tri 6-10yrs - Keiki Tri 11-14yrs - 5K Run - Triathlon Individuals - Triathlon Teams BOCA ATHLETE IRONMAN PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY! 3rd Time's a Charm! Jim McDiarmid does not believe in failure. He does not take "no" for an answer. He wanted to know what it was like to cross that Kona Ironman finish line and after three attempts, this year, nothing was going to stop him. Did I mention that Jim is 71 years old? After earning a spot from the Hawaii 70.3 Ironman in 2006, Jim started his first time journey to the Ford Ironman World Championship. His first year experience was challenging and although he successfully made the swim cut off, he was unable to make it in time for the bike finish. So after qualifying again in 2007, Jim decided to give it another try. Working more closely with Coach Raul Boca, Jim strengthened his swimming, to make sure he had more to offer on the bike, and he also increased his bike mileage. It paid off because he made the swim and bike time limits and proudly headed out on the run. After reaching mile 18 and realizing he had only 30 minutes to reach the finish line, he was relunctantly pulled from the course. Every good athlete has a support team, and Jim's secret weapons are his wife Norma, and his son Jay. Wondering if it would be fair to pursue another year, his family gave him the thumbs up. Jim embraced the opportunity a third time when he qualified in 2008. This Ironman journey was not over! Still, with humility, Jim approached the challenge. This would, however, be his final attempt to make the 17-hour time limit. Jim needed to do something different this year. Besides putting in the required mileage in all three disciplines, what was going to make the difference?... Strength training! Jim was going to work on making his corps muscles stronger in addition to all his regular workouts. And when the 2008 start canon went off at the Kona Bay Pier, Jim was ready. Swimming a 1:50:04, Jim headed off on the bike. In spite of windy conditions this year, Jim says it didn't bother him too much, finishing the ride with a 7:43:46. And when he hit the halfway mark on the run and still had five hours to spare, he knew he could make it before the deadline. Not only did he make the cut off, but he did it with an hour and 15 minutes to spare! With a finish time of 15:44:31, Jim became an "Ironman"! Congratulations Jim, you deserve to bask in your glory. You truly earned it!
	BOCA SOUP Just how many BOCA athletes can you actually fit in a jucuzzi?? Athletes attended the always fun Kona Training Weekend (May 2 - 4) on the Big Island in preparation for the Ford Honu 70.3 Ironman on May 31st. After a great ocean workout, athletes unwind at the hotel pool. Ingredients: 30 -40 Boca athletes, 1 Duda shaved, 1 Mariane for sweetness, 1 extra large hotel hot tub Directions: Because Boca athletes tend to be exceptionally tough and stringy, they must be thoroughly tenderized with long, windy and hilly bike rides, immediately followed by a hot and barren brick run. Further tenderize by subjecting to vertical kicking, swim intervals and mass starts. At the onset of cramping, you know the tenderization process is complete. To prevent overflow, slowly add the tenderized triathletes to the hotel hot tub and soak. Serve warm as triathletes may become stiff and whiny when cold. For best flavor, add 1 Duda (shaved) for additional spice, and 1 Mariane for sweetness. BOCA SOUP is naturally low in fat and is an excellent choice prior to early morning 15 -20 mile runs! (Recipe by Ryan & Bonnie Leong) TIM MARR AT IRONMAN CHINA 2008 Tim Marr completed his 2nd ever Ironman and performed like a true champion. Exiting 3rd out of the water, Tim was in postion to have the ride of his life. He captured the lead on the second half of the bike and maintained that lead through the first 8 miles of the run. Passed by the eventual winner, Sabatschus, Tim held on to his 2nd place position all the way until the last mile of the race. South Korean triathlete, Hoon Park, passed Tim with less than 500 meters to go. Tim held on in spite of the tremendous exhaustion he was experiencing and crossed the finish line moments later to enjoy his amazing 3rd place overall finish! Tim was the 1st American to cross the finish line and also won a spot in the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona in October. Can't wait to cheer this local boy on in his own stomping ground!

RIDING UP HALEAKALA 2008

SPINFEST 2008 SUPPORTS EPILEPSY FOUNDATION

The 4th annual Spinfest, held at the Honolulu Club on Ward Avenue, set up camp outside this year. All 40 spin bikes were brought down to the street level and beautifully arranged for anyone who wished to participate. Raul was there to lead 12-hours of classes from 6am to 6pm. Erika Eberhart and Sarah Field accompanied Raul for all 12-hours this year (your turn next year, Betsy!) To make the marathon class flow easier, the last 3 hours were enhanced with a live salsa band--its was awesome and kept the athletes moving! The event raised more that $5000 for the Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii. Thanks to all who helped!

BOCA HAWAII STAGE RACE 2007
Stages 1, 2 & 3 are now complete! Riders tested their cycling skills and the determination was inspiring. Repeats on Olomana Loop, rhythmic breaths up Tantalus, and diplays of tactical team moves in Kakaako gave cyclists the opportunity to display their love of the sport in the various types of cycling races. Congratulations to all who pushed themselves beyond their expectations and who put their heart and soul into a full weekend of racing. RESULTS: OLOMANA - TANTALUS - KAKAAKO - POINTS
... Dick Evans anyone? Don't forget to sign up for one of the last cycling race of the year! Sign up for the Sep 2nd Dick Evans RR today!

WHO IS GOING TO KONA?
In spite of hot conditions, athletes performed beautifully at the Ford Ironman 70.3 on June 2nd. Withstanding a swim start with no concrete start gun, flat tires, baking hot temperatures, and other individual hurdles presented race day, BOCA athletes stepped up to the challenges of the big day and performed with grace and stamina. Always working their way to the finish line, a BOCA athlete never gives up--especially when a 2007 Kona slot is at stake! All slots are well deserved and some are very pleasant surprises! So, which BOCA athletes are going to Kona?... Julia Pae, Wendy Miki, Laurie Sloan, Wendy Minor, Mati Sapolu, Jason Nixon, Jim McDiarmid and Rachel Ross (please let us know who we've missed!) Congratulations! (The year is not over yet, so surely there will be more athletes winning slots to Kona)

BIKEFACTORY/JAMBA JUICE LANIKAI TRIATHLON - April 15, 2007
A terrific turnout for this year's race. Weather and road construction finally cooperated to give participants a smooth course to display their athletic talents on. Thank you to all who participated, and to all who took the time and energy to volunteer. Finally, a newly paved Kalaheo Avenue gave the athletes a smooth path to KMCB! A great turnout of motivated athletes inspired all who watched. Terrific job everyone! RACE RESULTS - RACE PHOTOS

IROQUOIS DRAWS YOUNG & OLD
The 2007 Iroquois Point Island Club Triathlon (March 24, 25) embraced the participation of moms, dads, and kids, as well as everyone in between. Race Results. Absent from this year's race were the rainy conditions and 6 inch water puddles experienced at last year's triathlon. The wind challenged athletes on the bike and run, but overall, the day was truly enjoyable. Tim Marr and Rachel Ross, familiar local favorites, took home the winning medals on Sunday's race, but is was the island Keiki that truly won the hearts of everyone on Saturday. The Keiki race included kids ranging from ages 7 -10 and 11 - 14. The determination, struggle and joy of the task at hand were colorfully expressed on the faces of the children. The raw emotion reminded us all of the reasons why we race.

PERFECT DAY FOR TIME TRIAL
The 2007 Jaco Physical Rehab Castle to Hanauma Time Trial was blessed with great conditions. Race Results. With the wind being calm and the temperature mild, the only thing that was fierce was the competition. 135 riders started their journey at Maunawili Elementary School and set out to perform to the best of their ability. The 12.8 mile course was won overall by Mike Zagorski for the men, and Kara Dreflak for the women. This course is always challenging due to the combination of hills and flats. A rider must know when to push and when to pace themselves. A big Mahalo to Jaco Van Delden Rehab, Bikefactory and Wahoo's Fish Tacos for helping to make the event a great one! See you April 1st at the Tantalus Time Trial, which will be organized by Tradewinds Cycling Team.

BOCA & BIKEFACTORY AT THE ALOHA RUN EXPO 2007

BOCA HAWAII & the BIKEFACTORY made a great showing at the 2007 Aloha Run Expo at the Blaisdell Center. For three days the BOCA staff was available to the public, answering questions about training & racing and sharing the love we have for the sport of triathlon. Supportive BOCA members even stopped by to go for a "spin" on the turbo trainers and the Lemond Spin Bike provided by the Bikefactory, creating a fun, glowing atmosphere that drew people to the booth. Everyone was excited for the first official running race of the year. Many BOCA athletes start of their season with the Aloha Run--good luck everyone!

SPINFEST, A HUGE SUCCESS! By Erika Eberhart

The third annual “Spinfest” was held at the Honolulu Club on January 26 th , 2007. This 12-hour studio cycling marathon fundraiser was led by instructor and OCC member Raul Boca at the Honolulu Club on January 26 th to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii. All proceeds raised by this outstanding event go to the Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii which provides direct services to individuals with seizure disorders. This foundation is a private, nonprofit agency, whose mission is to increase public awareness of epilepsy and to build a sense of community, enabling persons with epilepsy to participate fully in the community at large. Overwhelming support of the Spinfest this year yielded more than $5000 for the foundation! Raul was named "Volunteer of the Year" in 2006 by the Epilepsy Foundation for his fundraising efforts. His selfless donation of time and energy was appreciated by all participant. The only Spinfest rider who accompanied Raul on all 12 hours of the journey was Sarah Field! Congratulations to Sarah for her accomplishment, and big mahalos to Sarah for her support of this fundraiser! Hope to see you all there in January 2008!

GO! TIM, GO!

Tim Marr, Hawaii's Pro Triathlete, is enjoying the payoff from training right. Placing 10th overall in the 2006 Ironman World Championships 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida, has made him a happy man! He finished the race in 3:58:39 (swim: 24:06, bike:2:09:17, run 1:20:22), in spite of getting a rough start. Tim was a little late getting to the race site, and while the other athletes were making their way to the water, Tim was still racking his bike in transition. Nevertheless, he made it on time for the gun to go off and had a good swim. Unfortunately Tim experienced a crash on the bike while trying to avoid an unexpected and unofficial car on the course. But even with the set backs, which can mentally take a toll on one's concentration, the ever tenacious Tim proceeded to pass athletes on the run. Running an average pace of 6:09, Tim kicked it into gear and placed top 10 in one of the most competitive fields around. Tim enjoyed his success, but then journeyed off to Australia for the ITU World Championship Long Course Triathlon in Canberra, Australia on November 19th. Tim was the first American and 19th overall! Doing great Tim! Can't wait to see what's in store for 2007!

HALEAKALA, HERE WE COME 2006!

Ambitious members of this year's  Hawaii Cycling Training were geared up for the March 12th target ride up Haleakala, aka "the beast" . It is BOCA Hawaii's 6th time assisting athletes with this awesome endeavor on the beautiful island of Maui. Not to be confused with the bicycle race "Cycle to the Sun"--a race which our own Ray Brust has been the champion of more than once-- this BOCA event is simply a day of climbing fun. The majority of the participants started the ride at the very bottom from the small town of Paia, while others take advantage of a drop off point further up the mountain. No matter where you begin, all are struck by the intense beauty of the ride. Vibrant green pastures, strikingly proud and erect pine trees, and whispering clouds set the scene and fill the senses of all who appreciate pure beauty.  It is quite an accomplishment and all who accept the challenge develop a new respect for "the beast".

SPINFEST & SHARON'S RIDE,
A SUCCESS FOR EFH
Thank you to all who helped support the 2nd Annual Spinfest for Epilepsy, and the 4th Annual Sharon's Ride, Run & Walk.  In an effort to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii (EFH), Raul led a room full of athletic supporters in 12 hours of consecutive spinning. The event was held on January 27th at the Honolulu Club and was open to the public. The fun began at 6am and continued on through to 6pm. All proceeds will go to EFH which provides direct services to individuals with seizure disorders. Its a private, nonprofit agency, whose mission is to increase public awareness of epilepsy and to build a sense of community, enabling persons with epilepsy to participate fully in the community at large. The event raised more than $3500 for EFH, so thank you to everyone who participated! Sharon's Ride & Walk,which expanded this year to include a 5K run into Diamond Head Crater was equally successful, with a nice crowd participating in all events. Raul was named "2006 Volunteer of the Year" by the Epilepsy Foundation for his fundraising efforts and received a beautiful trophy which is proudly displayed at the BOCA shop.

BOCA ON COVER OF ATHLETES HI! Check out BOCA Hawaii on the new cover of Athletes HI magazine. Looking to spread our wings and share the news with island athletes, we want all of Hawaii to know about the wonderful network of athletes, programs and races BOCA Hawaii has developed and become a part of. Thanks to a wonderful staff and great clients, we are looking to grow in even more creative ways in 2006. BOCA Hawaii will be assisting in key ways with the new Honolulu Triathlon race set to happen on May 14th; we will be training and hosting a group of athletes wishing to enjoy a South American Ironman in Brazil; and we will be expanding with more fun fitness classes in our BOCA Training Center. So let's enjoy our passion for training and for life!

Olympic Triathlete Visits BOCA 2004
BOCA HAWAII was honored to host Olympic Triathlon bronze medalist Susan Williams at the Boca store at 330 Cooke Street on Thursday, October 21st, 2004.
Ms Williams shared her amazing athletic journeys, answered questions from our interested crowd, and passed around the actual Bronze medal she won for all to see and hold. Susan glowed as she decribed the Olympic race experience, her daughter's presence at the awards ceremony, last year's Olympic Trials in Honolulu, the upcoming World Cup in April, and how she became America's first triathlon Olympic medalist. It was a great chance to meet an Olympian! Susan went to middle school in Honolulu at Aliamanu. Thank you Susan--best of luck to you in the future!
(Susan is center wearing lei and holding gold medal in hand!)