Tim 
Pfluger had an amazing race almost breaking 3 hours and barely 
breaking a sweat!... Tim finished in the top 3% overall (out of over 40,000 
runners) and in the top 5% of both his age group and all male finishers... 
Great job, Tim! (Editor's Note: And thanks, Tim, for being in Chicago on the date 
of the Spring-Valley YMCA 5K!)Tiff Pfluger also had an 
outstanding finish.  Tiff was in the top 9% of all female finishers, 
top 13% in her age group, and top 18% overall... Great run, Tiff! And 
Tiff is also planning to run the Philly Marathon in November.

Duathlon:

  Ken 
  Beauchamp had another successful event placing 7th overall and 
  1st in his age group... PODIUM!... Ken's other 
  accomplishments included 5th overall bike, 3rd overall on T2, 5th 
  overall on T1, and top 15% on both runs... Outstanding effort, Ken! 
  Kelly 
  Beauchamp also had a great day finishing as the 6th overall 
  female and 1st in her age group... PODIUM!... 
  Kelly's other accomplishments included top 40% overall, top 20% on both 
  transitions, and top 50% on both runs and bike... Way to go, Kelly! 
  Jake Schlichtmann was the third strong 
  finisher coming in 10th overall easily winning his age group by several 
  minutes... PODIUM!... 
  Jake had top 10 finishes in both runs and T1 and top 20 finishes in the 
  bike and T2... Excellent effort, Jake!
Triathlon:

  Don 
  Schlichtmann participated in this sprint triathlon and was able 
  to overcome a very high surf on the swim and he decided to go without a 
  wetsuit.  Despite all of that, Don was able to finish 3rd overall... 
  PODIUM!... Don's amazing accomplishments included 4th overall 
  bike, 6th overall swim and T1, 12th overall run, and top 30% T2... 
  Wow, Don, way to go!Piranha Series Season Accomplishments: We had some notable season long accomplishments in Piranha's race series.  Congrats to Ken, Kelly, and all Gators that contributed to the team's success!!!...Ken Beauchamp placed 1st in his age group... Great accomplishment, Ken!Kelly Beauchamp placed 2nd in her age group... Way to go, Kelly!The Gators placed 7th in the team series... Way to go, Gators!

Hello Gators, We had a great start to our Tuesday night "Strength Training for Triathletes" program (7:30pm-9pm) and are looking forward to more of you joining in future weeks. Also, we are now in the middle of Week 3 of the Gator Fitness Challenge. It's not too late to start if you have not already committed or have been unable to complete your week 1 or week 2 workouts. There are still two opportunities this week to complete the bike portion with the tri club... Tonight (Y pool deck, 7:30pm-8:30pm) and Saturday morning (Schuylkill River Trail starting at 7:30am from the Oaks/Egypt Rd./New Mill Rd. parking lot). Hope to see you there! This week's topics include... Accomplishments... One very strong weekend and some season long accomplishments! Who's Next?... Lots of running including a marathon rookie! About A Gator... Who else has been to triathlons in Australia and China ever, not to mention this year?!? Recommended Podcasts... Lots of post-Kona coverage! Weekly Workouts... Cycling and yoga opportunities still remain this week!Upcoming Events... Mark your calendar! Happy Birthday! to Adrienne Foster who is celebrating this Saturday, October 18! Best wishes, Adrienne! Accomplishments: Lots of success in lots of events... Chicago Marathon: Tim Pfluger had an amazing race almost breaking 3 hours and barely breaking a sweat!... Tim finished in the top 3% overall (out of over 40,000 runners) and in the top 5% of both his age group and all male finishers... Great job, Tim! (Editor's Note: And thanks, Tim, for being in Chicago on the date of the Spring-Valley YMCA 5K!)Tiff Pfluger also had an outstanding finish. Tiff was in the top 9% of all female finishers, top 13% in her age group, and top 18% overall... Great run, Tiff! And Tiff is also planning to run the Philly Marathon in November. Steamtown Marathon (Scranton, PA): Heather Tracey had great success in completing her 2nd marathon. Heather finished in the top 35% in her age group and in the top 45% overall... Way to go, Heather! Rev3 South Carolina (Anderson, SC): Andy Rosebrook, who participated in the 70.3 (half IRONMAN distance) event, had to deal with a delayed start due to lightning and torrential rain, but still had a great race finishing just outside the top 10 in his age group and in the top 40% overall... Great end of season race, Andy! Cape Henlopen Triathlon and Duathlon (Lewes, DE): Duathlon: Ken Beauchamp had another successful event placing 7th overall and 1st in his age group... PODIUM!... Ken's other accomplishments included 5th overall bike, 3rd overall on T2, 5th overall on T1, and top 15% on both runs... Outstanding effort, Ken! Kelly Beauchamp also had a great day finishing as the 6th overall female and 1st in her age group... PODIUM!... Kelly's other accomplishments included top 40% overall, top 20% on both transitions, and top 50% on both runs and bike... Way to go, Kelly! Jake Schlichtmann was the third strong finisher coming in 10th overall easily winning his age group by several minutes... PODIUM!... Jake had top 10 finishes in both runs and T1 and top 20 finishes in the bike and T2... Excellent effort, Jake! Triathlon: Don Schlichtmann participated in this sprint triathlon and was able to overcome a very high surf on the swim and he decided to go without a wetsuit. Despite all of that, Don was able to finish 3rd overall... PODIUM!... Don's amazing accomplishments included 4th overall bike, 6th overall swim and T1, 12th overall run, and top 30% T2... Wow, Don, way to go!Piranha Series Season Accomplishments: We had some notable season long accomplishments in Piranha's race series. Congrats to Ken, Kelly, and all Gators that contributed to the team's success!!!...Ken Beauchamp placed 1st in his age group... Great accomplishment, Ken!Kelly Beauchamp placed 2nd in her age group... Way to go, Kelly!The Gators placed 7th in the team series... Way to go, Gators! Spring-Valley YMCA "Fall 5" 5K (Royersford, PA): We had many participants and volunteers in our Y's inaugural 5K event. Considerable kudos to Jon Wesler, who was one of the event's key planners... Jon and the entire planning committee and race staff (including volunteers) did an outstanding job! Gators volunteers that I remember seeing on the course (my apologies if I missed anyone) included Allison Wesler, Melissa Moffa, and Byron Solvason. Prior to the 5K there was a kids fun run... There were many Gators kids at the event including from the Moffa, Wesler, Brannen, Bellino, Radouane, and Milligan families, some of whom participated in the kids run and/or the 5K. All Gators that participated in the 5K had successful race finishes including Alexis Radouane (Nabil's wife), Rob and Sophia Fletcher, Heather Williams, Michelle Leonard/Solvason, Gregg Heimer, Mike Aliprantis, Jon Wesler, Kerri Brannen, Dave Gale, Tony Angelaccio (Suzanne's husband), Don Mack, a handful of Bellinos (Vince, Lucy, Owen, and Trevor), and the entire Milligan family (Kim, Dean, Aidan, and Riley). Some noteworthy accomplishments...PODIUM! finishes by...Don Mack (1st overall out of 168)Kerri Brannen (2nd overall female and 16th overall)Riley Milligan (5th overall and 1st in age group)Trevor Bellino (7th overall and 2nd in age group)Dave Gale (1st in age group and 15th overall)Jon Wesler (1st in age group and 18th overall)Michelle Leonard/Solvason (2nd in age group and top 20% overall)Owen Bellino (2nd in age group)Other outstanding accomplishments:Tony Angelaccio: 12th overallDean Milligan: 14th overallMike Aliprantis: Top 25 overallGregg Heimer: Top 15% overall and 4th in age groupHeather Williams: Top 33% overallLucy Bellino: Top 50% overall and 4th in age groupVince Bellino: Top 50% overall Who's Next?: More marathoners and other runners; all events will take place on Sunday, October 19; best wishes to all for safe and successful races!... Atlantic City Marathon and Half Marathon: Both Ellen Friend and Melissa Moffa (first full marathon!) will be running 26.2 miles in the full marathon. Also, Maureen Pinkerton will be running in the half marathon.Runners' World Half Marathon (Bethlehem, PA): Don Mack will be participating in this event.Evansburg Challenge 10 Mile Trail Race (Collegeville, PA): Dave Gale participates in a race for the third consecutive weekend.5K Color Run (Phoenixville High School, Phoenixville, PA): Michelle and Byron Solvason will be changing their hair (and skin) color in this fun event. About A Gator: Talk about a world traveler! This week's edition covers Bob Lanyon, whose triathlon experience goes back 30 years. In addition to that, Bob has traveled to Australia and China (separate trips) this year for triathlons!!! Recommended Podcasts: Last Saturday's IRONMAN World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii was an amazing event that saw Hershey, PA's Andy Potts win the swim (barely) and accomplish his best championship finish ever with a 4th place finish and another American, Ben Hoffman, finishing second behind the 2014 champ, Sebastian Kienle (Germany). The women's event was even more amazing with last year's winner, MIrinda "Rinny" Carfrae, coming off the bike over 14 minutes behind Daniela Ryf, but eventually passing Daniela and eventually winning by about 2 minutes for her 3rd world championship. This week's recommended podcasts include some interviews with these amazing athletes (NOTE: If the hyperlinks do not work, just do a Google search for "Endurance Planet podcasts" and "IM Talk podcasts")...Andy Potts day after the race interview (Endurance Planet)Mirinda Carfrae day after the race interview (Endurance Planet)Post race interviews (from the finish line area) with most of the top 10 male and female finishers (IM Talk) Weekly Workouts: Remaining workouts for this week include... Thursday, 10/16:7:30pm-8:30pm: Bike trainers on the Y indoor pool deck8:45pm-9:30pm: Yoga (NEW LOCATION: Studio room)Saturday, 10/18, 7:30am start: Bike ride on the Schuylkill River Trail (meet at the usual location... Oaks/Egypt Rd./New Mill Rd. parking lot) Upcoming Events: There are several significant tri club-related events coming up over the next couple of months, so here's an early head's up so that you can mark your calendars... Saturday, November 15: SVMG End of Year Extravaganza at the Trappe Tavern. Possibly to be preceded by an IRONMAN World Championships highlights show viewing party. More details coming soon!Thursday, January 1: 2nd Annual RefrigaGator OWS... More coming later on this for any brave/nutty souls that are interested! NOTE: The October 14 Spring Valley Multisport Gators Members Meeting has been postponed to a later date (before the end of 2014). Have a great rest of the week! Go Gators! Don M