DeSoto Leads the Pack in Up-and-Down Race

The steep path that led to the shoreline at Crystal Cove State Park gave many competitors a pained look before they even began Sunday’s Pacific Coast Triathlon.

But the climb that awaited the more than 600 participants who surfaced from the half-mile swim was nothing compared to the surprise incline that culminated the three-mile run. Some competitors said climbing straight up the seaside bluff would have been an easier route.

In between the swim and run, a 12-mile bike ride scooted athletes up and down one of the hilliest sections of Pacific Coast Highway.

“It’s a short course but there are endless hills,” said La Jolla’s Emilio DeSoto III, the overall men’s winner. “There’s really nothing flat on the bike, you’re either going uphill or downhill, so it’s really hard to get into any kind of rhythm at all. And then going out on the run, the only part that’s really flat is the first half mile or so.”

The format divided athletes into separate age divisions and staggered the starting times. There was also a Clydesdale division for men weighing more than 200 pounds and an Athena division for women weighing more than 145.

DeSoto, 38, was in the first group and was fifth out of the water. After running barefoot up the steep beach access path to the bicycle staging area, DeSoto moved into first about 1 1/2 miles into the bike ride. DeSoto maintained his lead over Aliso Viejo’s John Brazelton and survived the final half mile of the run, which dropped down to the beach and then back up an even steeper incline. DeSoto’s winning time was 1 hour 1 minute 48 seconds.

“I thought I was going to have a little company from John, he’s an excellent cyclist,” DeSoto said. “My best part of my racing is the run, so going into the run in first place I pretty much knew that I had it wrapped up unless one of these guys could perform some sort of miracle.”

The overall women’s winner was San Diego’s Andrea Gardenhire, who competed in the Athena division. “I’m what they consider a big girl,” Gardenhire said. “I’m queen of Athena.”

Gardenhire finished in 1:15:42 and earned her first triathlon victory.

“It was a good course but it was a very tough course,” Gardenhire said. “Those hills are challenging, the one at the end of the run hurt the worst.” Gardenhire’s opinion was a common one.

Proceeds from the triathlon primarily benefit the Corona del Mar High School Foundation Track Fund, Orange County Junior Lifeguard Assns. and other youth-oriented programs of the Kiwanis Club.

“It was very pleasant,” DeSoto said. “Considering how hot it is in the rest of country, we’re pretty blessed to have a race like this so close to home.”