Celebrate Triathlons 50th birthday
The 50th Anniversary Celebration of Triathlon
Hosted by KOZ Events - San Diego Triathlon Series
Meet & Greet with pre-race dinner
Special Guests, Celebrities and Legends of Triathlon brought to you by Bob Babbit
Saturday October 12, 2024
Location: Mission Bay Bonita Cove Park
Schedule for the Evening
Legends Reception / Meet and Greet / Dinner 5:00 pm
Program 6:00 pm – 7:00 PM
Attire
Smart Casual, grass-friendly shoes. This is an outdoor event.
Parking
Bonita Cove Parking Lot or Mission Bay Lots
For more information, please email info@KozEvents.com
The List of Special Guest is Growing. Check Back for the latest additions!
Bob Babbitt
Co-Founder Competitor Group and CAF | Hall of Fame Inductee | Media Host | Triathlon Community Leader
Bob Babbitt has had a remarkable career in triathlon and related endeavors. He is a host of "Breakfast with Bob" and "Babbittville Radio," a co-founder of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Competitor Magazine, and the creator of the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series. An inductee of both the Ironman Hall of Fame and USA Triathlon Hall of Fame, Bob started racing in the late 1970s and completed his first Ironman in 1980 on Oahu. Notably, he finished in the top 60 of the 1980 Ironman World Championship. His contributions have significantly impacted the triathlon community.
Books: "The Inspiring Journey of Triathlon's True Hero: Bob Babbitt"
Carl Brandt
Co-Founder of Movin Shoes | Hall of Fame Inductee | Running Community Leader
Carl Brandt is the co-founder and former owner of Movin Shoes, a staple of the San Diego running community from 1977 to 2018. Carl dedicated his career to serving high school athletes and has been active in running events as a participant, race director, and sponsor for over four decades. He was inducted into the Independent Running Retailer Association Hall of Fame in 2012 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Diego USATF in 2016.
Cherie Gruenfeld
Triathlon World Champion | Founder of Exceeding Expectations | Triathlon Community Leader
At 79 years old, Cherie Gruenfeld is a renowned triathlete who won her 14th Ironman World Championship title in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i. She has been featured in the annual NBC documentary of the race and is known for her contributions to triathlon through her book, "Become an Ironman: An Amateur’s Guide to the World’s Toughest Endurance Event." Cherie founded Exceeding Expectations in 2001, a program designed to help at-risk kids in San Bernardino, California, through triathlon and other educational opportunities.
Books: "Become an Ironman: An Amateur’s Guide to the World’s Toughest Endurance Event"
Chris McCormack - Tentative
Two-Time Ironman World Champion | Triathlon Community Leader | Coach
Chris McCormack, also known as "Macca," is a two-time Ironman World Champion and one of the sport's most celebrated athletes. He has a successful career as a professional triathlete and coach, known for his dominance in long-distance races and his contributions to the triathlon community through coaching and mentoring.
Denise Mueller-Korenek
World Record Holder | The Fastest Cyclist on Earth
Denise Mueller-Korenek set the world record for paced bicycle land speed on September 16, 2018, at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, reaching an astonishing average speed of 183.932 mph. Known as "the fastest cyclist on earth," she was coached by Olympic medalist John Howard.
Dennis Hearst
Ironman Triathlon Class of 1980 | Endurance Athlete | Mountaineer
Dennis Hearst is a distinguished endurance athlete with a passion for long-distance bicycle racing, triathlons, skiing, and mountain climbing. He has completed five Ironman World Championships, the 800-mile Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle race, and numerous other competitions. His pursuit of reaching The 7 Summits has led him to climb many of the world’s highest peaks.
Don Shanahan
Triathlon Pioneer | Co-Founder of the First Triathlon | Triathlon Community Leader
Don Shanahan was intimately involved in creating the very first triathlon, contributing to the sport's origins and growth. His work helped establish the foundations for modern triathlon events and has had a lasting impact on the triathlon community.
Graham Fraser
IRONMAN Hall of Fame Inductee | Founder of IRONMAN Lake Placid | Triathlon Community Leader
Graham Fraser is an IRONMAN Hall of Fame Inductee and the founder of IRONMAN Lake Placid. He served as the former CEO of Ironman and played a significant role in expanding the Ironman footprint throughout the U.S. His efforts in growing the sport and his contributions as a race director and CEO have left a lasting legacy in triathlon.
John Howard
Ironman World Champion | Olympian | Author | Triathlon Pioneer
John Howard won the first Ironman World Championship in Kona in 1981 and is a three-time Olympian cyclist. world record holding cyclist and Ironman World Champion who found inspiration in Major Taylor’s story when he very first picked up his autobiography. As a cyclist, Howard represented the US on three Olympic cycling teams, and he won 19 elite and masters national championships. He has been inducted into both the US cycling and triathlon Halls of Fame, and he has set world records at both ends of the cycling spectrum.
Books: Howard is the author of six books on cycling technique and the worlds of competitive racing: The Cyclist’s Companion, Multifitness, Pushing The Limits, Dirt!, Mastering Cycling, and his newest, The Black Cyclone about Major Taylor.
Kathleen McCartney
Ironman World Champion | Hall of Fame Inductee | Motivational Speaker
Kathleen McCartney is an Ironman World Champion and a 12-time Ironman finisher. Her keynote speeches take audiences through her 35-year Ironman journey, including her dramatic finish in the 1982 Ironman, highlighted by Jim McKay as "the most inspiring sports moment he had ever witnessed." She has been featured on major sports programs and in national publications.
Kurt Madden
Head of Coach Development at TriDot | Education Leader | Triathlon Coach
Kurt Madden earned his M.A. in Exercise Physiology from San Diego State University and has over 25 years of teaching and coaching experience. He has served as a high school science teacher, physical educator, and school administrator. As the Head of Coach Development at TriDot, Kurt is responsible for building the skills of over 200 coaches worldwide and continues to coach triathletes at various levels.
Mike Reilly
Voice of Ironman | Hall of Fame Inductee | Media Personality
Mike Reilly is known as the "Voice of Ironman" and has announced at over 1000 endurance events worldwide. He is a Hall of Fame Inductee in both the Ironman and USA Triathlon Halls of Fame. Mike's famous phrase, "You are an Ironman," has been heard by over 200,000 triathletes. He has also been involved in various media and sports organizations, including RACEPLACE Magazine and Events.com.
Missy LeStrange
USA Triathlon Hall of Famer | Age-Group World Champion | Triathlon Advocate
Missy LeStrange is one of the world's best age-group triathletes and a USA Triathlon Hall of Famer. She has captured a record 14 age-group titles at the Ironman World Championship, including 10 consecutive wins. Missy has also won two USAT Age Group National Championship titles and an Olympic-distance age-group world title. She served on the USA Triathlon Age-Group Committee and helped develop programs for youth, women, seniors, and paratriathletes.
Paul Martin
Ironman Triathlon World Record Holder | Paralympic Cycling Medalist | Motivational Speaker
Paul Martin, a below-knee amputee, holds an Ironman triathlon world record and is a two-time Paralympic Cycling medalist. His autobiography, "One Man's Leg," and his second book, "Drinking From My Leg," reflect his positive attitude and success in overcoming adversity. Paul is also a motivational speaker, focusing on attitude, optimism, and work ethic.
Books: "One Man's Leg", "Drinking From My Leg: Lessons From A Blistered Optimist"
Russ Jones
USA Triathlon Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient | Triathlon Coach | Triathlon Pioneer
Russ Jones raced in the first triathlon at Fiesta Island and continues to contribute to the sport as a coach. He is a recipient of the USA Triathlon Lifetime Achievement Award and has played a significant role in the development of triathlon as both a participant and a coach.
Scott Endsley
Multisport Competitor | National Champion | Health Ambassador
Scott Endsley's triathlon journey began with his first race in Newport Beach in 1978, and since then, he has competed in over 500 multisport races. He has won four National Championships, including two National Tri Sprint Championships (Oceanside, CA and St. Charles, LO), the USAT Winter Triathlon Nationals in Boise, ID, and the Aquabike Nationals in Sandusky, OH. Scott has represented Team USA in nine World Championships and has earned All American honors from USAT. After crafting a new rehabilitation protocol following knee replacements in 2016, he podiumed at USAT races, served as a Sports & Health Ambassador in the Bahamas, and shared his practices through his holistic health website, TriBestHealth.com.
