Tri for Our Veterans...In Memory of Matt McCulley 5/29/10

Happy Birthday......

2010-06-04T08:40:00.003-04:00

Today, Matt would have been 36. He loved his birthday, and made sure it lasted the entire month of June!

I wish he were here to celebrate and laugh with............we miss and love you, Matt - and we will make sure that your birthday is still celebrated and remembered.

xoxoxo

Still making a difference....

2010-06-02T09:16:00.004-04:00

I thought I would share an email that my mom wrote to her brother. In it, they discuss Matt's death, and how our lives have changed since. Needless to say, we miss Matt more as they days go by, as it really hits home that he is not coming back. I thought his passing would get "easier" with time, but I have found the opposite. The pain is still part of my daily life, and has not diminished in the least; however, there is a silver lining, as explained by my mom (aka "Iron Granny") below...............

Buzz,
As I told you on Thursday, while putting up the fence; I believe some good HAS to come out of this.
We saw the good; we saw it Thursday, Friday, and especially on Saturday. We saw it while stuffing packets; you saw it while stuffing envelopes.
We saw it at registration; we saw it through all of our volunteers.
We all saw it on race day, the smiles, the people who came from near and far, people who rearranged their schedules and enjoyed helping.
More importantly we felt it, we felt the love, we felt the love people had for Matt, we felt the love for our Veterans, we felt the love of our Family and Friends and we felt the love, energy and spirit of Matt.
He was looking down and beaming with pride; as I was, I think it’s the only day I haven’t cried.
As tragic as this is, we all have become stronger, better and more grateful people because of this.
We are grateful we have you, Patti, the girls and all your Family and Friends.
Sherree

I think this pretty much sums it up. Although I would do anything to have my brother back, he has made a difference while here on earth, and continues to do so from above.

I love you, buddy..........

Thank you..........

2010-05-31T14:50:00.002-04:00

Wow! What a weekend!!! THANK YOU RACERS – you all did an unbelievable job, and I am so proud of your accomplishments!

I want to thank the city of Sea Isle, Piranha Sports, all of our sponsors - and especially all of our family and friends who have been such a huge help and a great source of encouragement and support.

When I took this challenge on in January, I knew nothing - I didn't even know where to begin. To learn how to coordinate an event like this is not easy, and I have no idea how Matt did it. I have a new found appreciation for all of the work he did.

Matt did not leave behind much information on how he developed and ran this event (I think he kept it in his thick head!) I am not exactly an athlete, and had absolutely no experience with triathlons. The challenge was a very daunting one, but I knew I had to take it on, as TRI For Our Veterans was something Matt was extremely proud of, and it meant a great deal to him. He was so passionate and dedicated, and there was no way I could have let him, or the cause down.

There were a few bumps along the way, especially for a first time race director, and I would never have been able to organize or direct this event without these very special people:

1. Neil Semmel (Piranha Sports). I had never met Neil until after Matt passed away. After our first meeting, he made me feel so comfortable. He is an incredible teacher, has dedicated so much of his free time to helping me, giving me advice and guidance, and being my "go to guy" for pretty much everything! Neil, you are wonderful and a simple "thank you" is not enough.

2. The city of Sea Isle. The Mayor's Office, Police Dept., Recreation Dept. Dept of Public Works, the Beach Patrol - I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly NICE these people are. They have done so much, are so generous with their time, and great to work with. Vicki, Pattiann, Mike, John, and Renny - you are why Sea Isle is the great city that it truly is - THANK YOU!!

3. The Lynn Family......Uncle Buck is my right hand man. Although he tells way too many stories and bad jokes (which only he laughs at) he has been a huge help - attending all meetings, gaining new sponsors, and devoting much of his free time to the planning of this TRI. Aunt Patti – the greatest volunteer coordinator on earth! Organized should have been her middle name. Amy, Reenie, BJ, Doc and Melissa – thank you for all of your help and support, “Miles for Matt” was in full effect! Mikey and Zach – you are hired next year! By far the funniest and most entertaining finish line announcers out there, I am still laughing at some of the comments!

4. The Fordham Boys……Matt would have been proud! You were all on time, sober, and a HUGE help. I truly hope that you will come into town each year, we don’t get to see you enough!

5. Team Microsoft – quite possibly my 2 favorite people of the weekend! Rob and Fitz, thank you for traveling so far, keeping Matt’s memory alive, and talking with my mom. I enjoyed your company – and can’t wait to see those pictures!

6. Our generous sponsors….we raised over 40k for the Injured Marines Semper Fi Foundation and VFW Post 1963! It is incredible, and will make a difference in so many lives.

7. Team Semper Fi – did you see these guys??? Unbelievable. Not only are they extremely talented, they are extremely NICE on top of it all! It was an honor and privilege to meet them, and I look forward to seeing them all next year!

8. My mom and dad……As you can imagine, it has been a tough 4 months for them. Matt was their first born, they were so proud of all of his accomplishments, and there is not a second that goes by when they do not miss him and his huge smile. Through their grief, they have been a huge support and confidence booster for me. Even when I was stressed to the max, they believed in me. Love you guys!

9. My husband……Brett took on A LOT these past few months as I have been adjusting to life without my brother and best friend. There were many days/nights when we didn’t even see each other, as I devoted much of my time to this race. We have 2 little ones (1.5 and almost 3) and he has really stepped up to the plate! Thank you and love you too!

10. To all of our friends, family, and even strangers…….! Your dedication, cooperation, generosity, kind words, and support is what makes this event what it is. I am completely taken aback by the feeling of community that I have experienced over the past few months. Many of you stopped to share stories of Matt with our family - you have no idea how much this means to us. His name is spoken in our homes everyday, and we feel blessed that he is still remembered by so many of you.

I met some of the greatest people this weekend – many of whom said that TRI For Our Vets is their favorite race of the year. I hope it continues to be so for many years to come!

As I looked out over the crowd on Saturday, I saw nothing but smiles. That, along with knowing that our appreciation for our military is the basis of why we come together each year, is worth more to me than you will ever know.

Thank you for another great year and Happy Memorial Day!

One Week To Go..............

2010-05-22T15:23:00.008-04:00

Are you ready?? I think I am - just putting the final touches on some things and I think we are all set!

Athlete Guides should be sent out on Monday to everyone who has registered. In it you will find some changes (the registration site has not been updated as of yet.)

Here are a few highlights.......

1. Packet Pick-up is on Friday the 28th at the VFW (JFK Blvd in Sea Isle City) 4:30 - 8:30 pm. You MUST have valid ID to receive your packet. You CANNOT pick up a packet for another person. Body marking will also be completed at the VFW. New to TRI's?? There is a First Timer's Meeting at 7 where all of your questions and concerns will be answered.

2. You can also pick up your packets the morning of the race between 5 and 6:30 am. There is NO WAIT LIST or SPOTS AVAILABLE!

3. There is a MANDATORY pre-race meeting in the Transition Area at 6:40 am. THE RACE STARTS AT 7 AM THIS YEAR!

4. The COURSE HAS CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS......

The swim remains the same.

The Bike Course will now be 8.3 miles, as opposed to 12.3 miles (I'm sure you are all very upset by this!) Landis Ave was completely under construction this Spring and the completion date was originally set for June.

You will now exit the Transition area, make a RIGHT onto Pleasure Ave., a LEFT onto 39th, and a RIGHT onto Landis Ave. Proceed North towards Strathmere until the turn around point. The bike return will head South on Landis Ave, make a LEFT onto 40th, and into the Transition area.

The run portion has also changed, due to high tide. This will not be a beach run, as it has been in the past. You will now exit the Transition area onto the Promenade. Run South on the Promenade to 57th, exit Promenade, make a LEFT onto Pleasure Ave, run South to 69th (this is the turn around point, water/HEED station.) Then proceed back North, the same route.

The Finish Line will be on the North side of the Pavilion on the Promenade.

If you have done this race in the past,I know it sounds like alot of changes; but I think you will agree that this route is simpler and much safer.

I mentioned in a previous post that, this year the shirts will be yellow. Well, wouldn't you know it.......... the company decided to discontinue the color, and keep that little tid bit to themselves!

Just another bump in the road, and at the end of the day, not a big deal. Let's remember what this TRI is all about - when considering all of our service men and women - the color of a shirt is a pathetic thing to get upset about. So grey it is for the shirts....... (but who doesn't love a grey shirt, right?)

Wish me luck..............tomorrow I will be on a jet ski setting the flags for the swim! (I wish I looked this good in a wet suit, though! I miss and love you, MBM!)

SOLD OUT!!!!

2010-05-02T21:21:00.003-04:00

Thank you! It doesn't seem to be enough - but I would like to thank all who have registered to race, sponsored, donated, or who are volunteering. The amount of support is amazing.

When I first took on this new position of Race Director, I think there were just under 100 people registered. I will admit it - I was discouraged, afraid, nervous, and anxious over the idea of not having the race sell-out, as it has the past 2 years. I didn't want to let Matt, The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, or the City of Sea Isle down. The pressure was definitly on.

I have had so much help and support from so many incredible people - and we are not finished yet! There is still alot of preparation to do, but I am now even more confident that this year will be a success as well.

I appreciate all of your efforts more than you will ever know.

13 Spots Available!

2010-04-28T13:45:00.004-04:00

Looks like another sell out! Registration will soon be closed, as there are only 13 spots left. Get movin'!

The past 2 years, we have given Polar Water Bottles, (along with a long-sleeve t-shirt), out as give aways. Polar Bottles are awesome, but we thought we would switch it up this year!

Each participant will receive a long sleeve (yellow) t-shirt - in addition to a pair of these......

With Lock Laces, you never have to stop to retie your laces during any race, sport or activity.

Look for them inside your race packet this year!!!

33 Days and Counting...........

2010-04-26T16:41:00.003-04:00

Wow - only about a month away from race day, and we are almost SOLD OUT!!!!!

Thank you to all of you who have registered to race or volunteer, and a very special THANK YOU to our sponsors and families who have donated! The amount of support we have received is amazing.

****PLEASE NOTE RACE TIME HAS CHANGED TO A 7 AM START. ALL PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS MUST ARRIVE BY 6:30 AM!!****

I have mentioned in my last post that the course will change a bit - these changes are still in effect, and have even been altered a bit more (confused, yet?).

Swim course will stay the same. When leaving the transition area, racers will head North on Pleasure Ave, turn Left on 39th St, and then a Right onto Landis Ave - heading North into Stathmere.

The bike route will now be 1 Loop. Upon turn-around, racers will head back South on Landis, making a Left onto JFK, and back into the transition area. The bike route will now total 8 miles, as opposed to 12.

After leaving the transition area, participants will enter the promenade and run South to 58th St, exit the promenade, run North on Pleasure Ave, and then back onto the promenade. The finish line will be on the North side of the Pavillion on the promenade at JFK Blvd.

Refreshments will be off the promenade, on JFK Blvd. for all race participants. The Award Ceremony will be held on the promenade as well.

I will be updating the prizes and give-aways soon, so stay tuned!

Times, They are A-Changin'!

2010-04-09T20:31:00.003-04:00

For those who have competed in the past, there will be quite a few changes in the race course this year.....

Landis Ave (the main road in Sea Isle) is under construction, and it is not looking like it will be completed in time for race day. We have a few alternatives in the works - the most likely route will be to exit the original transition area, make a right onto JFK Blvd, a right onto Landis Ave, and head North into Strathmere, making 2 loops, and then heading back to the transition area.

Another issue that we are "running into" is high tide. The peak of high tide will come in the middle of the "beach run" to finish the race. Due to the fact that there will be little beach to run on, softer sand that will cause more injuries - the "beach run" will now take place on the promenade and Pleasure Ave (the road closest to the beach.) The finish line will be on the promenade this year.

The city of Sea Isle has been wonderful in working with us to ensure that every aspect of the race is taken care of. We want this year to be just as much (or even more!) of a success as it has been in the past.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up thus far. As of today, there are only 93 spots available - I am looking forward to another sell-out!!!

Again, thank you to all of our sponsors. We could not do this without your support!

What Are You Waiting For??????

2010-03-30T10:07:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow - March 31st - is the LAST DAY for your discounted registration fee. The price increases as of April 1st!

Sign up before midnite tomorrow and save a few bucks!

One Foot in Front of the Other.....

2010-03-29T13:04:00.006-04:00

This is my new mantra. This is the reality of how our family must face each day. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time....

As I'm sure most of you are aware, this blog (well the blog formerly known as seaisletriathlon.blogspot.com) was created by Matt McCulley.

Matt suddenly passed away on January 12th. He was a loving husband, father of 3 beautiful girls, a beloved son, brother, and friend. TRI FOR OUR VETERANS was extremely important to him, and it is our family's wish that his vision be carried on.

I am Matt's sister, and I hope to be able to continue what Matt started....to support our military veterans. I am now the race director for this year, and the TRI is scheduled for May 29, 2010.

I won't promise to be as insightful, thorough, or as funny as my brother was - but I am willing to give it a go! I will not have the answers to everything, as I have never competed in a triathlon in my life! I do, however, have many people who are helping me learn the ropes and guiding me through this new journey. I want to especially thank Neil Semmel from Piranha Sports, Shannon McGroagan from GO! Athletics, Chuck Brodsky from the Nation's Triathlon, as well as, my family and friends. Since Matt's passing, the amount of support we have received has been overwhelming. Thank you does not seem to be enough.

Matt was very special to me, and I miss him more as each second goes by. His drive, commitment, and determination to help The Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, Sea Isle's VFW Post 1963, and all military veterans was amazing......you can help to continue his passion by signing up here!

Thank you!!!

Tri For Our Veterans III: Saturday, May 29, 2010

2009-11-09T17:20:00.007-05:00

One sign of the triathlon off season is the opening of race registrations. Now is the time to let your bodies rest a bit, recover from those long workouts/races-- then get excited for next season. I am happy to announce that registration for Tri for Our Veterans 3 is now open. This race has SOLD OUT every year and 2010 will be no different. If you sign up now, you guarantee your spot and pay the lowest registration fee offered!

Click HERE to register.

Here is another update: All proceeds are directed to two different organizations helping our military veterans. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund receives 50% of the proceeds and the other 50% goes to rebuilding Sea Isle's Veterans' Memorial. Want to see what it is going to look like? The picture up at the top of the page is the architect's rendering. You can read more about the project by visiting Sea Isle's project page-- click HERE for access to the pics and click HERE for a press release.

By signing up for this race, YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR MILITARY VETERANS!

2010 Registration coming very soon

2009-10-19T21:11:00.001-04:00

Tri for Our Veterans III will open registration in the next week. The 3rd annual race will take place on Saturday, May 29, 2010 in Sea Isle City, NJ.

Stay Tuned!

Thank you Racers!

2009-07-13T06:16:00.002-04:00

We raised $35,000 this year at Tri for Our Veterans II. THANK YOU! I sent off a check for $17,000 to The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, The VFW took the other $17,000 for the new Veterans' Memorial in Sea Isle, and we left $1,000 in the fund for start up capital-- afterall, Tri for Our Veterans' III is only 10 months away!

See you soon and thank you for all of your help. Through racing, you have helped our brave men and women of the US Armer Forces.

Sincerely,

Matt
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This is why I prefer ocean swim triathlons!

2009-06-10T16:29:00.002-04:00

Okl. Officials: River Water Made Triathletes Ill

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 4:12 p.m. ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Health officials are blaming bacteria and parasites in the Oklahoma River for sickening dozens of international triathlon participants last month.
The Oklahoma Department of Health said Wednesday that river contamination caused gastrointestinal problems for at least 45 participants in the Boathouse International Triathlon in Oklahoma City.
The department says a few athletes tested positive for different illnesses, including norovirus and bacteria that could be ''associated with exposure to water contaminated with human or animal waste.''
Athletes practiced in the downtown river and swam 1.5 kilometers as part of the triathlon. Some participants later reported diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and fever.
The river has tested high for bacteria, particularly after high runoff from storms. The triathlon was held May 16-17 after a heavy rain.

Just woke up-- so how did we do?

2009-05-28T16:59:00.002-04:00

Wow. What a week. I just woke up, dug myself out of 400+ emails, and got back to work.

So Racers-- what did you think of the race? Please leave comments so we can make adjustments for next year.
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Went for a Swim

2009-05-19T15:31:00.002-04:00

Ran 6 miles, then donned the wetsuit in the afternoon for a swim. The water was nice, but it was a bit chilly when I got out of the water. It is only in the mid 60s today-- Saturday will be 70+ degrees, so we should be all good.

I also visited the transition area today-- it is beautiful! The sod has been down for a week and it feels great to run on.

Race day is near and we are looking great.
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Wanna Race? Get your motor running...

2009-05-18T06:08:00.008-04:00

See you at the starting line? I wouldn't mess with this runner, she looks fast and furious. Plus, she has two older sisters, so you know she is tough.

I was with the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol (SICBP) yesterday and set up the swim course. We went out on a jet ski, dropped the weights, then measured them with my GPS for accuracy. After moving them 2-3 times, we got them in place. On the way back to the Guard shack, I asked Lt. Chuck if I could swim back. I jumped in and swam about 150m to shore. The water was not bad at all. The readings were 61 degrees. Get your race caps on!

The transition area is BEAUTIFUL! The City recently cleaned the entire lot, dumped a ton of topsoil, and laid down sod. They really did a nice job. Racers should love it because running through this beautiful grass will knock a lot of sand off of those feet. The new set up does add some work for me because the City removed the wooden fence that surrounded the lot. For security purposes, I have to add a orange flex fence around the entire perimeter. That is OK-- we'll survive!

Saturday's weather is calling for a warm day, 74 degrees, with a passing shower. Bring plenty of water or Gatorade! It seems as if the "scattered" showers will come later in the day, so we should be OK. The race will be wrapped up by 11am (including awards) and we can head home for an afternoon nap at the shore-- I will need it!

Lastly, Mike's Seafood is helping us with a seafood pasta lunch after the race. Join all of your fellow competitors back at The VFW Post for a great meal (and a few cold ones!).

See you in Sea Isle...

Live report from Sea Isle

2009-05-16T21:37:00.002-04:00

Iron Granny was swimming in the ocean today. She said the water temperature was over 60 degress. The locals reported a rapid warm up this week (fishermen know the water best). This is good news!

Heading to Sea Isle tomorrow and will do some swimming-- need to set the weights for the swim course with SIC Beach Patrol. I will have a wetsuit on and will post an update tomorrow night or Monday morning.

The weather on Saturday, May 23rd is coming into focus. It seems as if we will have a cloudy day with temperatures in the low 70s. One forecast (Accu-weather) is saying occassional showers. Keep those fingers crossed!

More information to follow after my day trip to Sea Isle.
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Reason to Race #212

2009-05-14T09:42:00.003-04:00

An email from a racer last year:

It was an honor, in some small way, to support both the VFW and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. As I was exiting the swim, I saw a guy really struggling as he crawled to the shoreline. I though, "Boy, this guy is in trouble". He was floundering toward what appeared to be his family and they had a great look of concern on their faces. Suddenly, a woman handed him his prosthetic leg and he snatched it and moved towards the transition area.

If I needed any additional motivation to get moving, that was certainly it-- what a champion that guy is!

Lord willing, I'll be back next year. If it requires competing in the pouring rain or swimming in 40 degree water, so be it. Any discomfort the icy Atlantic can dole out is a small price to pay when compared to the sacrifices of the men and women in our Armed Services"!

Well said. For the record-- we'll have a warm ocean in 2009! The temperature hit 56 degrees today and we have 10 days for it to jump into the 60s.

See you in Sea Isle City!
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Important Race News…12 days to go!

2009-05-11T20:35:00.003-04:00

Sea Isle City is ready to host Tri for Our Veterans II. The weather forecast is promising and we expect another great race. We will have more than 500 racers competing on Saturday, May 23^rd and look forward to sun, sand, and a sensational start to the summer.

A few items to mark down as you prepare for the race:

Packet pick up: You must bring a photo ID & your USAT ID card (if you are a member). Racers must pick up their packet and cannot have someone else pick it up for them (insurance purposes). Packet pick up on Friday, May 22^nd is from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the VFW Post in Sea Isle (301 JFK BLVD). Packet pick up on Saturday (RACE DAY) is at the transition area, JFK and Pleasure Ave., 5:30 AM to 7:00 AM.

Race course videos: Click the following link to watch a series of videos. Each video gives a walking tour of the course. This should be very helpful to those wanting to get a preview of the course. https://cid-d0c8902976e7be97.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Triathlon%20Videos

Athletes' Guide: Please be sure to download/print the Athletes' Guide to the race. This gives you all of the information you need. http://www.piranha-sports.com/Media/Image/athlete%20guides/2009_TFV_%20Athlete_Guide.pdf

Ride the course on Friday: Take a one lap tour of the bike course with one of our Elite athletes. Meet at the transition area at 5:30 PM on Friday, May 22^nd. The distance is only 4.1 miles and will last about 15-20 minutes. It is a light ride for informational purposes only.

Water Temperature and Wetsuits: Got your attention, right? The water temperature will be roughly 60-62 degrees. The average time in the water last year was 11 minutes. We have many Sea Isle City lifeguards in the water and around the swim course in boats. The USCG will also be on hand as back up. It is strongly suggested that you have a wetsuit. Don't have one? Our sponsor, Xterra Wetsuits, rents them and can ship it out to you via Fedex. Check it out at http://www.xterrawetsuits.com/shop-xterra/product_info.php?cPath=0&products_id=43

Have fun & thank our military! This triathlon is the USA's only race dedicated to our military personnel and veterans. More than 15% of the field is currently serving in uniform, have served in the armed forces, or have retired from the military. Please be sure to support them throughout the race—they will have the BLUE caps on for the swim. Our friends at Team Semper Fi get a thunderous "OORAH" from Sea Isle—check them out at http://www.semperfifund.org/team.html

See you soon in Sea Isle City!

Matt McCulley
Race Director

Initial Weather Report

2009-05-09T08:20:00.002-04:00

Accu-Weather has delivered the initial weather forecast for Tri for Our Veterans on May 23, 2009. Good news! The long term forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 80 degrees. Because we start the race at 730 AM, we will not hit those warm temperatures-- I would suspect we enjoy a cool 65 degree start.

As for the water temperature, it is hitting 55 degrees. With warm weather here to stay, it can jump a degree per day and I suspect we will have 60-63 degree water temperature.

Other race news:

*Transition Area: Racers will find a different transition area in Sea Isle this year-- The City has sodded the entire lot.

*USCG on hand: The Coast Guard will have a team in the race (Go Team Semper Paratus!) and have helped coordinate back up to our SIC Beach Patrol. The USCG will have a boat near the race course and a helicopter overhead.d

*Finish line experience: At the finish this year, we will have children handing out American flags right before the finish line to celebrate Memorial Day. If you would like your children to participate, have them report to the finish line area at the start of the race.

14 days to go!
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Want to better understand the race course?

2009-05-05T12:38:00.002-04:00

Don't forget, if you want to get a preview of the race course, we have a number of options for you to familiarize yourself to the course design.

1. Click HERE to view the videos of each and every segment of the race course. Get a bird's eye view of the transition area (entrances/exits), bike course, swim and run courses. All have audio commentary from me. (I'm no Larry Mendte!)

2. Download the Athletes' Guide by clicking HERE. The Guide has all the maps and instructions you need to compete.

3. First Timers Meeting: At 7pm on Friday, May 22, 2009, we will host a first timers' meeting at the VFW Post in Sea Isle. The meeting is in the same room as check-in. One of our elite competitors, Mark Brace, will lead the session and walk everyone through the course, transition area, and other related triathlon topics. Mark will also do his best to answer all of your questions in a Q&A session at the end of the meeting. Make time to get to this meeting!

The Tri for Our Veterans course is a very easy course to understand. The swim is a simple out/over/in design, the bike route is a 3 loop course of a rectangle, and the run is an out and back race on the beach.

Last year, our inaugural race, only one racer got lost out of 400 competitors! He was in the Air Force and the US Marines who competed said he did not have his RADAR tuned properly!

If this is your first triathlon-- have no fear, you will complete it and have a blast. If you are a racing veteran, then you should recognize the fact that this course is fast, flat, and fabulous.

See you in Sea Isle-- 18 days to go...
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Athletes' Guide is posted; other news

2009-05-01T14:18:00.002-04:00

Hello Racers,

Tri for Our Veterans has posted the Athletes' Guide. Download the PDF document by clicking HERE. The Athletes' Guide details the entire race and includes race maps, schedule, packet pick up information, and other pertinent information for you.

My advice-- open, print it, and keep it handy as the race is quickly approaching.

Other news:

1. Go WAWA! Thank you so much to Team Wawa. Their South Jersey Team was so very helpful to our race efforts. Wawa has sponsored the Finish Line drinks-- there will be ice cold Wawa juices awaiting you at the end of the race. Thank you Wawa!~

2. Giveaways: Polar insulated water bottles and long sleeve t-shirts.

3. Prize Packages: Winners will receive prize packs, filled with Oakley Sunglasses, Xterra Wetsuits, Xterra Transition bags, Hammer Nutrition items, beach towels, and 2010 Tri for Our Veterans comp'ed registrations (prizes vary).

4. Need a place to stay for the race? Rent a house by contacting Kevin Gillespie. Check him out at www.shorehouses.com

5. We are SOLD OUT folks, no waiting lists, no possiblilty of openings.

See you soon in Sea Isle!
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Special Offer and yes, we are SOLD OUT

2009-04-27T15:56:00.003-04:00

Our wetsuit sponsor, XTERRA Wetsuits, just announced a special offering for Tri for Our Veterans racers: 50% discount on an XTERRA Transition Bag. Use the following special offer code RACEPACK and go check it out by clicking HERE. A transition bag for $25!!!

Also, we are SOLD OUT folks-- there are no spots left in any of the races (Duathlon, Triathlon, Relay). Sorry, but we have been forecasting a sell out since early March.

Finally-- have questions about the race course? Make sure you take a look at the videos posted HERE.

"Sea" you in Sea Isle...only 26 days left!
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Interactive Race Maps

2009-04-24T15:15:00.005-04:00

Hi Racers-- Ready for Tri for Our Veterans yet? I have posted a few videos, which give an aerial overview and walkthrough of the race course in various sections. These should be REALLY helpful to you as you plan on a successful race in Sea Isle City!

Video #1, Swim Start and Transition Area overview
Video #2, Bicycle Course, Part A, Overview
Video #3, Bicycle Course, Loop 2, Loop 3, and Finish
Video #4, Run Course Overview
Video #5, Duathlon Overview

These videos are not generic maps-- they are real overhead shots of the course brought to you by Microsoft's Virtual Earth technology.

Click HERE to gain access to the videos.

Race sells out; Team Semper Fi storms the beach in Sea Isle

2009-04-24T08:04:00.002-04:00

Tri for Our Veterans is SOLD OUT. Sorry, we do not have a waiting list. In 2010, please be sure to register early! Our race continues to grow in popularity and we will have over 500 racers competing this year.

In other news, Team Semper Fi is again competing in the Sea Isle triathlon. Click HERE to learn more about their efforts and their schedule of events.

You can also watch a video interview of one of their members, Dan Lasko, by clicking HERE and HERE Dan competed in the inaugural Tri for our Veterans and was a driving force in getting Team Semper Fi to the beaches of Sea Isle. He also kicked butt at last year's Philadelphia Triathlon (look for his Philly Tri finisher medal in the video).

Lastly, we will be sending out the Athletes' Guide in a few days-- keep an eye out for the notice in your inbox.

See you in Sea Isle...just 29 more days...
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Softmart signs on has Gold Sponsor

2009-04-22T14:11:00.006-04:00

Very exciting news: Softmart has signed on as a Gold Sponsor for Tri for Our Veterans!

Softmart is located in Downingtown, PA. They are a global provider of all things IT-- services, software, hardware, you name it, and they've got it! Last year, Softmart was kind enough to donated a number of items as prizes for our winning racers. They liked what was happening in Sea Isle and decided to sign on as a Gold Sponsor. Speaking of GOLD...Softmart is a Gold Certified Partner of Microsoft, which means they have demonstrated years of quality service and support to Microsoft's products and programs.

One of Softmart's largest customers is the US Military-- so the sponsorship really makes a lot of sense for them-- supporting those who served and continue to serve our great country!

RACE UPDATES

We are just about to close registration. We have hit our maximum and await a few registrations from Team Semper Fi. If you know of anyone who wants to get it, they will need to register by Friday, May 1st, when we plan on closing the registration process.
There will be no onsite registration.
Racer Information Packet: This will be posted on Piranha's website in about two weeks. We will blast out an email to the registered racers when it is available.
Giveaways: This year we have two awesome giveaways for our racers-- a long sleeve, high quality t-shirt (Carolina blue), and Polar Bear insulated water bottles (24 oz, red & blue).
Volunteers? Interested in helping out our cause? email me at mcculleyfordham@hotmail.com
First time doing a triathlon? No worries, we have you covered. An experienced triathlete will be hosting a 1st timers meeting on Friday, May 22nd (time TBD) at the registration site.

See you soon in Sea Isle City!

Mourners pay last respects to fallen Marine from Oxford - The Daily Local News : Serving Chester County

2009-03-30T09:41:00.001-04:00

Mourners pay last respects to fallen Marine from Oxford - The Daily Local News : Serving Chester County

Posted using ShareThis

Less than 100 spots left; Treats for Troops

2009-03-17T19:16:00.005-04:00

Hey Racers,

Less than 100 spots left for Sea Isle's Triathlon! Please spread the word-- we will sell out in the next two weeks.

On another note, I am very pleased to announce a partnership with Treats for Troops. This organization collects various goods and ships them out to our troops in the field. The list is provided by our military and it is put to very, very good use. At our registration area, we will have a table set up for people who would like to donate the requested items. After the race, we will pack up the goods, deliver them to their Partner Representative in Ocean City, who will then have them shipped out to our troops in the field. Want to make a difference? Here is how-- bring these goods to the race:

baby wipes
bar soap
batteries
beefjerky
body lotion
bubblegum
Campbell's Chunky Chili
Campbell's Chunky Soup
candy
candy bars
cereal bars
Chef boy r dee raviolis
chess set
chewing gum
chicken salad -lunch to go
cigarettes
coffee
coffee creamer
coffee sweetner
coloring books
crayons
cup of noodles
dental floss
deodorant
devil dogs
Dinty Moore beefstew
disposable camera
DVDs
ear plugs
envelopes
eye drops
foot powder
fruit cocktail
games
granola bars
hard candy
hot sauce
ibuprofen
insect repellent
jigsaw puzzle
lip balm
lollipops
macaroni and cheese
magazines
manicure sets
microwave meal
microwave popcorn
mouthwash
music cds
novels
peanut butter
peanut butter crackers
peanuts
pens
playing cards
poker chips
poptarts
powdered drink mix -individual servings
powdered Gatorade
power bars
puzzle books
q-tips
raisins
ramon noodles
razors
Religious Medals
rice krispie treats
Rosaries
salt and pepper
scapulars
shampoo
shaving cream
silly string
slim Jims
soap dish
tissues
toilet paper
toothbrush
toothbrush holder
toothpaste
tootsie pops
toys and games
trail mix
travel fist aid kit
t-shirts
turns
tuna fish in a pouch & Mayo
tuna salad kits -lunch to go
Uncle Ben's microwave rice meals
Vienna sausage
waterless hand sanitizer
white socks
writing tablets

People always ask me-- "How can I help?"--- let me count the ways-- you can race in the triathlon, donate goods to Treats for Troops, volunteer at the Race or simply make a donation.

Keep the Memorial in Memorial Day weekend! See you in 67 days!
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XTERRA Wetsuits sponsors Tri for Our Veterans

2009-03-14T12:10:00.005-04:00

I am very excited to announce a renewed partnership with XTERRA Wetsuits. In our inaugural race, the swim caps and some prizes were provided by XTERRA. They have generously stepped up to the plate and pledged their support to Tri for Our Veterans II!

Thank you XTERRA!

XTERRA is also our preferred wetsuit rental partner. As you know, the water temperature will be about 62-64 degrees for the race in Sea Isle and wetsuits are strongly encouraged. Though it is a short swim (400 meters), most athletes will want a wetsuit for buoyancy and warmth. Don't have one? No problem-- XTERRA provides an inexpensive and easy solution-- rent one for the week by visiting their rental shop-- CLICK HERE for more information. Rent it for this race or the Avalon triathlon and others (Stone Harbor Triathlon)

I race wearing an XTERRA suit-- the Vector Pro. I love it-- feels like I am gliding through the water and it is very easy to take off during transitions.

70 days until we hit the water-- you ready?
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Race hits 80% of capacity

2009-03-04T11:54:00.002-05:00

Hi Racers,

80 days to go before Memorial Day Weekend kicks off and Tri for Our Veterans II launches. With 80 days to go, we just reached 80% capacity for the race-- what a coincidence! We have over 300 racers signed up and more going into the system tonight (Team Semper Fi). Last year, we capped our race at 400 and we expect the same limits from the city.

If you know of someone interested, or, if you have not signed up for Sea Isle's Summer triathlon, do so now by visiting http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race54.aspx

We will sell out and we will NOT offer any type of registration during race week.

Other race updates:

1. Giveaway: Long sleeve t-shirt, light blue. I met with our supplier and love the design, quality of the shirt.

2. Giveaway II: Hoping to deliver a Coolmax visor to each racer. I tried one supplier, but everything has to make its way to Sea Isle on a SLOW BOAT from China. That will not work. I still have high hopes for a cool visor!

3. Medals for Mettle: The race registration area in Sea Isle will have a table from www.medals4mettle.org. This organization takes your old race medals, cleans them up, puts a new ribbon on it, and gives it to people fighting disease or other health related battles. Very cool idea and we are happy to extend an invitation to them-- if you have any medals you would like to donate, bring them to registration!

More to come...until then, See you in Sea Isle City!
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Oakley signs on as Sponsor

2009-02-23T12:18:00.005-05:00

Great news to share-- Oakley has signed on as a sponsor. Our top athletes will be chasing an awesome prize packages, which will include Oakley sunglasses.

Oakley really stands out from the crowd of companies offering sunglasses, especially when it comes to products geared towards triathletes.

I wear the Flak Jacket model when competing and it is a great offering. They are lightweight, a snug, but comfortable fit around my [big] head, and they block the UV rays. Believe it or not, sunglasses actually conserve energy during endurance races. How? Every time you squint due to the sun, you are using muscles, which draw down energy levels. Oakley sunglasses can help you go longer, go farther.

I am very happy to see so many companies stepping up to help our military veterans. If you are a company looking to help, I'd like to point out our social networking prowess-- Tri for Our Veterans had 450 competitors last year and attracted 2,000+ spectators. Our email blast list reaches more than 7,000 people. This race blog has attracted more than 1,000 page views per month for over a year, and the Facebook Group has more than 90 members in the 15 days since it was created. If you sponsor, people will know about it!

Sea you in Sea Isle City!

SELL OUT coming...Heads up.

2009-02-20T13:24:00.002-05:00

Hey racers,

Tri for Our Veterans II is really shaping up nicely. Our sponsors have been great and I wanted to give a shout out to XTERRA Wesuits. They are again supplying us with a sponsorship package, which includes prizes for the winners and swimcaps for all participants. THANK YOU XTERRA!

XTERRA is also preferred partner for anyone looking to purchase a wetsuit OR if you need to rent a wetsuit. Click HERE if for rentals, or HERE for purchasing.

I swim with a Vector Pro X2 and love it.

SOLD OUT? I received an email this week about our status. We are not sold out...yet. We recently eclipsed the 75% mark-- I encourage everyone to register now if they want a spot. Last year, we allowed a number of athletes to register on the day before the race. This will not be happening in 2009.

Register now by clicking HERE. See you in Sea Isle City!
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Long time no post!

2009-02-09T11:12:00.004-05:00

Wow! Has it really been almost a month since my last posting on this blog? What kindo fo race blog am I offering?

The Race Director just woke up to find 103 days before race day. YIKES!

I have been busy elsewhere. Here are some updates:

1. Race giveaway: Looks like we are going with a sport visor and long sleeve t-shirt. Check out Headsweats, a new, up and coming company focused on hats/visors that wick away the sweat. They have a great product and we have tentatively agreed to go with one of their visors as a race giveaway. My wife is helping me pick the t-shirt this weekend-- to be clear, there will not be a WHITE t-shirt as the giveaway! 2008 Racers expressed disappointment with this aspect of the race and we aim to please. Last year's Polar bottle was a huge hit, but we wanted to offer something different this year and I think the Headsweats visor will be welcomed.

2. Race registration stands at 150-160. Last year, we had 400 and we expect a little more in 2009. The City of Sea Isle has not yet told us our cap, but my guess is around 500. Sign up now-- the registration fee goes up on March 1st!

3. Course review: The course was reviewed by Sea Isle's Police and Beach Patrol. Good news! No significant changes to this year's course. We are blocking off more corners with NO PARKING signs, which will make the turns go smoother.

4. Duathlon: Remember, this year we will hold a duathlon (run-bike-run). The first leg is a two mile run on the street. Them you follow the bike and run legs of the triathlon. Pass the word!

5. Tri for Our Veterans on Facebook: Join the Tri for Our Veterans Group on Facebook!

See you soon in Sea Isle City!
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Training Tips

2009-01-11T03:28:00.003-05:00

Tri for Our Veterans is off to a BOOMING start with 110 people signed up so far. Very exciting. Last year, we had 400 registrations and we will surpass this number by May.

I am often asked questions about the race-- is it a good race for 1st timers, is the ocean swim scary, how should I tailor my training, and will the sandy beach run slow me down. Here are some answers and a few training tips:

1st Timers? Yup, more than welcome. Last year, 40% of our racers were "rookies" and 99.85% finished. Pretty good, huh? The Sprint Distance is a great way to experience a triathlon. All of the distances are as short as possible and you can practice the various legs (see training tips below).

Ocean swim scary? Are you kidding? A scary swim, to me, is a stagnant, land-locked lake or pond with yucky run off (when it rains, dog/goose crap and other stuff finds its way into the pond), low visibility, and who knows what on the bottom. In the ocean, you are swimming in a very clean, visible water table. Our race is staffed by Sea Isle City's Beach Patrol, who can be at your side in seconds, thanks to their outstanding training and equipment (jet ski!). The Beach Patrol are in the water with you and surround the swim course. Plus, we also set our swim course to go WITH the current...you'll be out in no time. Last year, the average time in the water was under 14 minutes (fastest was 6 mins, slowest was 19 mins).

Slow, sandy beach run? Running on the beach is certainly different than running on the sidewalk. Will it be slower than running a 5k on the streets? Yes, but our average times map consistently with the garden variety 5k road race--- meaning, not that much of a difference. One suggestion is to try and do a training run on the beach. Another tip, find the hardest piece of salty beach line and stick with it. Positives--- running next to the ocean is just awesome.

Training tips? My fist triathlon was the Avalon Islandman, a race I still go back to every year-- wonderfully run and the course is very similar to ours in Sea Isle (same distance too). Looking back, I would have done a lot of things differently. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Plan backwards: Race date is May 23rd. Plan your training from that day and march backwards on the calendar. You'll want to hit certain milestones in training (run "X" miles, Bike "Y" miles). Try to "peak" or hit your longest distances in early May. You'll want to leave two weeks to taper off your training. The body needs to rest.

2. Do a "Brick": A brick work out means you are putting two training sessions back-to-back. I suggest doing a bike ride followed by a run. When getting off the bike, some racers experience "jelly" legs and you'll want to have that experience when hitting the run. Try it out-- do a mock race if you need to. By doing a brick, you'll eliminate the surprise feeling of jelly legs.

3. Distances: Because this is a Sprint distance (400m swim, 12.3 mile bike, 3.1 mile run), there is no need to train at heavy distances. It is more important to consistently hit the distances. For instance, training for the run portion does not require you to log 40 miles a week or a 10 mile run. Instead, focus on doing 3.1 miles well-- hone in your speed by running hills, completing a brick, and having the confidence to do all three segments.

4. Average finishing time: Last year, the average finishing time was 1 hour, 28 minutes. By May one of your goals (if this is your first triathlon), should be to exercise for over an hour. Preferably, work out for 90 minutes-- any type of cardio will do and any combination. The Brick I suggested? Maybe a goal for you is to be able to bike for 60 minutes and immediately switch to a 30 minute run. If you can do this by May, you can complete the race.

5. Plan your work, work your plan: Using the "backward calendar", you have laid out your workout plan for the race. Now do it! Sounds easy, but so many people have already given up on their January 1st resolution of getting in shape. Don't be that guy/girl.

See you soon in Sea Isle City...133 days before the race.
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Discounted registration fee expires soon

2008-12-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

Reminder: Only TEN (10) days left to take advantage of 2008 pricing. Register today for "Tri For Our Veterans II" and enjoy the SAME registration fee as last year's race.

http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race54.aspx

Discount expires on 12/25! New this year-- a Duathlon-- run, bike, run. The duathlon will be started alongside the triathlon race.

Tri For Our Veterans II is scheduled for 5/23/09, the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, in Sea Isle City, NJ. This sprint triathlon benefits two military veteran organizations-- The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle's VFW Post 1963. Matt McCulley is the Founder & Race Director; Sea Isle's VFW Post is the financial clearinghouse and 501 (c) 4 charitable sponsor.

Triathlon: 400m Ocean swim, 12.3 mile bicycle course, 3.1 mile run (hard sand).
Duathlon: 2 mile road run, 12.3 mile bicycle course, 3.1 mile run (hard sand).

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T07:37:00.002-05:00

Please keep all of our Veterans in your thoughts and prayers today. A heart wrenching story abour our soldiers in Afghanistan can be found HERE.

Ongoing work for Tri for our Veterans 2...thinking about giveaways for our racers...will probably post another survey in the next few days.

We are LIVE and OPEN for [holiday] business!

2008-10-15T19:11:00.005-04:00

Friends, Family, and Competitors:

I am happy to announce the launch of Tri for Our Veterans II. The Piranha website listed us last night and we are open for registration. Click HERE to go to the web page and registration.

With the holidays approaching, we have a special one time offer available. Sign up by Christmas and receive the pricing from 2008! Keep this in mind when you are trying to figure out what to buy for friends and family.

Curious how Tri for our Veterans got its start? Click HERE for the story.

See you in 220 days!
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Date is set for Tri for Our Veterans II

2008-09-26T15:59:00.003-04:00

This week, we received permission to host Tri for Our Veterans II (Thank you Sea Isle City). On Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 at 7:30 AM, the 2nd annual Tri for Our Veterans will kick off.

This summer triathlon in Sea Isle City is truly special-- the only American triathlon dedicated to our military veterans. Last year, we welcomed 400+ racers to the Jersey Shore and rasied $35,000 for two veterans' causes-- Sea Isle's VFW and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

In 2009, we plan to introduce a duathlon alongside our super successive triathlon event. Our duathlon will be a 2 mile run, followed by a 12.4 mile bicycle, and then a 3.1 mile run. The last two legs of this race followthe final two legs of the triathlon course.

Registration will open on/about October 1st.

Idea for Tri: One Year Later

2008-08-03T13:47:00.003-04:00

It has been one year since I dreamed up the Tri For Our Veterans race. Coincidentally, we just sent The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (IMSFF) a final check for $4500. In total, we raised $14,500 for the IMSFF and an additional $14,500 for the new Veterans' Memorial in Sea Isle.

I am very pleased with our results.

The needs of our veterans' are not going away. Every day, casualties are reported in both Afghanistan and Iraq. These soldiers will need our help when they return. Tri For Our Veterans II planning has already started and we look forward to raising the bar and donating more money to organizations like the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

Thank you to all who volunteered, raced, and watched this year's race. I will be posting some key announcements for Tri for Our Veterans II in the coming months, including the addition of a duathlon event run simultaneously next to the triathlon. The race will also continue the tradition of handing out the best prizes and race packs. Please stay tuned for more information.
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Avalon Islandman 2008

2008-06-30T11:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was the tri in Avalon. This was the first triathlon I ever competed in and I really, really like the race. When I first started to put Tri for Our Veterans together, I often thought about Avalon and how it was shaped, organized, and directed. Their race director, Midge, does a wonderful job and she continued her great work yesterday.

The race was a lot of fun and it too donates a significant amount of money to various organizations and charities. The course is very nice-- especially the bike, which I consider the best in South Jersey. The swim yesterday was brutal-- the water temperature was fine, but boy was it rough. I was smacked in the face with a monster wave and it threw me right on omy back. Just goes to show you-- you cannot control Mother Nature. Tri for Our Veterans had colder water, but it was smooth as silk out there. I think I would rather have a cold, but calm ocean!

Iron Granny (my mom) completed her 2nd Tri-- and she broke two hours! Awesome race, Iron Granny!

Check out the results by clicking HERE.
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We're #1

2008-06-17T08:09:00.002-04:00

If you were at the race, you know we handed a check for $10,000 to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. We were still closing the financial books on the race and we could not give them the full amount we raised, so we figured we would give them a significant portion of the funds. Plus, let's face it-- $10,000 is a nice round number!

As it turns out, we are sending another check for roughly $3,000-4,000. The kind people at the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund told me this was their largest donation from a community event.

Yes, Sea Isle friends, we are #1!!

Of course, this was only 50% of our total revenue. The rest of the money was turned over to Sea Isle's VFW, for their efforts to improve the Veterans' Memorial in town. Honestly, it feels great to help our worthy soldiers AND honor the past through a [local] memorial.

Lastly, we are kicking in plans for next year. This year, I think we had some very cool give aways for our racers-- t-shirt, Polar water bottle, and a beach bag. Check out the poll on the side of this blog and vote for next year's SWAG!! What should we do-- premium beach towel, Coolmax hats (sweat wicking hat), Under Armor like t-shirt, or cotton long sleeve. VOTE!
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Photos, Tri for Our Veterans II

2008-05-27T08:58:00.002-04:00

I would say this photo says it all. Nice job, Athletes. You were fast, furious, and extremely patriotic.

Check out more photos like this at: http://picasaweb.google.com/seaisletriathlon

As for next year, we have already been invited back by the City of Sea Isle. Plans are already taking shape (crazy, right!)...and we plan on offering a duathlon alongside of our triathlon.

See you in Sea Isle City...2009!

Finshed...12 hours later

2008-05-24T21:30:00.003-04:00

Yes, most of the racers finished 12 hours ago, but I needed a break before tonight's posting. After lunch, a 2 hour nap, dinner, and Rita's, I am finally able to type.

First, awesome job, racers. Check out the results by clicking HERE. We had very few problems, limited-minor injuries. Sea Isle's Beach Patrol rescued a few racers-- one person remarked that he had never did an ocean swim and was intimidated. The ocean was chilly, but calm.

Second, we raised almost $30,000 for our veterans' causes. This is really a tremendous feat for a first year event. THANK YOU! Besides raising a boatload of money, we also paid for the best timing service available (Go Piranha Sports), assembled a great racer bag (Polar Bottles), and handed out some outstanding prizes (iPOD, Swiss Army Watches, Gift Certificates).

Thirdly, we really pulled together the community of Sea isle City. I was shocked to see more than 120 volunteers show up for the meeting on Friday night-- only half of which had signed up before the meeting-- the others heard about it through word of mouth. People simply wanted to help our veterans-- THANK YOU! The City of Sea Isle was so supportive-- we just could not have done it without their support.

Lastly, I am working on a collage of photos. I will work to post them soon and you are free to download them (yes, free pics!).

I am exhausted-- went to bed at 1030 last night and up at 330. Most of the night, I did not sleep and woke up thinking about the race (I honestly counted bike racks 6 times in my head). Though tired, this is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever been apart of (behind my family events-- witnessing the birth of my 3 children, getting married, etc.). Thank you all for the many compliments-- we all did something special today-- we recognized the role of our military and its veterans, something every American should do. I know during my next race, I will surely recall the image of Team Semper Fi members crossing the finish line with a smile on their face as inspiration. Man, the Marines in Sea Isle are athletes-- they kicked butt out there today. Despite some of their injuries, they out kicked a majority of the age-group participants!
(Dan Lasko, I will be emailing you for swim tips-- your time was amazing).

Thank you all for reading this blog over the past few months, for supporting this race, and for keeping the Memorial in Memorial Day. You helped your fellow Americans today-- those brave souls who put on a uniform to protect our many freedoms. Thank you!

See you in Sea isle City...2009!
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Live Report

2008-05-23T08:41:00.003-04:00

Anyone check the weather from around the country? It is miserable...everywhere EXCEPT little ol' Sea Isle City.

Water temperature is 60 degrees and the ocean is a sheet of glass-- really, if the conditions hold until tomorrow, we are looking at very ideal swimming conditions for the ocean.

Transition area was set up yesterday and the racks were installed. The racks are numbered-- 1-18, 19-36....please rack your bike according to your bib number.

Bathroom situation: Always a key component to a race. We have a bathroom trailer IN the transition area (racers only) and Sea Isle has a bathroom facility right next to the transition area. Additionally, there are bathrooms just to the south (44th Street beach) and to the north (37th Street).

Tomorrow's weather report: Sunrise at 539AM, air temperature of 61 degrees at the start. High of 74 degrees. BOOYAH!

See you tonight at the packet pickup-- 4-830PM, Sea Isle's VFW.

Coincidence?

2008-05-21T09:51:00.003-04:00

As you might have noticed, I am a huge RFK fan. Teddy I respect & wish a speedy recovery. (He is not his brother [s]). Ted Kennedy did deliver one of my favorites speeches of all time, a eulogy of his brother, Robert. Two favorite lines I think about constantly, especially while planning this race:

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation... Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope..."

And

"Through no virtues and accomplishments of our own, we have been fortunate enough to be born in the United States under the most comfortable conditions. We, therefore, have a responsibility to others who are less well off."

If you are not racing this weekend, please come out and cheer on those who are, especially our military!
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Weather Update, other tidbits

2008-05-21T06:07:00.004-04:00

Weather update: Still looking great. Low of 54 degrees, high of 71. Folks, this is perfect weather for a triathlon. If we can keep the winds down, we are headed for a delightful day. The wind is usually a killer on a bike course, but I am not worried about that portion of the race. Sea Isle's bike course would probably be easy in the wind-- it is the swim course I would worry about and the swimmers bobbing up and down.

Sunrise: 5:39AM. This means the sun will be up and warming the air for a full 2 hours before you enter the water. NICE! This is welcomed news.

Parking: Remember, there is a free lot at 48th & Central. My advice is to get to Sea Isle early and park. I love my beach town, but this area is always a concern. When we go out to dinner, I am usuaully circling the block for 15-20 minutes. Keep in mind, if you think you will be finished the course in under 2 hours, or, if you have family cheering you on-- I would advise you to park at the meters. They are not "ON" until 10am and you can have your supporters feed the meter with quarters.

Packet Pick up: Get there early. VFW on Friday or Race Site on Saturday. We have 350+ preregistered and expect 20-30 walk up racers. The place will be hopping-- get there early!

My daughter Lila (AKA "Lulu") and I are headed down to Sea Isle tonight. Bike racks go in tomorrow, as well as the bathroom trailer. Race bag building party on Thursday night. Then Friday race fever kicks in (honestly, I already have it).

See you in Sea Isle City!
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Race Food

2008-05-19T15:06:00.003-04:00

Just picked up your post-race snacks. 500 bags of Herr's Whole Grain Pretzels. It is a good thing I live a mere 11 miles from the factory. These things are awesome! Acme, Wawa, and 7-11 provided the water. The Ocean Drive provided fruit and I am finalizing a plan for Rita's Water Ice to provide finishers a tasty treat-- Italian Ice.

Also, Hammer Nutrition gave us a ton of gel packs, so you will have one in your race packet. Awesome company-- and great product too!

We are ready for you!

EXHAUSTED...but good news

2008-05-18T21:34:00.003-04:00

What a weekend. I do have a life, other than being the Race Director for Sea Isle's triathlon. On Saturday, my daughters had their end of the year lacrosse tournament. First game-- 8:30...arrive by 8am...45 minutes away. Yes, your math is correct, me and my ladies (3 under 9 and their Mom) were up at the crack of dawn and on the road by 7am.

5 games later, we exited...3 wins, 2 losses. My girls did so well-- they each netted 2 goals and Caroline played tremendous defense. Emma's allergies were gone and she lit up the field with her speed. I was very proud...

Then Lila and I headed right to the shore. Lots to do:

*Deliver 15 cases of water bottles, registration packets, and prize packs
*Ran 8 miles on the beach, swam for 10 minutes in the bay (with a wetsuit, it is not cold!)
*Checked on Iron Granny (my mom...it is her 1st tri) and she will be great next week

Then, the tough part.

A storm swept in last week and really beat up the beach. We lost a lot of sand, but the race will be fine due to the low tide. My Sunday was busy with the Sea Isle Beach Patrol-- great bunch of guys. We went through the swim course and everything was confirmed. Then the tough part-- I jumped on a Sea Doo with one of the Lieutenants to mark the swim course with my GPS and drop the bouys (anchors-- flags go in on Fri/Sat). A rain storm blew in just as we started. Bumpy, wet and cold...but we got the job done. I did manage to drop my GPS in the water, but leapt in and grabbed it (it was in a Ziplock bag). No harm, no foul.

Man, am I exhausted.

Team Daddy & Lila will head back down on Wednesday night. On Thursday, a bunch of friends will help build the racers' bags. I will also assist with building the racks and finalizing the transition area.

Almost home. Anytime I get tired nowadays, I simply think of the extended tours of duty our troops now endure in Iraq and Afghanistan--- then I feel fine. Afterall, I only have experienced one bad day in Sea Isle my entire life!

See you in Sea Isle City!
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Weather plays its part

2008-05-17T06:00:00.004-04:00

Race day is one week away. The initial weather reports are coming in...drumroll...SUNNY AND 70!

So much planning has gone into this race, but you cannot order nice weather, especially not with my track record for making Sunday mass (give me a break-- I endured 16 years of Catholic school).

The water temperature continues to creep upward too. Current ocean temperature is 59 degrees. I am headed to Sea Isle this afternoon and will be swimming either today or tomorrow. Count on a 1st person report in the next 48 hours.

The water bottles were received today-- all 15 cases were shipped to my house (instead of the VFW in Sea Isle- YIKES). They are really sharp. T-shirts and beach bags arrive on Thursday morning and the race bags will be assembled on Thursday night. I have lured some friends into helping with some cold beers at the VFW. Let me know if you are thirsty!

Remember, if you still want to race, show up at the VFW in Sea Isle on Friday night and you will most likely get into the triathlon. Wait until race day and you are rolling the dice.

See you in Sea Isle City!

Water temperature on the rise

2008-05-15T16:24:00.002-04:00

9 days until the race...a few updates:

Weather report: Initial reports from AccuWeather call for sunny, 71 degrees. PERFECT!

Water temperature: Nasty storm last week, but water temperature is rising. A balmy 59 today, should get to 63 by race day. Does anyone know how to boil the ocean? Honestly, for the 1/4 mile swim, you won't even feel it. I was in a race two weeks ago and the lake was 66 degrees. It felt fine (I did have a short wetsuit on).

Registration: A number of emails about this topic-- yes, we did close the online registration. If you show up on Friday night at the VFW in Sea Isle, 4-830PM, you will most likely get in. On race day-- rolling the dice.

Check in & Packet pick up: Bring a photo ID! If you are a USAT Member, bring your MEMBERSHIP CARD.

Race day essentials: Helmet, swim goggles, towel, sunglasses.

Athletes' Guide to the triathlon: Click HERE.

See you in Sea isle City!
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SOLD OUT...but...

2008-05-10T21:12:00.003-04:00

Tri for Our Veterans is sold out; online registration was shut off at midnight on Friday, May 9th. THANK YOU! We are on our way to make a significant donation to our two veterans' causes-- The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle's new Veterans' Memorial Fountain.

There will be a limited number of slots available on Friday, May 23rd and Saturday, May 24th (Race Day). These slots, between 10-20, will be first come, first served. Racers will receive a race t-shirt, but all other items are sold out. Come early and register if you want your spot-- Sea Isle's VFW on 5/23 and the Transition Area (JFK Blvd. & Pleasure Ave) on Race Day.

We have more than 370 racers lined up for Sea Isle's Triathlon, Tri for Our Veterans; the Military Division is comprised of more than 10% of the field. Very exciting! If you are racing, please be sure to download the Athelete's Guide by CLICKING HERE.

See you in Sea Isle City....in just two weeks...
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Online Registration Closes Tonight

2008-05-09T07:25:00.005-04:00

Well, we have a SELL OUT on hand. We have cracked 350 racers and it has been decided to pull the online registration early. It closes tonight, midnight.

There will be 10-20 slots available on May 23 and May 24 (raceday). These slots are 1st come, 1st served. These racers will receive a race t-shirt, but we are out of water bottles and beach bags. If interested, come to the VFW in Sea Isle on 5/23 (4-830PM) or 40th & Pleasure (Transition Area) to register. No guarantees, so come as early as possible.

Why 350? As a racer, I always appreciate a quality race course. I have been to some triathlons and the race director clearly did not think about the athletes. If you see hair-pin turns on the bike course (especially 180 degree turns), cheap giveaways or t-shirts, and warm water at the finish line-- you know the race director could care less about you, the athlete. This is a first year event and I want a shot to host this triathlon in Sea Isle next year. Without the strong support and the recommendation from athletes, we will not have that opportunity next year.

So, I want to make sure we deliver on quality. The streets are closed for the bike course, but will be lined with parked cars, which will make the bike course narrow (it is Memorial Day weekend, afterall, and it seems as though all of Philadelphia migrates to the Shore for the weekend). 350 racers will fit, but I am not sure about 400-500. Same idea with the transition area, which I believe could hold 600 racers-- but I want to walk before I run-- so we limited it to 350.

Last call, folks, if you want in, you have two options-- sign up tonight before midnight, or take your chance and sign up onsite-- but show up early!

Very excited to welcome almost 50 entrants to the Military Division-- almost 15% of the race will be in this group!! If you are coming to cheer on the racers, be sure to wear your red, white, and blue!

See you in Sea Isle City...
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SELL OUT expected by the weekend

2008-05-07T11:19:00.004-04:00

Sell out. wow. I am very excited to announce we will most likely close online registration this weekend due to a high volume of racers signing up in April-May.

We will donate more than $20,000 to our two veterans' causes. Very cool. I am hoping to hit the magic number of $25,000. We'll see.

Less than 20 spots left. We will probably allocate 12 slots for race day-- first come, first served. No water bottle or beach bag, but a very cool t-shirt.

Currently, we have more than 325 racers lined up for the triathlon. The Military Division constitutes more than 10% of the registration list. OOHRAH!

See you in Sea Isle City...

Down to 22 slots...18 days...

2008-05-06T15:39:00.006-04:00

Tick...tick...tick...

We now have 19 days until race day. Over 320 folks have registered for the race and it looks like we will shut down the online registration early. 350 sounds like a nice, round number. Plus, there is still a lot of operational work to be completed.

I am toying with an idea to auction off 12 race day entries, but I don't know-- sounds like too much work on the day of the race-- when there is plenty of work to be done.

Anyhow-- spread the word, we are closing up shop soon...

If you are racing, CLICK HERE for the Athletes' Guide. It should answer all of your questions about the race.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE RACE.

Rest in Peace, SGT German

2008-05-04T21:21:00.005-04:00

AP STORY: A Marine sergeant who became a symbol of resilience as he strove to recover from a roadside bomb blast in Iraq that blanketed 97 percent of his body with burns has died, the Defense Department said. He was 22.

Sgt. Merlin German died April 11 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he was continuing treatment for the injuries he suffered in combat on Feb. 22, 2005, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The former turret gunner was dubbed the "Miracle Man" for his determination in facing his wounds, which cost the former saxophone player his fingers and rippled his face with scars. He endured more than 40 surgeries, spent 17 months in a hospital and had to learn to walk again.

Meanwhile, he started a charity, Merlin's Miracles, to aid child burn victims and considered college and a career.
"Sometimes I do think I can't do it," he told The Associated Press last year. "Then I think: Why not? I can do whatever I want. ... Nobody has ever been 97 percent dead and survived, and lived to walk."

Born in New York City, German moved to its suburbs as a teenager. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2003, according to his charity's Web site. He was medically retired four years later, the Defense Department said.

German had been stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that the state Capitol's flags would be flown at half-staff in German's honor, saying the sergeant's "courage and unfailing loyalty serve as an inspiration to Americans everywhere."

Personal note: May God Bless you, SGT German. What an inspiration-- 97% dead and this 22 year old survives, walks again, and starts a foundation for others. Life is for the living....

39 spots left..REGISTER NOW if you want to race

2008-05-02T08:02:00.005-04:00

Very exciting stuff happening with the race. For one, our sponsors have greatly expanded and we now count a number of new companies as sponsors for Sea Isle City's summer triathlon-- Tri for Our Veterans. South Jersey Gas, Kix-McNutley, The Lobster Loft, and The Commodore Club. Very cool.

Secondly, we are now projecting a total amount of $25,000 to be split between our two organizations-- The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle's VFW project to rebuild the town/s Veterans' Memorial. This is beyond my wildest expectation-- I was hoping to raise a total of $15,000.

Thirdly, we only have 41 spots left in the race. I decided to cut the registration off at 350 and expect to sell out by the time the race goes off. 350...huh, I can remember cracking 20 and getting excited! Thank you, to all who have registered. For a race to hit these numbers in its 1st year is amazing-- it just doesn't happen. THANK YOU RACERS! Click HERE to register.

Finally, we have posted the Athletes' Guide for the race. Click HERE to review the guide. It has some very, very important information, including maps, schedule of events, parking, and check in procedures for racers.

Again, thank you for reading my blog, for racing and for helping out our veterans! See you in Sea Isle City!

Couldn't have done it without you....

2008-04-28T08:51:00.006-04:00

I am putting the finishing touches on the Operations Manual, which details the various course maps, safety plans, and schedule of events. It is a lot of work, but it also made me appreciate all of the people who have been so kind to the triathlon. Here is just a few of the many who deserve credit:

Marge Quinlan-- my mother in law. She has been such a supporter since the beginning. A couple of her contributions-- recruited our very first registered participants, posted the race concept out to her email directory, visited over 70 businesses in Sea Isle (yes, SEVENTY) for sponsorships, and even signed up her own relay team! I often wonder if the little Marine Drill Instructor inside of her inspired her to be such a helping hand. THANKS MOM!

Mike Patton-- family friend and, according to my wife, my "BFF". Mike is a former Marine and in charge of our bike course safety. He has a great eye for details, which is welcomed.

Gerry Quinlan-- my father in law. I have mentioned his contributions in past blog posts, but he has been so instrumental and deserves another credit. Director of Volunteers, Chief Note Taker, and my "local" connection. He has saved me countless hours!

Bill Dalton-- President of Bridgepoint Insurance Group, our Founding Sponsor. When this event was little more than an idea, Bill was in our corner. Like me, he is not a veteran but deeply believes in citizens caring for our military veterans. Bridgepoint was our 1st sponsor before we even had a official sponsor package! Talk about trust. Thanks Trooper!

Sherree and Paul McCulley-- "Iron-Granny" and SGT Swartzkopf. My Mom and Dad. Mom was a huge source of encouragement and one of our registered athletes. Dad (and his father) are veterans and both inspired me to help our soldiers.

Fordham-- for teaching me two important concepts: "men for others" and "to whom much is given, much is expected".

And finally, Heather, Caroline, Emma, and Lila: Thanks for inspiring, listening, and coping with the hours of planning this event has taken. Girls, I am very proud of the fact that you have learned about the role of our brave men and women in uniform. Freedom isn't free; instead, it is paid for by our soldiers, 4,000+ who have recently died in Iraq. I now know you understand Memorial Day is more than the start of the summer.

See you in Sea Isle....just 26 days to go.....

T-minus 32 days

2008-04-22T15:34:00.006-04:00

August 16th, 2007. I wrote Sea Isle's Mayor, Len Desiderio, on this date, proposing the idea of a Sea Isle triathlon. Now we have 32 days to go. Where did the time go? Things continue to progress. From a race director's seat, job duties switch from marketing the race and filling the registration list, to more of an operational one. We have 271 racers signed up-- yes, 21 people signed up in the last six days-- so I am very confident we will hit 300+. In fact, we will probably inch towards 350. The city has not cut us off and we have a very large transition area, which will accomodate our racers with plenty of room to spare.

From an operational perspective, I just put the finishing touches on the race manual. 18 pages...wow! I am lucky to have two people to lean on when writing this paper-- Chuck Brodsky, who is behind The Nation's Triathlon and has a ton of experience-- and my father-in-law, Gerry Quinlan, who was a logistics manager for Verizon before retiring (and he still retains his keen eye for details). Gerry is a Sea Isle resident and has saved me countless trips to the beach. These two guys have helped me get this off the ground. Thanks, guys!

Details, details...I think I have put together a solid course. The swim is what it is-- 400m in the ocean. The real key here is protecting the athletes by providing plenty of lifeguards and lobbying for some back-up...like the Coast Guard. They will have a boat on the scene, which is very reassuring. (And, no, it is not going to be cold...Sea Isle water temperature is 56 today and will only go up...expect high 60s!).

The bike course is the trickest venue because of traffic control. The city has been kind enough to close Pleasure and Landis (southbound) Avenues, but there are other concerns: 30+ cross streets to block, five 90 degree turns, four "s" curves, and lots of parked cars. Obviously, we will need to have a good number of volunteers (70+ so far) and educate our athletes about the twists & turns. On the positive note-- bikers will enjoy the very long straight aways-- almost 9 miles of straight riding. I have been to some races where they force you to do a 180 degree turn on each lap (Philly Tri, Wildwood Tri)-- not fun and SLOW. I estimate the bike course contains more than 9 miles of flat, laser straight road (Landis, 79th-42nd, is going to break speed records).

Finally, the run. This has been the easiest to organize-- a 3.1 mile, out and back course on the hard sand. No traffic to worry about, only the occassional, washed up jellyfish.

All in all, I would have to say, a race director should be required to particpate in 5-10 triathlons before starting their own race. I have tried to eliminate any concern for the racer and put on a bodacious (did i really just use that word) venue for you athletes!

Have any suggestions? Add a comment to the blog!

250.............

2008-04-18T11:19:00.002-04:00

Wow. I feel great today. We just broke 250 registrations!

When I came up with the idea of launching a triathlon in my favorite beach town-- my second home-- I figured a figured a good goal would be roughly 250 racers. Then I actually launched it and watched the numbers trickle in via Piranha-Sports. Many times, I questioned whether or not we could hit that magic number. During the cold months of January and February, racers slowly started to show up-- but most of them were friends, family, and familiar racers. Now, we are seeing a ton of activity and racers from as far as Massachusetts and Virginia.

Some interesting numbers:

2,690-- the number of visitors to the race blog
7,596-- athletes in Piranha's database...we sent 2 emails announcing the race
1,291-- number of postcards I sent to area triathletes
10-- number of Team Semper Fi racers

$21,000 -- Amount we are predicting we will raise for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle's new Veterans' Memorial Fountain

Thank you! This has been an amazing experience and I am so pleased to give back to our community, our veterans, and call attention to the sacrifices made by our military. With 250 racers as of today, we should probably climb all the way to possibly 350 (we do have 36 days to go and a lot of racers wait until the last minute).

See you in Sea Isle City!

Race Article in The Press of Atlantic City

2008-04-14T12:55:00.003-04:00

The Press of Atlantic City was kind enough to feature Tri for Our Veterans in today's newspaper. Click here to read the article.

40 days 'til race day...

Race news, tidbits, & 44 days to go...

2008-04-10T08:44:00.009-04:00

Race registrations are up to 225 and we are expecting a sellout...which is great news.

This week, Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military honor-- The Congressional Medal of Honor. Monsoor was in Iraq with his SEAL Team, flushing out insurgents, when a grenade landed next to him. He dove on the exploding grenade and saved the lives of his fellow SEALs in doing so. Though he lived for 30 minutes after the explosion, Monsoor eventually died, becoming the 16th SEAL killed in Iraq/Afghanistan. Another debt that can never be repaid.

I am planning something special at the race to remember those brave men and women who have given their lives in Iraq. With more than 4,000 killed in the war, it is a challenge, but I have something up my sleeve to honor all of them AND call out our local heroes (NJ-DE-PA) in particular. More details to follow...

Thanks go out to the Yacht Club of Sea Isle, the Commodore Club, the TI Yacht Club and the various organizations who have been pledging volunteers for the race. THANK YOU.

44 days until the race...you ready?

EXTRA, EXTRA: Triathlon breaks 200 registrations

2008-04-03T14:30:00.005-04:00

200 registered racers for the triathlon. Remember, first 300 racers to register receive the best race swag on the Jersey shore-- Polar water bottle, t-shirt, and beach bag complete with race logo.

Tell your friends and sign up today by clicking HERE.

Today's Inspiration: Ripples of Hope

2008-04-01T09:52:00.000-04:00

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance...

All of us will ultimately be judged, and as the years pass we will surely judge ourselves on the effort we have contributed to building a new world society and the extent to which our ideals and goals have shaped that event. (RFK, 1966)

Trophies for top finishers

2008-03-29T07:30:00.005-04:00

Most races give out trophies or awards for top performances. Top relay team, 1st place, and top performances in age groups (i.e. Men 30-34) are all examples. Tri for Our Veterans is no different-- we will have awards and they will coincide with our veteran's theme. All top performances will win a customized dog tag key chain, as pictured above. I was worried if this was going to be well received by our military and veterans in attendance, but the VFW assured me it was "a-ok". My number one goal is to put on a great race and raise a lot of money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, but a close second is to raise awareness to the true purpose of Memorial Day-- honoring our military. Hopefully, we can accomplish both!

We are now over 180 participants...guarantee your spot by registering HERE before we close out the race.

Press Coverage: Tri for Our Veterans

2008-03-26T19:26:00.004-04:00

Click directly on the article for a larger viewing of the article.

Ok, it is not the New York Times, but I think the Sea Isle Times did a nice job of highlighting the race. We appreciate the public relations. If you are having a hard time reading the article, click HERE and it will take you to their website.

Call for Volunteers

2008-03-24T10:04:00.004-04:00

Well, we have more than 170 people registered for the race and we expect about 350 total racers. This will allow us to donate approximately $20,000 to our veteran causes. Great news!

We still need help, though. The race is very difficult to organize and we need volunteers to help with traffic control. Do you have family and friends willing to help? Click HERE to sign up.

We are only asking for two hours of your time. Most of the volunteers will be asked to help with traffic control-- Pleasure Avenue and northbound Landis Avenue are closed to traffic. Volunteers will be asked to hold any vehicles from entering the course-- 7:30 to 9:30 AM.

Please spread the word-- folks can sign-up online by clicking HERE.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Mimi supports the troops.

2008-03-19T11:27:00.003-04:00

BREAKING NEWS: Mimi registers for the Tri for Our Veterans race!

Wow. I am very proud to announce my Mom signed up for the race. After weeks of training, she felt she could safely sign up and compete. That's right..."Mimi", mother of three and grandmother to four beautiful girls, is signed up and ready to compete on May 24th. As a wife of a veteran, Mimi supported the race since its inception and has been a proud backer of our efforts to support our military veterans.

This is her first triathlon and she is very excited. It goes to show that this race is possible for all ages and even first timers. I have received a number of questions about this race, mainly from first time triathletes. Because of the short swim, the flat bike course, and the overwhelming crowd support, this race is a perfect setting for "rookies".

Nice job, Mom. I can't wait to give you a hug at the finish line!

Race GIVEAWAY....~Chill~, we have it!

2008-03-15T08:34:00.004-04:00

Ok, so everyone I know asks, "Are you going to have Tshirts"? Of course. Every race has it and it is the one thing you can count on when entering a race. To start a race is sometimes just as competitive as participating in a race. In South Jersey alone, there are now 5 beach triathlons and we need to do our best to stand out from the crowd. I am very excited to announce the Tri for Our Veterans will be giving custom Polar Bottles to our first 300 registered racers. Click HERE to read all about the company. Honestly, this is NOT your average water bottle-- it is a 24 ounce insulated water bottle and will keep your beverage of choice cooler twice as long as the usual water bottle. If you shop at Dick's or REI, check them out for yourself-- and the pricetag-- (retails for $10). The bottle is perfect for your bike cage or your long days at the beach.

Yes, this is an expensive giveaway, but we want to make this triathlon a success in year 2-20, so we are doing our best to deliver a great, all around experience. The tshirt will be fantastic (logo is done and it is awesome), the Polar Bottle will thrill you, the course is fast-fantastic, and the food at the end of the race (Herr's pretzels, Rita's Water Ice, bananas, oranges) will satisfy you.

Only 70 days until the race. Be one of the first 300 to register and you get a Polar Bottle...wait until the last minute and you are out of luck.

Click HERE to register.

Tale of two American cities

2008-03-03T19:07:00.004-05:00

1. Berkeley, CA: The city council was debating a measure calling for the ouster of the US Marine recruiting office because the majority of residents were against the war in Iraq. Once the state and federal government threatened to pull all funding, they broke ranks and modified their position. Read more by clicking HERE.

2. Sea Isle City, NJ: From day one, the city has WELCOMED our military veterans & supported the Tri for Our Veterans race - Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Mayor Desiderio recognized the importance of keeping the memorial in Memorial Day weekend and rallied his office and the city's departments behind the event. Folks like Vicki Feeney (Recreation) and Tom D'Intino (SIC Police) have been so suportive and helpful. By working together, we have put together a great race course and a wonderful event to kick off the summer. Recently, Sea Isle's Department of Public Relations issued a press release about the race-- read below.

There you have it America-- when the going gets tough, some turn their backs, while others help out. This race blog will remain apolitical; I do not think you need to be a Democrat or a Republican, for the war or against it to support the brave men and women in uniform. I think you just need to be an American.

Race update: 85 days to go and we have 139 people registered. Want to volunteer? Email me at mcculleyfordham@hotmail.com

Sea Isle City adds triathlon to calendar of events

Sea Isle City - A new event, a triathlon dubbed Tri For Our Veterans, is taking place in Sea Isle City on Saturday, May 24, 2008. The three-part race will begin at 7:30 A.M. and will consist of a 400-meter ocean swim, a 12.3 mile (4.1 mile loop) bicycle race and a 3.1 mile beach run.The event, which is expected to draw hundreds of athletes from around the region, will serve as a fundraiser for the injured marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle City VFW Post 1963. Additionally, organizers hope that the race will shine a spotlight on the needs of injured veterans and those serving in the United States Military.

According to Race Director Matt McCulley, the triathlon will be a positive way to kick off the summer season and celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. "We want to keep the word 'memorial' in Memorial Day," said McCulley. "Our real focus is on our returning soldiers, injured marines and the work Semper Fi Fund has done."Established in 2004, Semper Fi Fund provides financial assistance and quality of life solutions to injured marines, their families and other service members injured in direct support of marine units. The fund also supports Team Semper Fi, which is made up of injured marines and sailors who compete in athletic events that raise funds and awareness for wounded veterans. Team Semper Fi provides wounded team members with coaches, specialized sporting equipment, entry fees and travel expenses.

McCulley, who is not a military veteran, was inspired to organize Tri For Our Veterans during a visit to the Jersey shore in 2007. It was then that he decided to combine his love for Sea Isle City, his passion for endurance racing, and his tremendous respect for America's veterans - especially those who have been injured while serving their country."We have to put our best foot forward and give as much support as we can to our military," said McCulley. "The city of Sea Isle City and VFW Post 1963 have been supporting Tri For Our Veterans since day one, so I knew that Sea Isle was the right place for this event."

For information concerning the Semper Fi Fund, visit www.semperfifund.org . Those wishing to compete in the triathlon can register at click here.

Triathlon tops 100 registrations!

2008-02-23T11:48:00.006-05:00

Sea Isle's Tri for Our Veterans race has surpassed 100 registered partcipants. If you know of friends or family who are planning on signing up for this triathlon, please encourage them to do so-- remember, you can sign up as a relay team.

A. Race registration fees increase 15% on February 27.
B. This race will SELL OUT. Register now while it is still open!

Click HERE to register for the only triathlon in the US to benefit our veterans.

Swim Portion of the Race

2008-02-19T13:32:00.006-05:00

No, this is not a picture of the start of the race!! Sea Isle's Polar Bear Plunge last week was amazing. There were so many people lined up on the Promenade and countless more in the water. We had a table and handed out information about the race. "The Swim" usually dominated the conversations, so I thought I would take some time and discuss it on the race blog.

First, the water will not be as warm as August-- pure and simple. However, it will be warmer than the Plunge. The anticipated temperature is 63-65 degrees and wetsuits are encouraged. Click HERE to visit our sponsor, XTERRA, for rentals. Now, keep in mind, this is a very short swim (400 meters) and most people will be out of the water within 15 minutes. In fact, the average time in the water for triathlons in Wildwood and Avalon was roughly 14 minutes. The winner of Avalon completed the swim in 7:53 minutes and the slowest time on record was 19:06. Plus, most competitors will run into and out of the water-- so there goes 100 meters. Last thought-- 10-15 minutes in 65 degree water or a year long tour of Baghdad. Hmmm...

Secondly, we are taking a number of safety precautions. Sea Isle's Police Department is in charge of the Beach Patrol and we are working with them to secure plenty of lifeguards for the race. We expect to have a team of guards in the water, on surf boards, in kayaks, and in rowboats. The City is also closely coordinating with the State Police Marine Patrol and the Coast Guard. We will have plenty of protection for our racers. If ocean conditions imperil our athletes in any way (i.e. rough surf, weather), we will yield to the Beach Patrol for a decision to cancel the swim and replace it with a 2 mile run.

Finally, the course is very simple and will not take you far off of the beach. We will start in a runners' stance and athletes will run into the surf and swim out 100 meters to a posted buoy/flag. Racers will then make the turn around the flag and swim with the current to the next flag, 200 meters away. The last segment is to swim 100 meters to the beach. This is a fairly easy swim and with a little training, you can easily complete it.

Personally, the first time I competed in a race (Avalon), I was terrified of the swim and did not practice AT ALL. Half way through, I switched from freestyle to breaststroke and completed in 10 minutes. I would not suggest this regimen, but my point is-- YOU CAN DO IT!

I will give segment updates like this for the bicycle and run portions in a few weeks. Check the registration page on Piranha by clicking HERE to check out the race maps.

Racing for a Just Cause: Semper Tri

2008-02-14T16:10:00.004-05:00

It has been a very busy week. Registrations have really soared in the past two weeks and we are now 100 days away from the Tri for Our Veterans race. A number of news organizations have started to pay attention and I am guessing there will be a few stories about the race, once the weather breaks and Memorial Day comes into focus. In two interviews this week, I stressed the participation of Team Semper Fi and the courageous veterans who make up this team. Team Semper Fi is made up injured Marines and Sailors who participate in sporting events to help raise funds and awareness for our wounded. Check out their site by clicking HERE and learning more.

One question was raised in both interviews: "Ok, so 50% of the money goes to the VFW to refurbish the town's Veterans' Memorial fountain. The other 50% goes to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. What do they do?"

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a phenomenal organization-- 94% of every dollar raised goes directly to the injured Marines. They have a very low administrative overhead rate. The short answer is-- they do anything and everything to make a wounded Marine comfortable when returning home. Yes, the government provides a lot of resources for our injured soldiers, but they cannot provide all things.

As an example, The Inquirer published a story about a local Marine, Cpl. Raymond Hennagir, as he returned home from Iraq. Click HERE to read it. Cpl. Hennagir returned home from the front when an IED blew off both of his legs and part of his hand. His one request was to attend his platoon's homecoming from Iraq at Camp Lejeune, which would require a special medical van for the long distance trip. The US Government cannot pay for these types of requests; this is where The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund comes into play-- they paid for Cpl. Hennagir's trip to welcome home is fellow Marines. Cpl. Hennagir was 21 years old at the time of the explosion.

I first heard of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund in this article. Combined with the article in the NY Times, this article pushed me to create the Tri for Our Veterans race. I am hoping you will join us on Memorial Day weekend and have some fun, honor our veterans, and cheer on Team Semper Fi.

Don't forget to REGISTER for the race. Click HERE.

Announcing a Founding Sponsor

2008-02-08T18:15:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Bill Dalton (President) and Bridgepoint Insurance Group, a founding sponsor of the “Tri for Our Veterans” triathlon race. Bridgepoint is a specialty insurance agency that proves that all insurance is not the same. Bridgepoint advises clients on the design and selection of insurance programs that meet their specific needs and prides itself on customer satisfaction. Bridgepoint serves non-profit and human services organizations, the golf and hospitality industry, law firms, real estate, technology and many other industries. Click HERE to find out more about this excellent company.

New Developments, 110 days to go

2008-02-04T20:06:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay in blogging-- just got back from a week in warm weather on business. Luckily, my company has a number of athletes employed and my team is stocked with triathletes. During the work week, I was lucky enough to run in warm weather and swim off the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. On Friday, I swam 1.5 miles in the Caribbean and capped the trip off on Sunday by running 13 miles on the deck of a cruise ship as it plodded past Key West....which got me thinking....Tri season is rapidly approaching. I wish you all the best in your training over the next few months.

Recent developments:

* I am very thankful for my friendship with Chuck Brodsky, founder of the Nation's Triathlon in DC. If you have been reading since the beginning, you know that Chuck and I worked together at a small DC software company, ran our first marathon together (Philadelphia) and he has been so helpful in my efforts to launch Tri for Our Veterans. Now, Chuck has gone well beyond the call of friendship and my race is featured on The Nation's Triathlon website. Click HERE to check out his site. He is almost sold out, so if you want to race in our nation's capitol this September, sign up now.

* New sponsor: XTERRA Wetsuits is sponsoring the Tri for Our Veterans race. How awesome is that!! Xterra has a phenomenal reputation in the tri-o-sphere as the best wetsuit, bar none. And now they are a major sponsor. More details to come. In the meantime, if you need a wetsuit for the race, click HERE.

* 110 days and counting-- as I have stated a hundred times, this race is a complete NON PROFIT and all monies go to the local VFW in Sea Isle and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Please do us a favor-- if you want to sign up, don't hesistate...sign up NOW by clicking HERE. If you have already registered...thank you...but your mission is not over. We need more participants to raise enough money for our noble veterans. Pass along the details about this event to your friends, family, and fellow competitors. We have a team relay, which allows three people to join up and take a stage each-- and if they cannot find a swimmer to do the 400 meters in the ocean, email me at mcculleyfordham@hotmail.com and I will find one for you!

This race is going to be fun, well organized, and will surely make you proud to be an American. Plus, I am working on some great swag, like a beach bag, cool tee shirt, and, of course, a water bottle. Stay tuned, register, and get back to training.

Sellout is expected: Register now & receive discounted race fee

2008-01-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

Sea Isle's Tri for Our Veterans race is off to a great start. In 30 short days, we have collected about 52 race registrations (much of these over the holidays). It is safe to say, we will experience a sellout because our agreements, with both the city and our timing partner, limit the number of participants.

Take advantage of the Grand Opening race registration and discounted fee. By the end of February, the registration fee will rise. Additionally, this is the first beach triathlon of the summer and we are expecting a lot of early interest.

Lock up your spot now and click HERE to register for the Tri for Our Veterans race in Sea Isle City, NJ. Remember, all proceeds go to The Injured marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle's VFW Post.

From the Civil War to Iraq/Afghanistan: When will we provide for our military veterans?

2008-01-22T14:09:00.000-05:00

If you have been following the Tri for Our Veterans race blog, you know that all of the proceeds will be split between Sea Isle City's VFW Post 1963 and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. It is really important to keep our veterans in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to serve in the Middle East (we are approaching the 5 year anniversary of the Iraq War-- almost 4,000 US soldiers killed in action). Just this week, an important article was published, detailing the trauma these soldiers bring home with them from the front. Click HERE to read about it. Basically, it chronicles how our veterans struggle to re-enter American society after being on the front lines. After ducking bullets and dodging IEDs, they come home to a country tracking the latest drama with Brittany Spears. Our vets face a myriad of obstacles in the transition from the war front to the home front. Homelessness, for one, is a rampant problem for our returning soldiers and has been in every conflict since the Civil War. In 2006, our government counted 336,000 veterans as homeless, which is simply heartbreaking.

The aforementioned article will give you a better insight to the problems facing our returning men & women in uniform, but the one quote that caught my attention, "War changes people", reminded me of when I was a kid and my Dad would introduce me to certain Vietnam Veterans-- he would sometimes comment how different that his friend was before Vietnam. It is very sad to see the same problems occur, 30 years later.

Thankfully, great organizations are helping our returning soldiers and you can too. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is one of those wonderful organizations. The Semper Fi Fund has done a phenomenal job of raising lots of money (almost $17 million since May, 2004), while keeping expenses, like salaries, very low. For each dollar raised by the fund, 95 percent of that revenue is distributed to our veterans and their families.

When you are debating to do this race, think about how your efforts will go to help our veterans. Since this country's inception, they have protected and fought for our freedom and we owe them.

Click here & Sign up for the race-- we will sell out!

Get the Word Out: Sea Isle Triathlon

2008-01-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

Ok, the registration has been open for 13 days now and we have seen a good amount of traction. So far, we have two (2) relay teams signed up and twenty eight (28) individuals. Check out the competitors on this website. We have competitors coming from the following states: MA, NY, PA, NJ, DE, MD. Not too shabby and I am pleasantly surprised.

The big story is the race blog, which opened in early December. Over 700 visitors from more than 20 states have visited the site. Five (5) different countries have visited the race blog. Most of the traffic comes from three websites: google (duh), USA Triathlon, and Piranha Sports (our timing partner).

Tri for Our Veterans has to thank a number of folks for helping to get the word out. For one, Piranha-- they are a great partner and sent out an email blast to their previous racers. Secondly, I have to give a shout out to Bubba Dogs, who has the best hot dogs in Sea Isle and a great attitude. Tim (Bubba Dog) is a veteran and has been kind enough to "advertise" the race on his own blog, which is one cool site for anyone looking to learn a little about Sea Isle, Philadelphia, and everything in between (Go Phils). Finally, my good friend Chuck Brodsky, who is the Founder of The Nation's Triathlon-- if not for his advice and guidance, I would be LOST! Check out his race in DC-- I am running it this year.

Click HERE to help out veterans and register for the Race....

You can also help by spreading the word about Sea Isle's Triathlon!

Origins of the Tri for Our Veterans race

2008-01-08T09:17:00.000-05:00

This entry is a re-post of my first blog entry..."So why are you doing this...". A number of people have asked me about the origins of the race and I thought it made sense to repost it. Plus, our timing partner, Piranha Sports, recently sent out an email to all of their race community and new people are discovering the race blog. Lastly-- don't forget to REGISTER for the race...click here and you will magically be connected to our registration page.

Here goes....

Last summer, I completed four triathlons, a marathon, and an Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman). My MBA finished up in May and work was going very well. I spent a lot of time in Sea Isle and really enjoyed the long summer with my three daughters, my wife, and the rest of my family and friends.

Then, I read the article. I read the New York Times every day and this one was an Art & Entertainment piece, which I rarely read. It was a review of a photographer's work hosted by a NYC gallery. The article broke me. It made me feel so selfish, so guilty, so undeserving, so ashamed, so un-American because I did not serve my country like my father and grandfather. The article made me want to do something. The article and its pictures still haunt me. The article is still online and I go back to it now and again-- check it out when you can.

This idea, this race, this blog, and this post are all apolitical. I will not divulge my political party, my feelings for or against the war, nor the administration that launched it. I have only one goal: to give something back to the veterans who have fought in our previous battles and those who fight in today's wars. It is fairly simple, but, wow, is there a lot of work to do...

I came up with the idea to launch the "Tri for Our Veterans" triathlon race and host it in Sea Isle City, NJ, which is the beach town my family has visited for 40+ years. Triathlons are very fun-- you start off by swimming a certain distance, jump on a bike for a number of miles, then run as best as you can to the finish line. My race is going to be a "sprint" because of the short distances involved. Most folks think of the Ironman Series when it comes to triathlon races--- which is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles bike, and 26.2 (marathon) race. Sea Isle's Tri will be a wee bit different-- 1/4 mile swim, 12.3 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run on the beach's hard sand-- perfect for first timers, those looking for a beach workout after a long night at the Ocean Drive, or someone willing to help our veterans. For most people, they will complete the race in about 90 minutes or so.

Best of all-- the proceeds will go towards two fine organizations: The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund & Sea Isle's VFW Post 1963, in their efforts to rebuild the town's Veterans' Memorial Fountain and Garden.

Which brings me to the title of this post-- I met with a professional timing company today, who will record and post all of the triathletes' times. They organize & host about 12 races a year as part of their business. When they asked about the purpose of the race, I let them know it was going to be a not-for-profit race...to which they responded...."So, why are you doing this..."

Read the article, check out the photographer's gallery http://www.jenbekman.com/artists/nina_berman/, and then you might get a sense of how bad these soldiers need our help and deserve our respect.

Wanna Race? You need to register......click here to help our veterans

New Year's Resolution: Register, Train for the race

2008-01-01T10:40:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! Many of us are waking up a bit drowsy this morning, cursing the cheap champagne, the never-ending toast at midnight, or the decision to stay up just a few more hours. Gyms are packed around the country with folks putting their resolutions into practice and there is a run on Advil at the local CVS to alleviate either the headache from last night or the sore muscles from this morning's workout (rarely both).

When making your New Year's resolutions, please keep Sea Isle City's triathlon race in mind and register for the Tri for Our Veterans race. That's right-- put a stake in the ground and say "I'm doing it-- I am going to train for the summer's first triathlon of the season". We need our supporters to register as early as possible. The race is restricted to 400 racers and we need all of the support we can muster. With an early sell out, Tri for Our Veterans will be able to better publicize the event, work on other fundraising mechanisms, and control our costs--- all of which will help us increase our contribution to The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle's VFW Post 1963. Remember, all proceeds from this race go directly to these two great organizations.

Finally, many of us count exercise as one of our many resolutions for January 1st. By late January, we all need some motivation. Any time I need a kick in the can to get out of bed and out to the gym, I think of the folks below-- feel free to do the same.

Len McCulley: My Grandfather. He has taught me so much in life. As a 19 year old soldier during the Battle of the Bulge, he was "volunteered" to flush a sniper out of a church steeple because he was young, green, and single. He won the Bronze Star for his efforts and eventually made it back to Philadelphia to marry, raise a family, and cheer for his Eagles. I often think of him during my workouts, especially today, his birthday!

Gary Gordon & Randy Shughart: These 2 brave soldiers risked their own lives to save an Army pilot in Somalia, as depicted in Black Hawk Down. I can't image having the courage to do what they did. Both were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Our wounded veterans: If these folks can pull themselves out of bed for physical therapy, I am guessing I can pound the pavement to shed a few pounds.

Please click HERE to register for the race...we need you!

Registration is now OPEN!

2007-12-22T12:26:00.000-05:00

Tri for Our Veterans race registration is now open for business. Our website and registration page went live this week. Click HERE to be linked over to it. All major credit cards accepted-- as well as checks/money orders.

Update: Congrats to Tom & Kara Cullen-- first athletes to register!

We have partnered with Piranha Sports to time the event and organize the registrations. For those triathlon newcomers, timing is very sophisticated these days. Piranha will provide a velcro anklet & RFID chip, which is tracked via computers. You will be able to view your results, including the "splits" for the swim, bike, and run, by the afternoon of the race. They are an AWESOME partner and organize a number of their own races. Lots of experience!

Three key points:

This race will sell out-- register now to confirm your spot.
The earlier you register, the cheaper the registration fees
If possible, please register by check--it saves us a transaction fee-- more money to the Vets!

Get a jump on that New Year's resolution & register today!

Thank you, City of Sea Isle

2007-12-18T20:10:00.000-05:00

There was a meeting today in Sea Isle to finalize plans for the Tri for Our Veterans race and obtain official approval for the event. I have to tip my hat to all of Sea Isle-- your government and city employees were very helpful, encouraging, and happy to assist. The meeting welcomed all facets of city government-- Police, Community Affairs, Fire/EMT, Public Works, and Administration. The representatives could not have been nicer and more supportive. Finally, to our huge supporter, Sea Isle's VFW Post 1963-- this race teetered on your support and you folks believed in it, championed it, and made it happen. Without the support of the VFW and the City of Sea Isle, this race would never have made it off the ground.

Thank you very much for approving the event!

The website and registration system will be go LIVE by Friday, I think. Once the new year hits, we plan on launching a gorilla marketing campaign to get the word out to the community at large. Sponsorship is the next area to tackle. With city approval in hand, we need to quickly line up support.

So....are there any corporate sponsors out there??

The Marines have Landed

2007-12-07T18:56:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite TV shows growing up was "The A Team", starring Mr. T and George Peppard. Peppard's character, Col. Hannibal, would always declare "I love it when a plan comes together" after a successful mission.

Although I recognize there is a tremendous amount of work to complete for the Tri for Our Veterans race, a lot of progress has been made in the past few days. My good friend, Chuck Brodsky, started The Nation's Triathlon in DC and continues to be a great mentor to me as I organize this race. (As a first time Race Director, I would be lost without his guidance). Chuck connected me with Team Semper Fi, which is one of the many initiatives of The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund-- yes, the same organization that will share in the proceeds from the triathlon. Team Semper Fi provides coaching, specialized sporting equipment, entry fees, and travel expenses for wounded team members/veterans. I spoke to the coach and sponsor of Team Semper Fi, explained the Tri for Our Veterans concept, and invited him to join the race. He accepted! Team Semper Fi will be sending about 12 athletes to compete.

Additionally, we received official recognition as an event associated with The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. With their official backing and Team Semper Fi's participation, the Tri for Our Veterans race carries a tremendous amount of legitimacy. My hope is to work with our sponsors, The City of Sea Isle City and VFW Post 1963, to attract a lot of media attention to the event, which will fuel registration figures, increase revenue, and, ultimately, the contribution back to The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. It is a nice circle of partnership-- they officially recognize the race, we donate monies to them, and our veterans benefit from increased services.

It appears as though The Marines Have Landed in Sea Isle City!

As an avid racer, I am just thrilled and excited to watch the Team Semper Fi athletes compete in the triathlon. The Team Semper Fi competitors have incurred a number of battlefield injuries; some members have been badly burned, others suffered gunshot wounds, and a few have lost limbs to IEDs and other devices of war. Besides the grueling physical therapy program, these soldiers have completed a number of difficult endurance races, including The Marine Corps Marathon, Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, and The Nation's Triathlon. Their grit, determination, and sheer will to compete and win is admirable and I am excited to watch them in action as they storm the beaches and take the streets of Sea Isle during the triathlon!

Unfortunately, I will not be able to compete in my own race because of the numerous responsibilities as race director (this is my only regret about the race, for I have always wanted to compete in a Sea Isle tri, considering I have spent every summer of my life in this fantastic beach town). However, I will certainly remember the obstacles and challenges these fine Americans have faced and overcome during my long training runs...God knows, we can all use some inspiration at mile 20 of a marathon.

Registration and website will be up by December 20!

"So, why are you doing this..."

2007-12-01T20:22:00.000-05:00

Last summer, I completed four triathlons, a marathon, and an Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman). My MBA finished up in May and work was going very well. I spent a lot of time in Sea Isle and really enjoyed the long summer with my three daughters, my wife, and the rest of my family and friends.

Then, I read the article. I read the New York Times every day and this one was an Art & Entertainment piece, which I rarely read. It was a review of a photographer's work hosted by a NYC gallery. The article broke me. It made me feel so selfish, so guilty, so undeserving, so ashamed, so un-American because I did not serve my country like my father and grandfather. The article made me want to do something. The article and its pictures still haunt me. The article is still online and I go back to it now and again-- check it out when you can.

This idea, this race, this blog, and this post are all apolitical. I will not divulge my political party, my feelings for or against the war, nor the administration that launched it. I have only one goal: to give something back to the veterans who have fought in our previous battles and those who fight in today's wars. It is fairly simple, but, wow, is there a lot of work to do...

I came up with the idea to launch the "Tri for Our Veterans" triathlon race and host it in Sea Isle City, NJ, which is the beach town my family has visited for 40+ years. Triathlons are very fun-- you start off by swimming a certain distance, jump on a bike for a number of miles, then run as best as you can to the finish line. My race is going to be a "sprint" because of the short distances involved. Most folks think of the Ironman Series when it comes to triathlon races--- which is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles bike, and 26.2 (marathon) race. Sea Isle's Tri will be a wee bit different-- 1/4 mile swim, 12.3 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run on the beach's hard sand-- perfect for first timers, those looking for a beach workout after a long night at the Ocean Drive, or someone willing to help our veterans. For most people, they will complete the race in about 90 minutes or so.

Best of all-- the proceeds will go towards two fine organizations: The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund & Sea Isle's VFW Post 1963, in their efforts to rebuild the town's Veterans' Memorial Fountain and Garden.

Which brings me to the title of this post-- I met with a professional timing company today, who will record and post all of the triathletes' times. They organize & host about 12 races a year as part of their business. When they asked about the purpose of the race, I let them know it was going to be a not-for-profit race...to which they responded...."So, why are you doing this..."

Read the article, check out the photographer's gallery http://www.jenbekman.com/artists/nina_berman/, and then you might get a sense of how bad these soldiers need our help and deserve our respect.

Wanna Race? Volunteer? More to come......