Briefs

• Tucsonans know it and now so does the rest of the nation; Tucson is the No. 1 location for triathletes in the U.S., according to Triathlete Magazine. Triathlete’s October 2009 list of  "20 Best Places to Live,” gives Tucson high marks for its dry climate and varied terrain — including the 19-mile climb up Mt. Lemmon, the hilly Gates Pass-Tucson Mountains loop, and running trails into Saguaro National Park.

Of equal appeal are Tucson’s nearby lakes, proximity to rural, low-traffic areas, and abundant swimming pools — including Olympic-size facilities at University of Arizona. All this makes Tucson a favorite training base for leading triathletes: Leanda Cave, Samantha McGlone, and T.J. Tollakson. The area has also attracted other greats, such as Tour de France icon Lance Armstrong, Ironman World Champion Pete Reid, and Olympic gold medalist Sheila Taormina. Following Tucson are Boulder, Colo, Carlsbad, Calif, Austin, Texas, and Santa Barbara, Calif.



• Let’s face it, no matter how many times we see a tree aglow in a strand of lights, we are awed. There’s something about the lighting of a tree that brings us back to childhood. With the holidays here it’s time to feel that way again. Marana Mayor Ed Honea will host the town’s 12th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival & Twinkle Light Parade at the Marana Municipal Complex from 4–8 p.m. The free evening will include food, crafts, games, music, family entertainment and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Along with the lighting ceremony is the Twinkle Light Parade, which features cars, trucks, machinery and bicycles with lights, bells and music.

• Cañada Del Oro Riverfront Park has teamed up with Urban Athletics Boot Camp to offer residents intensive exercise sessions three days a week. The partnership marks Urban Athletics Boot Camp’s entry into the Oro Valley market — the company has been operating in central Tucson for the past two years.
The boot camp offers an all-over workout including: cardio routines, both hill- and flat-ground sprinting sessions, relay racing, and strength training and flexibility exercises.

Packages can be purchased ranging from six to 36 classes, which are given during either the early morning or afternoon.

For more information including schedules, pricing and online registration, visit UrbanAthletics.com or 520.445.8000. Urban Athletics is located at 1740 E. Hedrick Drive.

• On Nov. 13, Oro Valley will be the first stop in Southern Arizona for the Capitol Christmas tree, which will head to Washington, D.C. after a statewide tour. Mayor Paul Loomis will welcome the 85-ft. tall Blue Spruce — Colorado’s state tree — to the Oro Valley Marketplace from 6-8 p.m. The free event will also include a small ceremony where Oro Valley officials will present commemorative ornaments to tour officials on behalf of the community.

By the time the tree finishes its march to Washington, D.C. it will be adorned with more than 5,000 ornaments from its journey. This is the first time that Arizona will provide “the people’s tree” to Congress since the tradition began in 1964. Visit CapitolChristmasTree2009.org for more information.