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The
Beauty of Sanibel is more than just the beach – it’s
the people!
Sanibel Island Training Buddies Complete Ironman Triathalons
in 2007
Ross and Marion Hauser
Sanibel Island’s draw to us is as much about the people
we have met, as it is about the scenery and the food. Twenty
years ago as a newly married couple, we heard about the beautiful
Island with all the sea shells. We saw an advertisement in
the Chicago Tribune to rent a two bedroom condo with a gulf
view at Loggerhead Cay for $595/week. We loved everything
about our first trip to Sanibel Island, and so did our parents
who have grown to love the Island as much as we have. We
went on various cruises and vacations to other parts of the
country and the world, but made sure that at least one week
per year we came back to Sanibel. In 2000, while at an all-inclusive
resort in the Dominican Republic Ross asked Marion what she
thought about the resort. She responded, “I like it,
but I wish we were in Sanibel”. We were both thinking
the exact same thing!
The next time we came to Sanibel we went house/lot hunting.
We did not buy anything then, but eventually bought a lot
a few weeks later. This led to our dream house being built
in a wonderful Sanibel neighborhood by Marty and Erika Foye.
Well, we now had neighbors and it was only then that we realized
how much we really, really enjoy the people of Sanibel.
Our neighbors across the street, Ted and Ann Bischoff treated
us like we were their own family. As it turns out, Ted’s
family has a lot of women named Marion in it, so we think
the name helped. Ted and Ann were involved in real estate
in the Midwest (St. Louis) so we had an instant disliking
for them – they are Cardinal’s fans and we are
Cubs fans, but we learned to overlook that. Ann is also a
wonderful artist and has done a couple of Sanibel paintings
for us. They introduced us to many wonderful people, including
our first triathlon training partner on the Island, Rick
Zurbriggen. We soon met our other neighbors, Pat and Sue
Patterson, who also retired here from the Midwest, where
Sue was a chief dietitian at University of Iowa Hospital,
among other things. Marion is also a registered dietitian,
so there was an immediate bond there. It also helped that
Pat, her husband, is extremely witty, funny, and an accomplished
professor and author.
Well, we both love the outdoors. We love to exercise. We
swim, bike, and run. We lift weights – and what a great
place to do all this! Soon we were training with Rick and
Evette Zurbriggen and enjoyed their company immensely, including
their charming young son Kyle. They introduced us to a couple
of their neighbors Rob and Christine Donovan and other friends
Angela and Scott Hall and soon we were all training together.
In the meantime we met Bill Sawyer at the Sanibel Pool one
day and before we all knew it, we were planning athletic
training schedules and events together.
In 2007 Rick, Scott, Ross, Bill and Christine signed up
for various Ironman Triathlon events. For those who don’t
know, the Ironman Triathlon involves a 2.4 mile swim, followed
by 112 mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2 mile marathon run
- all of which must be completed in 17 hours. (Yes, all in
one day!) Well, we are happy to report that all of the training
we did together and on Sanibel Island paid off! We all finished
with Scott and Christine completing their first Ironman Triathlon
events. Scott and Rick completed Ironman Coeur D’Alene;
Bill crossed the line at Ironman Lake Placid; Ross and Christine
finished Ironman Arizona. It was amazing to watch Christine
cross that finish line for the first time!
On November 11th , we all headed to Miami together to compete
in the Miami Man Triathlon/Duathlon. Bill, Ross, and Christine
completed the MiamiMan Half Ironman. This event involves
1.2 miles of swimming, followed by 56 miles of cycling, and
13.1 one miles of running. Bill and Christine set personal
records. Bill, for his efforts, won The Clamshell Gauntlet,
a trophy that our group competes for. We voted that during
the event he was the one that most exemplified what the Clamshell
Gauntlet represents: honor, courage, and tenacity during
the heat of battle! The relay team of Rick and Evette Zurbriggen
edged out the relay team of Marion Hauser and Rob Donovan
by four minutes during the half ironman duathlon. The relay
teams took second and third places overall. It was awesome!
In January, a group of us are heading to the Disney Marathon
to compete again for The Clamshell Gauntlet! Evette Zurbriggen
will attempt to complete her first marathon. Christine and
Ross will attempt to complete the Goofy Double. This is where
you complete the Disney Half Marathon and then the very next
day, finish the Disney Marathon. This is Marion’s fourth
marathon and she has been training hard and hopes to have
a great marathon race. Christine, Evette, and Marion call
themselves The Sanibel Somethings because they all have been
training together and decided they needed a name – and
that’s what stuck! Christine and Marion have even gotten
together back in Chicago to complete some of their long runs
together. Now THAT is friendship!
We have so much more that we could tell you…but we
just wanted to let everyone know about another great aspect
of the island…the people!
Is Sanibel Island beautiful? Yes. But the real beauty lies
in the people that live here. Thanks for making us part of
your family. |
Sanibel Triathlon/Marathon Training Buddies
from left to right, Rick
and Evette Zurbriggen, Marion and Ross
Hauser, Bill Sawyer, Chris
and Rob Donovan. |
Bill Sawyer holds up The Clamshell Gauntlet
Trophy. |
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