Triathlon

For more information on the Velo Bella triathlon program, please email Whitney DeSpain.

Meet The Team!
Click on each athlete’s names to check out their blog.

Amy Larson
Amy LarsonAge group- 40-44
Where you can find me when I’m not training- Working full time for a biotech company and hanging with my awesome husband, our 2 (canine) boys, and great friends.
Best race experience- Qualifying for Kona at Oceanside 70.3 in 2010
Worst race experience- Hyperventilating during the swim at IronGirl Las Vegas in 2009 and grabbing onto a kayak – twice. I thought that swim would never end….
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Don’t Stop Believin’

Christine Silcox
Christine SilcoxAge group- 40-44
Where you can find me when I’m not training- Running around with my 3 cute girls, ages 4, 51/2 and 8.
Best race experience- Bulldog 2008: Working with the “Bellaton” team to ride a fast race and not too shabby of a finish either. This was also a fantastic Velo Bella effort that landed so many Bellas on the podium!
Worst race experience- How does getting your monthly nemesis on the run at Oceanside 70.3 sound- just imagine the pretty photos I have as a keepsake.
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Little Bob Marley- Don’t Worry About a Thing- Cause Every Little Thing’s gonna be all right…. (you need this kind of song with 3 girls and their drama
Grab bag- Life is not a stat or a Time Trial. Enjoy the road that gets you there.

DeeAnn Bonnell Smith
Age group- 40-44
Where you can find me when I’m not training- Coaching other triathletes, runners & cyclists, but hopefully on my Mountain bike!
Best race experience- Completing Alcatraz Triathlon the first time back in 2001!
Worst race experience- Having to DNF at Clearwater in 2006, stress fracture in my foot!
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Not sure it is my philosophy but the song I sing when I am racing is “I feel good!” by James Brown. It makes me smile!

Jackie Bickford
Jackie BickfordAge group- 50-54
Where you can find me when I’m not training- At work for the City of Oceanside or watching a movie or playing with my grandkids.
Best race experience- Finishing my first triathlon Oct 2007
Worst race experience- California 70.3 March 2010-bike troubles
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Eye of the Tiger!!!!
Grab bag- No matter how the race goes or how slow I am, it’s all about the finish line photo….

Jodi Hays
Jodi HaysAge group- 45-49
Where you can find me when I’m not training- I’m a mom to two young (triathletes to be) boys and one surfer chick , On a sunny day I might be paddle boarding at the Lagoon, I coach Saturday mornings and other wise I am probably eating popcorn or sleeping.
Best race experience-Finishing Full Vineman August 2009 and finding out that I was three hours faster than I thought I was:) (the eyes are a terrible thing to go)
Worst race experience- Coming down with the stomach flu at the start of Rock N Roll Marathon and struggling to complete 6 miles before calling it a day, and then trying to get back to my car. AU UGH
Song that best describes my race philosophy-“Running with the Devil”
Grab bag-When things get tough, my mantra is “Find enjoyment in this moment, it will never happen again!”

Lynn Scozzari
Lynn ScozzariAge group- 50-54
Where you can find me when I’m not training- Doing laundry, cooking and chauffeuring for my teenage son, leading Weight Watchers meetings, attending PTA meetings, taking care of my fur people (3 cats and a rowdy dog), oh and my house and spending time with my husband and friends and a bit of writing, poetry and essays when the spirit moves me.
Best race experience- Finishing within minutes of Boston Qualifying in my 2nd ever marathon(May 2010) tied with the feeling of finishing my first ever tri in April 2008 — see next answer
Worst race experience- First triathlon ever, when I couldn’t see my hand in the murky water,started hyperventilating and finished the swim with mostly breast stroke. (April 2008)
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Grab bag- I listen to NPR podcasts on long rides, especially Fresh Air and Radio lab. I imagine a giant, gentle hand on my back during tough runs that effortlessly pushes me forward.

Raja Lahti
Raja LahtiAge group- 30-34
Where you can find me when I’m not training- In my car working in pharmaceutial sales. Somewhere between San Diego, Palm Springs and Yuma….
Best race experience- Crossing the finish line at the ITU Age Group World Championships 2009 Gold Coast, Australia
Worst race experience- Swimming backwards at USAT National Championships 2009 in Tuscaloosa, AL. It was a heck of a current. Sucked. As soon as I hit solid ground I went nuts and PR’s in both bike & run. Unfortunately it still didn’t make up for swimming backwards..
Song that best describes my race philosophy- I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
Grab bag- I need my horse fix, keeps me sane

Stacy Dietrich
Stacy DietrichAge group- 30-34
Where you can find me when I’m not training- At my full time job selling pharmaceutical at Allergan Inc. Also spending quality time with my 6 month old, Thomas, and husband, Ryan
Best race experience- Finishing 11th in my age group at my first Ironman in 2008
Worst race experience- Baja 70.3 about four years ago. I went way too hard on the bike and bonked so bad on the run I had to walk most of it not to mention the “stomach issues”
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Circus theme song Mostly just describes my life in general and my day to day adventures.
Grab bag- “Pain is only temporary…”

Victoria Jones
Victoria JonesAge group- 50-54
Where you can find me if I’m not training- I’m a Mom and a part-time Certified Public Accountant.
Best race experience- Winning my age group for the first time.
Worst race experience- Getting swimming induced pulmonary edema (SIPE) during a triathlon. I was VERY thankful for rescue kayakers that day.
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Til I Collapse by Eminem
Grab bag – I have a wonderfully supportive husband who insists that I have all the latest triathlon equipment. So if I lose a race, it had nothing to do with not having the right bike, helmet, or wheels, etc. It’s the monkey.

Whitney DeSpain
Whitney DeSpainAge group- 35 – 39
Where you can find me when I’m not training- I’m a mom to a 6 year old mini-Bella, I coach, and I work part time at B&L Bike Store
Best race experience- Finishing Ironman Arizona in April of 2008
Worst race experience- Not finishing Ironman Saint George in May of 2010
Song that best describes my race philosophy- Where the Streets Have No Name
Grab bag- When things get tough, my mantra is “You are stronger than you think you are, you can do more than you think you can do”