No slowing him down

When Chris Domine was diagnosed with kidney failure in 1998, the San Mateo resident went through the initial phase that all people go through upon hearing such sobering news: He got depressed. But then Domine's survival instincts kicked in. "Of course I was concerned, but you have to survive," said Domine, who will be part of a transplant relay team competing in the May 2 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, which consists of a 1.5-mile swim, 18-mile bike ride and 8-mile run. "You just live day to day and tell yourself you can get through this." Domine, who was born in the Philippines before moving to the United States in '93, said he was fortunate because he only had to be on dialysis for a couple of years before receiving a kidney transplant. "It's hard to find a match sometimes and even if you do, sometimes your body rejects it (the transplanted kidney)," he said. "I've never had that problem, and I've been lucky because I've been able to (continue my life and) do activities of a normal person." Well, check that. The normal person doesn't have the ability to compete -- let alone finish -- a triathlon or Ironman, which is basically a triathlon on steroids (2.4-mile run, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run). But Domine has competed in plenty of ultra-endurance events. The 140-pound Domine actually was never much of a fitness buff until after he got his transplant; he gained 25 pounds going through dialysis. Looking simply to lose some weight, Domine started hiking. Hiking led to 5K (3.1 mile) runs. The 5K runs led to 10Ks (6.2 miles). Then came the marathons, which led to triathlons, which led to Ironmans. Of course, having to juggle work (Domine is a manager for a Fresh Choice in Colma) along with a family (he's married and has a 1-year-old boy) means Domine isn't always in peak shape by his lofty standards. That's why he's "only" doing one leg of the Escape from Alcatraz, the run portion of the race. "I'm not doing any swimming or biking now (training-wise)," Domine said. This is the third time Domine is competing in the Escape from Alcatraz, and he doesn't take a single day for granted. After all, not all people who receive transplants survive. And most of them don't end up taking part in triathlons a couple of times a year, let alone once. In the months after receiving the news he had kidney failure, Domine was determined to not only survive but come back stronger than ever. "I knew I was going to survive," Domine said. "I knew there was something at the end of the tunnel." *** San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is scheduled to speak at the ninth annual Positive Coaching Alliance's National Youth Sports Awards Dinner at Stanford University's Maples Pavilion at 5 p.m. April 17. "When (former Niner great and NFL Hall of Famer) Steve Young, who co-chairs PCA's dinner and auction, asked me to speak at this event, I did not hesitate," Smith said in a press release. "I believe strongly in the power of youth sports as a vehicle for teaching life lessons and developing character in youth. I am looking forward to meeting the six youth coaches who will be honored at this inspirational event." Among the local coaches who will be accepting awards include Menlo School football coach Mark Newton and Mid-Peninsula-Menlo Park basketball coach Curtis Haggins. *** Sacred Heart Prep baseball coach Gregg Franceschi was trying to figure out a way to honor Gunnar Sandberg, the Marin Catholic High baseball player who was nearly killed after being struck by a line drive in the head during a game last month. So Franceschi -- in conjunction with the King's Academy baseball coach Matt Berry -- made next Wednesday's 4 p.m. game on the TKA campus in Sunnyvale an all-wood bat game. Sandberg is recovering after being in a coma for the weeks after the accident. Sandberg's injury has reinforced the debate on the use of aluminum bats for youth baseball players. All the proceeds of the SHP-TKA game will go toward a fund established by Marin Catholic for Sandberg and his family. Emanuel Lee can be reached: emanuel@smdailyjournal.com and (650) 344 5200, ext. 109.