Gloves Off! Gritson Signs with SOAS. Eyes Kona Crown

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Driscoll PR

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS STAR SIGNS SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH SOAS RACING AND All3SPORTS.COM. COACHED BY MULTISPORTS.COM. EYES KONA CROWN.

SAN DIEGO, CA. (April 1, 2013) Current undefeated Mixed Martial Arts fighter Savannah "Grits" Gritson (www.gritsracer.com) is returning to triathlon. Gritson, a former multisport phenom, announced her intention to rekindle her endurance roots after being approached by SOAS Racing (www.soasracing.com) and All3Sports (www.all3sports.com) and signing a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the women's specific line of endurance clothing and the multi-sports retailer.


SOAS doesn't currently produce mixed martial arts clothing, but co-founders Stephanie Swanson and Kebby Holden explained that SOAS is a lifestyle brand with an edge. Like Gritson, SOAS is all about results. "While we insist that our clothes look great, we're equally concerned about performance." says Holden. "As such, sponsorship with a triathlete / MMA fighter seemed like a perfect choice."

Grits, who is 6-0 as a MMA fighter, started her athletic life as a triathlete in Tifton, a small town in South Georgia. She still holds several junior records and had wins at the Tobacco Sprint Classic and the prestigious IronPeanut, a full distance event in Macon, Georgia.


Grits, which she claims stands for Girl Raised In The South, started training in martial arts while serving a suspension that was handed down by the U.S.A. Triathlon (USAT), the sports US governing body, in 2007. An altercation in the transition area with a man who was drafting too closely during the bike led to the decision.


"Well, obviously, I regret receiving the suspension” says Gritson. "But I don't regret choking him unconscious. After all, he was sucking my wheel harder than my granny sucks corn out of her teeth.


Looking for a way to maintain her fitness and use her physicality after her suspension, she briefly considered bowling. But the headlock that caused her triathlon suspension came so naturally to her, that Gritson decided to seek out MMA. It was a short road to success. She quickly dominated her class and is, so far, undefeated.


Gritson, who has always augmented her fight training with cycling and running, recently returned to triathlon and showed that she has lost none of her speed. 

While in Thailand for Muay Thai training, she competed in the Arm Bar Classic, a half-iron distance event, and won by a wide margin. The leg strength accumulated after years of MMA training was apparent as Gritson posted blazing bike and run splits. Her 1hr. 48min. bike on the hilly and humid 56 mile course, combined with an astonishing 1:05 half marathon, more than made up for a sub-par swim. Her results were made even more amazing after Gritson disclosed that her wheels and the frame of her bike were made entirely of locally-harvested and sustainable bamboo.


Gritson attributes a large portion of her athletic success to a diet rich in, yes, grits. The unprocessed version known as hominy contains a complex set of amino acids that provide both mental and physiological benefits including enhanced uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen to the larger muscle groups.


Her innovative stance on grits has led to interest in the grain for sport application. Gritson is working with an undisclosed company to create a cheese-grits flavored gel known as "speed grits."


"We are thrilled to have Savannah onboard with us." says SOAS's Holden. "She embodies one of our key marketing positions which is that SOAS isn't just a pretty face. We are also tough.


Gritson is currently training under legendary Multisports.com coach Paul Huddle (www.multisports.com), and is widely expected to be granted a wild-card entry into the Hawaii Ironman in Kona this year where she will be a pre-race favorite.

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MEET...THE BAM! 

Unlike other race bikes that are mass produced, each Bam! is matched to a single owner in a sacred ceremony known as The Bamdhana. Loosely translated from ancient Siamese, this means “The Pairing”. While the ceremony has only been witnessed by the rare individual, rumor has it that it is conducted twice per year during the spring and fall equinox.  

It begins with the placement of four hand-selected Bamboo seeds that represent the four

elements, Fire, Water, Air & Earth, into a small aero helmet. After several hours of dancing and chanting, the potential owners of a Bam! go one by one into a small tent to "meet" the four seeds. Details here get murky, but it is believed that the owner consumes massive quantities of a local drink that is laced with mild hallucinogens. After which, one of the four seeds begins to glow. In this way, the fledging bike  "selects" the chosen new owner. And the "pairing" is complete.

 

The glowing seed is then blessed by the Shamans and placed into a specially built bike shaped frame where it is carefully watered and nurtured.

In about three months, the fully-developed bike hatches from the frame and is ready to hit the road.

While her bike is substantially similar to other Bams!, Grits does use specially grown race wheels called Boos. The only difference between the Boos and the stock wheels that are grown onto the Bam! , is that the smooth bark on the original plant is not removed from the sides. This creates a naturally sleek surface that increases the aero dynamic efficiency of the Boos.  

GRITS + BAM! = SPEED.

SOAS's Home Game: Oceanside 70.3

For SOAS, we consider Oceanside 70.3 in our backyard. Since we are based in San Diego, it’s just up the road from our offices and it’s one of our favorite events. Not to mention our season opener.  For those of you coming out for this excellent event that are not from the Southern Californian area... here’s some information we hope you find helpful.

The city of Oceanside is about a 40 minute drive north from San Diego and a two hour drive south from Los Angeles. That’s the good news. The bad news is that to get there you may have to take the 5 or the 405 freeway which can be incredibly congested. So when you get here, stay put for a while, enjoy the Oceanside pier and watch the surfers do their thing.  Also don’t let your spouse forget their golf clubs... there are more than 90 golf courses close to the Oceanside area....some quite famous, almost all of them are spectacular.

Now the race...

The race was originated as an Ironman event in 2000 and 2001. Back then, it was completely held inside Camp Pendleton, the major West Coast base of the US Marine Corp. The Camp has over 125,000 acres of varied terrain and 17.1 more miles of shoreline. Truly, some of the best realty in SoCal. But after 9/11, the race was turned into one of the first 70.3 events, due to the heightened security. Now, the bike portion is the only part of the race allowed within Camp Pendleton. The City of Oceanside worked alongside Camp Pendleton to accommodate the race, going so far as to allow the one and only time of the year that anyone is allowed to swim in Oceanside Harbor. 

The athletes will swim in Oceanside Harbor, cycle through San Clemente State Park and Camp Pendleton and run through Oceanside’s beachfront neighborhood. For an “Ocean Swim”, the water is generally somewhat calm since you'll be inside the harbor's protective wall. Guaranteed that the water will be down-right cold and the swells can pick up at the turn around.  

The bike is really interesting since it combines stretches of flat at the beginning and the end that can be lightning fast with three pretty significant climbs in the middle. It is a beautiful ride through the base, and if you aren't inspired by the Marines manning the aide stations and cheering you on, then its hard to imagine you getting inspired by much. Chances are, you'll tell them you should be cheering for them!

The two loop run course is really flat and spectator friendly down the main beach boardwalk & nearby neighborhoods. The only risk is you wanting to plop down in the sand to watch the surfers or join a cookout. 

An interesting feature of this race is that Accenture and the Challenged Athletes Foundation (one of our favorite non-profit organizations) are teaming to support eight injured military service members and first responders to race in Ironman event as part of CAF’s Operation Rebound. Additionally, CAF will be the official event charity for the race. Also half of the volunteer staff comes from units stationed at Camp Pendleton, so it truly a good time to give thanks to our men and women in the military community. San Diego is a major military town and we love our troops and encourage y'all to give them a shout-out or a hug!

For more race tips and info, check out our review at: http://soasracing.com/resources/race-reviews/rhoto-ironman-california.php

Have fun and a great race! 

IRONMAN 70.3 San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 17, 2013

So…are any of you doing the 70.3 in the oldest city in the U.S.?  Which one is that, you ask?  Boston…Philly?  Actually, it’s Ironman 70.3 San Juan on March 17th. That’s right...San Juan. We’ll leave the semantics debate over Puerto Rico’s status (technically it is a U.S. Territory, although there is talk of making it the 51st U.S. state) to another time and just give you our perspective on this cool event. 

Puerto Rico was founded in 1521. English and Spanish are its official languages (who says Americans are never multi-lingual?).  The U.S. dollar is the currency, and you don't need a passport or visa to travel there.

It is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean. You may think the plane took a wrong turn and landed in Miami when you see the bustling hotels and modern establishments in downtown. But take solace in knowing that there are sections that remain quaint, restive and yet oh so cosmopolitan…enter beautiful Old San Juan.

When you enter the walled city of Old San Juan, often called the Soul of Puerto Rico, you will feel as if you have been transported to Seville or Buenos Aires. The architecture is magnificent and you’ll notice incredible aromas emanating from the tons of alfresco restaurants, bistros & coffee stops.

We could go on about the beaches and watersports but of course, dear Athlete, you are here to RACE!

Swim: 1.2 miles

The spectator friendly swim starts in Condado Lagoon which is well protected from any rough open water. While you most likely won’t have the benefit of a wetsuit, since the water temperature should be near 78 degrees, the buoyancy of the salt water should help keep you level in the water.  And if you get nervous, just look down and pretend you’re snorkeling…along with a couple hundred really close friends.

Bike: 56 miles

Even though Puerto Rico does have a lot of hills, the bike is fairly flat.  There are a few rollers and false flats but in general, it’s a fast course. Sweet, right?!  

Run: 13 miles

Ok, so you’ve had it fairly easy with a protected swim and a flat bike. Be ready though, as a few of our SOAS ambassadors have told us that the run can be really punishing.  Not only is the course hilly, it’s likely that the heat and humidity will have kicked in by the time you toss on your kicks.  One saving grace could be that the run is usually lined with spectators cheering you on.  Hopefully you can feed off their energy and hang on for a great finish. 

The race has 40 2013 World Championship 70.3 Las Vegas Qualifying spots.

Post-race:

After you’ve finished, it time to engage in a little carb replenishment, right? What are you in the mood for? A juicy steak? A fab Asian-fusion experience? Middle Eastern? It’s all available here. Or perhaps just stick to the incredibly fresh local seafood and home-styled Creole cooking.

No matter what you do, we hope you have a blast.  And as always, wave and say hello to the other SOAS athletes on the course!

Best!

IRONMAN HEADS TO LOS CABOS

Los Cabos is hosting its first ever Ironman on March 17th, 2013.  It joins Ironman Cozumel and Cozumel 70.3 as one of the growing number of long distance triathlon events in Mexico.

SOAS has quite a few friends heading to Los Cabos, so we wanted to say “happy taper” and share a few thoughts about the event and the area.

The race starts with a swim in the Sea of Cortes and ends with a run course that travels along a 20-mile corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. The stunning views of cliffs, desert, mountains and turquoise color of the sea will serve as the backdrop for your day.

Cabo San Lucas is on the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and is a magnificent beach and coastal town that is easily accessible by air. It and its neighbor towns are international resort destinations, where you will find Five star spas, and condo timeshares galore.

For those of you who truly love fish... and not just in bouillabaisse.... the Baja Peninsula is a perfect destination. The snorkeling can be outstanding. While there are several beaches in the Los Cabos area, Playa Santa Maria may be the best of the lot. It’s known for the small size of the cove, the variety of fish, the easy access, and the peaceful views.

To get there, drive from Cabo on Hwy 1. After the Km 12 sign you’ll see the cleared home-sites on the right. Just before you reach the Km 13 sign, you’ll see a covered bench / bus stop. Exit the highway and head down the dirt road.  

Amenities include a restroom in the parking area, a few vendors that rent snorkeling gear and rumor has it that there is even a masseuse on the beach (post race recovery perhaps?).  We’ve heard that you should bring your own umbrella if you want shade and lots of fresh water to drink and rinse off with.

While Ironman obviously knows how to operate an event, you should remember that this is an “inaugural”.  As such you should do your best to be prepared for a few wrinkles. From our experience, dazed locals and confused logistics are two of the potential challenges of a new event. In all seriousness, it seems as if veteran cities (like Coeur d'Alene for IMCDA) know what to expect when Ironman comes to town.  It is possible that the Los Cabos residents won’t know about road closures or be used to driving in close proximity to packs of aero helmeted triathletes. So we’d recommend that you keep your head on a swivel during your practice rides and add an extra 15 minutes to your pre-race timetable in case logistical issues arise. 

Oh...and remember, it’s possible that all the distance markers will be in kilometers.  So brush up on the metric system.

The good news is that after your race, you’re in for a real treat.  The tip of Baja is a major tourist destination for good reason. Great food and great fun await just past the finish line! If you close your eyes, you may even hear a mariachi band playing in the distance... and cold margaritas calling your name.

Places We Like: Justin Vineyards

I am not 100% sure if this blog should be titled “places” we like or “things” we like. Regardless, you HAVE to know about Justin Vineyards. A couple of years ago, Steph and I were working on some designs and we decided to open a bottle of wine for inspiration. (Yeah, not the first time that's happened.) She asked if I’d ever heard of Justin and I said I hadn’t. She and hubby Brit discovered the small winery on the way back from Vineman 70.3 that year.  Rumor has it they had to move wheels and gear bags around so they could return to San Diego with multiple cases in the trunk.  Just sayin...

Anyhow, we cracked open a bottle of Justification and I was in love. There whole selection is lovely and you have to check out their corks. With clever inspiration & puns on them, I now have enough to fill up a bike case, and they make fun holiday ornament gifts for friends.

Here's the lowdown on this wonderful place.

Former investment banker Justin Baldwin founded the Justin Vineyards & Winery in 1981 after purchasing 160 acres west of Paso Robles on California's Central Coast and planting grapes.

The region’s first grapes were planted in 1779 by Franciscan missionaries. While it hasn't been validated officially, it is rumored that the good monks not only knew how to make good wine, but they also wore skinny jeans under their robes and rode around the vines on fixies. BLESS THEM!

Justin produces Bordeaux style blends that are…how would a connoisseur put it?? Oh yes...kickass. Their efforts have been rewarded with past and present vintages earning 90+ points in every major wine publication. In addition to having great wine, they also have an amazing B&B called “The Just Inn," (get it?!.) Each of the four luxury suites are appointed in beautiful European tradition. The food is insanely good. They have in-room massages that make the Just Inn a great place to recover after wine tasting and training.

Bonus points if this other awesomeness wasn't enough for you?: it's Pet-Friendly! WOOT!

There are some really good rides in the Paso Robles area if you'd like a great training trip. On the east side, you can bike out around Hog Canyon, Estrella, Pleasant and Cross Canyon. The roads are generally
good for riding though a few of them lack much of a shoulder and there are some challenging hills to be found, like the one by J. Lohr Vineyards (another great Cab & Pinot to check out, BTW)

Of course, you may want to get your training done early before the wine tasters hit the road.

So if you happen to be up near Paso Robles and need to take in some anti-oxidants, we’d encourage you to stop by Justin Winery (www.justinwine.com) and have a taste.

If you get you good one, be sure to share your cork with us! CHEERS!

www.soasracing.com

BETTER TOGETHER

Over the past couple of years, SOAS has had the pleasure of sponsoring athletes who share the values, outlook on life and who embrace the athletic lifestyle that is the essence of our brand and why we do what we do at SOAS.

Perhaps due to my previous life as a literature major and a reporter, I am steadfast in my belief that words matter. Fearfully of being accused of what Winston Churchill called ‘terminological inexactitude,’ we made a conscious decision to call our sponsored athletes “Ambassadors”.  We initially decided to use this term instead of “Team Member” since most endurance sports are individualistic at their core, and the first definition of “Team” is: “a group of players forming one side in a competition, game or sport.” 

On Friday of last week, SOAS announced our sponsored amateur athletes for 2013.  Our elite gals will be announced this coming week. To select these 22 amazing age-group ladies, we read and re-read hundreds of applications, checked blog posts and solicited feedback from others in our industry.  We endeavored to find those individuals who embody the spirit of endurance sport and best represent the SOAS brand.

One of the things we are always struck by when reviewing these amazing applications each year is the theme of friends, training partners and groups. The vast majority of entries and blog posts written by the applicants talk not about their speed and PRs, but rather how they have their friends to thank for getting them into the sport, staying in the sport and improving in the sport. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not because SOAS girls aren’t fast.  Among our athletes we’ve been fortunate enough to have the fastest overall female amateur in the 2011 70.3 World Championships, as well as an Ironman Champion, and multiple Ironman Champion age-groupers. 

But universally, instead of getting a spreadsheet full of swim, bike and run splits, these ladies shared stories about how friends got them into the sport, and how they, in turn, convinced other friends to give running, cycling or triathlon a shot....not to mention how much better a painfully long training day was thanks to being able to suffer with a “bestie.” These friendships always outweigh any race result.

That’s a big part of what SOAS is all about. Sure, we also aim to create the MOST comfortable, functional and best-looking clothes in our sport. But more than that, we want to be a grass-roots company that encourages a community of friends who share their love of health and sport. Ladies who love to compete, for sure, but who also like to laugh, have an occasional glass of wine….and who want to bring along other people for the ride. We want to be a team that cheers other athletes along, even when they pass us or we are having a bad day. 

 So with that, as a backdrop, let me share another definition of the word “Team.”  This one is for the verb and it means: “to come together to achieve a common goal.”  Our team certainly does that. 

Please say hello to the 2013 SOAS Amateur Team. Don’t hesitate to say “hey” if you see them out on a race course somewhere!

Our PRO team will be announced this week.

Happy Training,
Kebby

Ironman 70.3 Panama: Digs 

On February 3^rd, athletes will swim  within the banks of  The Panama Canal, known as “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” It’s also listed as one of the seven wonders of the world, which is pretty odd but, hey, who’s counting?

Ironman 70.3 Panama, the first Latin American Pro Championship in the global Ironman 70.3 Series, will begin with a 3.86 km swim at the very mouth of the famous canal. Set against a varied backdrop of ocean, forest and city, participants will swim in the Pacific, bike across the Bridge of the Americas - that little bit of real estate that connects Central and South America - and travel a 13.1 mile double loop run through the tourist-laden Amador Causeway, all the while viewing ships from all over the world as they journey their way through the Panama short-cut that connects one side of the world to the other. 

Panama has undergone extensive changes since the 1980s. The success of the canal and the restoration of a democratic government has driven extensive tourism-oriented infrastructure in the form of hotels, resorts and restaurants.  U.S. currency is accepted so there is no need to deal with the hassles of money exchange and the Tocumen International Airport has been redeveloped into a more travel-friendly entity.

The seventy-story iconic Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower is this year’s featured hotel and acts as a race headquarters. The entire hotel will house athlete check-in, the Expo and the Awards Ceremony along with holding court for all TV, media and press related issues. The event rate is $155 plus applicable taxes. 

In true “Trump” style, the Ocean Club International is the tallest, probably the grandest, building in Latin America. Were you surprised? The hotel has a state-of-the-art fitness center, wireless internet access and a full service business center. Located only five minutes from the financial district, it has a lot of things going for it with Punta Pacifica’s unique shopping and nightlife nearby and easily accessible.  

Unfortunately, visitors rank service very low and, from the plethora of bad customer service marks on most trip advisory sites, The Donald has earned a “your fired” from unhappy customers.

In stark contrast is the more modest, but further-from-the-Ironman-event, Toscana Inn Hotel. Ranked as Trip Advisor’s best Panama hotel, it is located in Panama City’s prestigious El Cangrejo district, close to Via España, Multiplaza Pacific and Multicentro Panama. The Toscana sports a roof-top terrace with spectacular vistas of Panama City. Numerous restaurants are within walking distance, not to mention easy access to the Metropolitan Nature Park and National Bank House Museum. The hotel even offers free Wi-Fi in the room and throughout the hotel.

Another choice is the Intercontinental Miramar Panama located on Avenida Balboa in Panama City. The views of the Bay of Panama are supposed to be spectacular and guests can see, right from the room, ships waiting to enter the canal. If you get lucky enough, get a room at the end and as high up as possible. End rooms have wraparound windows giving you a panoramic view as you lie in bed…recovering from the race…or whatever. Oh, and the hotel has a nice spa with floor-to-ceiling windows and heated beds, and there is a fitness center too.

Whether you choose the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower or one of the non-featured hotels, getting around at the Ironman 70.3 Panama event is relatively easy. Remember that taxis are usually cheap, and cheaper still if you get them yourself instead of having the hotel concierge arrange it.  And, in some areas, you can get around via a hop-on/hop-off bus. 

There are some fantastic restaurants such as the Cafeteria Manolo, Machu Pichu, The Wine Bar, Istmo Brew Pub and the Martin Fierro Steakhouse.

We’ll write up an update as we get closer to the event and explore other things to do in Panama as well as give more details on some fun places to dine. Until then, fire up some Van Halen on your iPod!