Hello Gators, Sorry for the lack of a newsletter last week! There seems to be a direct correlation… Newsletter Editor in peak week of Ironman training = No newsletter. June was an amazing month as we had many athletes successfully complete their events including a slew of Half Ironman distance triathlons, with many being first timers. As we progress through July, we have lots of additional athletes competing in lots of additional events. This includes at least a dozen of us that will soon be taking on one of at least four full Ironman distance events including Ironman Lake Placid (July 26), Ironman Boulder (August 2), Ironman Chattanooga (September 27), and Ironman Maryland (October 3). It will be exciting to follow them as they complete their journeys of 30 weeks of training plus 140.6 miles of racing. Whatever your plans include this upcoming weekend, have a great time! This week's news topics include...Accomplishments… Gators Du It in Philly and Down the Shore!!Who’s Next?… A couple of Spartans, some shiny DIamonds, and running in Pottstown!!Did You Know… You don’t have to take your USAT card to your races!!About A Gator... So who are our Ironman Lake Placid-in-Training athletes??Mark Your Calendars… Bikeworks bike maintenance clinic and lots of upcoming club events!! Accomplishments: Poor weather turned many recent events from triathlons into duathlons. Our athletes were able to overcome the elements for another 100% successful finish weekend including yet another Half Ironman distance event (note: if you've participated in an event and we haven't had a chance to publicly congratulate you, please let us know about it)…Saturday, June 27: Islandman Sprint Triathlon (Avalon, NJ): Ended up being a Run/Bike/Run duathlon…Jason Brannen finished #8 in his age group and in the top 25% overall. Jason also achieved the following overall results… top 15% T1, top 20% bike, top 35% Run 2, top 40% T2, and top 45% Run 1… Way to go, Jason!!Kerri Brannen finished #5 in her age group… PODIUM!!... and in the top 45% overall. Kerri also achieved the following overall results… top 45% on both Run 1 and Run 2 and top 50% T2… Great job, Kerri!!TriRock Philly Sprint Triathlon: Ended up being a Run/Bike/Run…Mike Aliprantis overcame a front tire blowout that was immediately followed by a cracked rear wheel (due to an encounter with another cyclist) to complete the race. Despite having to walk several miles to complete the bike leg, Mike had a couple of great runs before and after finishing in the top 30% overall in both runs… Way to stick with it, Mike!!Jeannine Kelly had a successful finish in her first triathlon of the season… Nice effort, Jeannine!!Maureen Pinkerton finished #2 in her group… PODIUM!!... as well as in the top 20% of all females and the top 40% overall. Maureen additionally achieved the following… top 45% overall in Run 1, T1, and the bike. Congrats, Maureen!!Chris Reiter achieved a top 10 age group finish and also finished in the top 6% overall. Chris also achieved the following… #19 overall bike (top 2%), top 10% Run 1, top 20% Run 2, top 30% T2, and top 35% T1. Nice work, Chris!!Sunday, June 28:Challenge Atlantic City 70.3: Frank Moffa was able to compete in the one triathlon of the week that included the swim and Frank had an awesome race finishing in the top 45% overall…TriRock Philly Olympic Triathlon: Ended up being a Bike/Run…Suzanne Angelaccio demonstrated her usual transition quickness with a transition time in the top 50% overall… Way to go, Suzanne!!Adrienne Foster finished in the top 33% of all females, top 33% in her age group, and in the top 50% overall. Adrienne’s other accomplishments included a top 20% transition and a top 40% run… Great prep for LP, Adrienne!!Gregg Heimer donned the “Gator flower bathing cap” and went on to another successful finish. I think he may have also slipped in another half marathon on us recently… Best headwear in the race, Gregg!!Michelle Leonard overcame her disappointment in not being able to do her first Olympic distance event to achieve a top 30% female finish and also a top 40% age group finish. Michelle also had a top 45% overall transition… Great race, Michelle!!Brent Voynar finished in the top 15% overall and the top 20% in his age group. Brent’s other achievements included a top 10% bike, top 30% run, and top 40% transition… Excellent work, Brent!! Who’s Next?: We're back in action this weekend with at least seven Gators competing in four events (if we are missing your event, please let us know). Best wishes for safe and successful events for all...Saturday, July 11:Diamond in the Rough Sprint Triathlon (Perryville, MD): Kelly Beauchamp, Ken Beauchamp, and Don Schlichtmann look to gain some additional points for the Gators in this Piranha event.Spartan Pennsylvania Super (Palmerton, PA): Jay Sherman is back in action in another Spartan adventure race.Sunday, July 12:Spartan Pennsylvania Sprint (Palmerton, PA): Brian Kozera returns to action… Welcome back!Pottstown Half Marathon: Heather Irwin and Dave Marine will be in action. Did You Know?: USAT has a smart phone membership card app that you can use at any race requiring membership. So if you are a USAT member, you can start using the app and leave your membership card at home! Here’s a link to more info… http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/articles/2014/6/060514-membership-card-app.aspx About A Gator: We don't have a new profile this week, but just wanted to remind you that all About A Gator profiles are stored on the Gators Facebook group site. Here are a few on our Ironman-in-training athletes that will be participating in Ironman Lake Placid on July 26...#15 Tim Pfluger... https://www.facebook.com/groups/msgators/327637864087659/#17 Vince Bellino... https://www.facebook.com/groups/msgators/327637924087653/#27 Tiff Pfluger... https://www.facebook.com/groups/msgators/360911077427004/ Mark Your Calendars:Saturday, July 11, 6am: Tri Club bike ride and brick run led by Don M… Meet at the Reynolds Dog Park in time for a prompt start or join us later (just let us know so we can make plans with you to meet you when we loop back to the dog park).Monday, July 20, 7pm, YMCA Room 2: Bike maintenance clinic (by our sponsor Bikeworks)Upcoming Club Events: Other than Ironman Lake Placid, it's not too late to register for any of these events...Sunday, July 26: Ironman Lake Placid (Lake Placid, NY): A record 9 Gators will be taking on one of the most famous Ironman courses. Plus another 5-10 of us will be there to support them as volunteers. It’s not too late to join the support team if you would like to check it out!Sunday, August 9: Steelman Triathlon (Quakertown, PA): As usual, we’ll have a ton of athletes competing in the sprint and Olympic events… A dozen at last count, but there will likely be more than 20 of us by the time the event gets here.Sunday, August 16: Challenge Pocono Mountains Olympic and Half Distance Triathlons: We have at least 16 athletes participating as individuals and on relay teams. If you are interested in doing either, it’s not too late, just let us know!Saturday, September 12, Diamondman Challenge: This event features all sorts of races… Sprint and half Ironman distance triathlons and duathlons, off-road triathlon and duathlon, and kids triathlon and duathlon. We’d like for it to be a family event and we’re planning to host a few kids training sessions over the summer so that we can have a pack of Jr. Gators participate. Reserve the date on your calendar and stay tuned for more details coming soon! Go Gators! Don M