Sal Vasquez (Courtesy of the Marin Independent Journal)
Today's story in The Bee about the Dipsea Race did not mention that the all-time recordholder now lives in Sacramento.
That's because we didn't know that Sal Vasquez, who has won seven Dipseas (the last in 1997), now calls our flatlands home. Vasquez, 69, has been a Sacramentan for the past seven years during his semi-retirement.
In Dipsea lore, Vasquez is a living legend. After he won four straight Dipseas, the officials started awarding penalty minutes to previous winners. They call in the "Sal Vasquez Rule."
Vasquez says he was planning to run in this year's race, but an ankle injury felled him. He had surgery to repair tendons in May and says he'll be ready to go for next year's 100th race. Sal, who also has won a Double Dipsea, will be 70 and he thinks he's got a good shot at winning.
