Lighting the Torch

Mighty Green Vaqueros

Friday nights at Memorial Field look a lot different today than they did just a few years ago. Back then, the rare spot of open space in Logan Heights was more brown than green, and any activity in the open space was likely gang-related. Today, hundreds gather on green grass under bright lights to cheer on the Mighty Green Vaqueros, the varsity soccer team of King-Chavez Community High School, a newer charter school. San Diego native and Saint Augustine alum Kyle Hagenburger started up the program in 2009 from nothing, and three years later the team made it all the way to CIF semifinals. As with so many sports, it’s the community that really wins big in this story, soon to be released as a documentary produced by Hagenburger and his wife, Carmen Caserta. Visit themightygreenblog.com to follow their progress.

Mighty Green Vaqueros

Friday nights at Memorial Field look a lot different today than they did just a few years ago. Back then, the rare spot of open space in Logan Heights was more brown than green, and any activity in the open space was likely gang-related. Today, hundreds gather on green grass under bright lights to cheer on the Mighty Green Vaqueros, the varsity soccer team of King-Chavez Community High School, a newer charter school. San Diego native and Saint Augustine alum Kyle Hagenburger started up the program in 2009 from nothing, and three years later the team made it all the way to CIF semifinals. As with so many sports, it’s the community that really wins big in this story, soon to be released as a documentary produced by Hagenburger and his wife, Carmen Caserta. Visit themightygreenblog.com to follow their progress.

Tijuana

Looking to live on the bleeding edge of hip art, food, and nightlife? Head for the border. Here are a few things to know before you pack up:

1. Make a list of reasons why you’re moving. Rank them according to priority. If “cheaper rent” trumps stuff like “learning a new language,” “assimilating into a new culture,” or “the rare opportunity to hop back and forth between two extremely distinct realities,” reconsider the move.

2. Six magic letters: S-E-N-T-R-I. Chances are you’ll be going back and forth daily for work or school. Before you start thinking about Mexican visas, worry more about minimizing your border wait. Apply for a U.S. passport card, which allows you to use the quicker-moving Ready Lane, or Secured Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), the Amex Black Card of border crossing that almost always guarantees zippy entry to the States. 



3. Shop on the street. Craigslist Tijuana exists (tijuana.craigslist.org), but it’s mostly in English and obviously geared toward Americans, and the prices often reflect that. Locals stick to vivanuncio.com.mx for finding rentals. The best way to find a place is still combing the streets on foot or by car. Cacho and Playas are ideal starter ’hoods for most gabachos, the former for its urban, residential setting. The latter is beach living, removed from the city.



4. Prepare to invest in appliances. Rental properties in Mexico usually come without a washer/dryer, stove, or refrigerator. You might even need to purchase your own shower head and toilet seat.

5. Avoid fees. Open a P.O. Box in San Diego and an account with a U.S. bank that waives ATM fees in Mexico. Find car insurance that extends coverage south of the border and a cell phone plan that’s free of international roaming.

6. Expect the rent to be in U.S. dollars. And not just because you’re American. The dollar is the preferred currency for most large transactions because it tends to be more stable. Depending on the exchange rate, rent can fluctuate $30 to $50 from month to month.

7. Propane isn’t just for grilling. Down here, it makes the world go ’round, as in hot water for showering and cooking. Propane delivery trucks roam the streets, blasting jingles with phone numbers for delivery service. Write down those numbers. They will come in handy whenever the gas runs out.

8. Perfect the art of the cowboy bath. See No. 8.

9. Bills, bills, bills. You have to pay gas, water, cable, electricity in person. Online payments are not available. Some offices have automated machines, and you can pay at any Oxxo—Mexico’s 7-Eleven—for a small fee. Just know the border isn’t the only line you’ll loathe.

Tijuana

Looking to live on the bleeding edge of hip art, food, and nightlife? Head for the border. Here are a few things to know before you pack up:

1. Make a list of reasons why you’re moving. Rank them according to priority. If “cheaper rent” trumps stuff like “learning a new language,” “assimilating into a new culture,” or “the rare opportunity to hop back and forth between two extremely distinct realities,” reconsider the move.

2. Six magic letters: S-E-N-T-R-I. Chances are you’ll be going back and forth daily for work or school. Before you start thinking about Mexican visas, worry more about minimizing your border wait. Apply for a U.S. passport card, which allows you to use the quicker-moving Ready Lane, or Secured Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), the Amex Black Card of border crossing that almost always guarantees zippy entry to the States. 



3. Shop on the street. Craigslist Tijuana exists (tijuana.craigslist.org), but it’s mostly in English and obviously geared toward Americans, and the prices often reflect that. Locals stick to vivanuncio.com.mx for finding rentals. The best way to find a place is still combing the streets on foot or by car. Cacho and Playas are ideal starter ’hoods for most gabachos, the former for its urban, residential setting. The latter is beach living, removed from the city.



4. Prepare to invest in appliances. Rental properties in Mexico usually come without a washer/dryer, stove, or refrigerator. You might even need to purchase your own shower head and toilet seat.

5. Avoid fees. Open a P.O. Box in San Diego and an account with a U.S. bank that waives ATM fees in Mexico. Find car insurance that extends coverage south of the border and a cell phone plan that’s free of international roaming.

6. Expect the rent to be in U.S. dollars. And not just because you’re American. The dollar is the preferred currency for most large transactions because it tends to be more stable. Depending on the exchange rate, rent can fluctuate $30 to $50 from month to month.

7. Propane isn’t just for grilling. Down here, it makes the world go ’round, as in hot water for showering and cooking. Propane delivery trucks roam the streets, blasting jingles with phone numbers for delivery service. Write down those numbers. They will come in handy whenever the gas runs out.

8. Perfect the art of the cowboy bath. See No. 8.

9. Bills, bills, bills. You have to pay gas, water, cable, electricity in person. Online payments are not available. Some offices have automated machines, and you can pay at any Oxxo—Mexico’s 7-Eleven—for a small fee. Just know the border isn’t the only line you’ll loathe.

Julie Moss

When I hear the USA triathlon bigwigs call me a multisport pioneer, I think… of when I started training for my first triathlon in 1981, when the sport was so new I would have to give a full explanation every time I mentioned it. However, being a pioneer had its perks. You didn’t have to qualify to get into the Ironman, the race entry was only $85, and there was only one training group in town. It was the best-looking boys’ club I had ever seen, so I was highly motivated to hang with the pack.

The fact that San Diego is the birthplace of triathlons makes me feel… lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. It’s rare you get in on the ground floor of a sport and watch it grow up.

My favorite time of day to run is… in the morning, after coffee. Otherwise you’re chasing that run all day long.

My favorite place to run is… the San Elijo Lagoon Trail, starting at Cardiff Seaside Beach heading east toward Rancho Santa Fe. Then up and over the “Rim of the World” trail, then loop back. It’s about 10 miles. When the water is warm, I jump in the ocean and kick my legs out for instant recovery, then hit Pipes Cafe on the way home.

Training is a part of my… sanity. I feel happier and healthier when I break a sweat every day.

Of all the places I’ve traveled for this sport, the one I most want to return to is… Reunion Island, just off of South Africa. I was there for an Ironman race in the early 1990s; by far, it was the most exotic destination I’d ever imagined. Crazy to fly all that way, race, and go home.

To say I’m competitive is… true, I’ll paint a target on anyone’s back if it helps me get to the line faster. But outside of racing, I’m a cheerleader and mentor and want everyone to be their best.

Pain… can be a great coach. Listen to your body and it will teach you the difference between when to stop and when to stop whining.

My daily workout routine includes… yoga at Core Power. Without the strength and flexibility I get from my daily yoga practice, I wouldn’t be able to go out and do all the other sports.

The foods I couldn’t live without are… coffee, Greek yogurt, Lärabars, something salty/crispy paired with something cold/bubbly, and spicy chicken soup from Jorge’s Mexicatessen.

When Kathleen McCartney passed me as I was crawling across the finish line in the 1982 Ironman, it taught me… to find a way to keep moving forward. In a race, just like in life, you will fall, so get up. And if that’s not possible, then ask, “What is?” When standing became impossible, crawling was. There’s always something you can do.

Endurance sport is different today than it was 30 years ago because… the races are no longer considered freak shows. The Ironman is now mainstream. Becoming an Olympic sport was a huge jump. And now, training for this year’s Ironman you have Hines Ward, the Steelers MVP and Dancing with the Stars champion. You don’t get more mainstream than that.

As a motivational speaker, the most important tip I can offer people is… dream big AND never give up on your dreams. I recently collaborated with Kathleen McCartney, the woman who passed me all those years ago, to create “Iron Icons.” Our message is simple and timeless: Be a warrior for your dreams, be relentless in the pursuit of those dreams; you and you alone are the champion of your life.

Moss will be honored April 18 at the Bahia Resort Hotel, kicking off the ITU World Triathlon San Diego race weekend.