Group helps soldiers prepare for triathlon

Silverman is one of the toughest events in the world, organizers and athletes say

DAVID BECKER/VIEWCyclist Oscar "Oz" Sanchez shows off the two medals he won during the Summer Paralympic Games in Beijing during an event on Oct. 15 at lululemon athletica inside the Fashion Show mall. Sanchez will be competing in the Silverman Triathlon Nov. 9 in Henderson. Advertisement

The task ahead of the 700 athletes set to compete in the Silverman Full and Half Distance Triathlon in Henderson on Nov. 9 is described by past participants as a race of brutal pain fused with the thrill of Super Bowl Sunday.

"You go through so many different emotions, from being tired and frustrated to elated," southwest Las Vegas resident Becky Meldrum said.

"We are considered the world's toughest triathlon," race coordinator Frank Lowery said.

"This course is sheer survival," said Sam Cila, who will fly in from Long Island, N.Y., to compete.

On top of the 140.6 miles of combined swimming, cycling and running, 10 of the competitors, including Cila, have an additional challenge -- a physical disability. For the first time, athletes from Operation Rebound, a group that provides wounded U.S. soldiers with the equipment and the encouragement to compete, will take the starting line at this year's Silverman. A team of Operation Rebound athletes stopped by lululemon athletica in Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, on Oct. 15 to plug the organization and the triathlon.

"This sets a whole different tone to the race," Lowery said. "We want to give exposure to what these soldiers go through."

Operation Rebound started in 2004 when the Challenged Athletes Foundation spotted a need to motivate soldiers who were permanently injured in combat. The group has 58 military veterans on its roster. Program manager Nico Marcolongo holds fundraisers year-round to pay for the veterans' race fees, prosthetics, coaching and anything else they need to make it to the finish line.

The Silverman marks 35-year-old Cila's second half-distance triathlon, thanks to the help of Operation Rebound. Cila heard about the program after he lost most of his left arm three years ago in combat in Iraq.

"When I came home, I went through a real rough spot of depression," said Cila, whose family lives in Henderson. "My identity was kind of missing for a while because I've been physical my whole life. Operation Rebound helped me get back to where I wanted to be, physically and mentally."

Marcolongo said that throughout his four years with Operation Rebound, he's seen several wounded soldiers come back from war feeling defeated -- both physically and psychologically.

"These men and women are so vibrant and athletic, and to think that that has been taken away with an injury is tough," he said. "We give them support to help them meet whatever goals they have. And we see them just blossom."

Athletes from all 50 states and 14 countries, ages 16 to 74, are signed up for the Silverman. The deadline to register is Saturday. The full triathlon is made up of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. The half-distance triathlon is a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. The full race includes a 10,000-foot elevation gain in the bike course and 1,800 feet in the run.

The triathlon starts with a swim in Lake Mead and ends with a run into Henderson. The finish line is at the Henderson Multigenerational Center, 250 S. Green Valley Parkway.

Some of the race's big name competitors include six-time Ironman triathlon champion Dave Scott, 2007 Hawaiian Ironman champion Chris McCormack and Oscar "Oz" Sanchez, a paraplegic cyclist from San Diego who took gold and bronze medals home from the Beijing Paralympics.

Contact Southeast and Southwest View reporter Danielle Nadler at dnadler@viewnews.com or 224-5524.