Hello Gators, You’re wanted in all kinds of ways… We’d like you to consider participating in the upcoming Diamondman Challenge Festival as either a participant or a cheerleader. We could use your support as a runner or a volunteer at the Spring-Valley Y’s “Game Day 5K” this fall. And, most importantly, we’d like your input on our just released brief member survey that will help us plan for the remainder of 2015, start to plan for 2016, and, in one case, begin to think about 2017. “Want” to learn more… Read on! This week's news topics include...Accomplishments… First time accomplishments, PR’s, and podiums galore!!Who’s Next?… Out for a swim in Jersey!!2016 Club Officers… Meet your 2016 Spring-Valley YMCA Multisport Gators officers!!Do You Got Game?… We’re looking for a few (or more) good runners and volunteers for the upcoming Spring-Valley Y Game Day 5K!! SPOILER ALERT… This item includes a discount code!So What Do You Think?... Member survey just released… Your opinion counts!!Mark Your Calendars… Dimond Bike ride, Diamondman Challenge Festival, Pools Closed, and Ready to Run?!! Happy Birthday!: Best wishes to Tiff Pfluger who celebrated her birthday this past Wednesday, August 19! College Bound!: Best wishes to Maddie Matarazzo as she heads to James Madison University as an incoming freshman and new member of the James Madison triathlon team. Maddie (and Al and Mindy who are also relocating to Virginia) plans to stay in touch and she has invited the Gators to have a club event at one of the many Virginia-based triathlons. We’re looking forward to hearing exciting things from you, Maddie! Learn a lot and have fun! Accomplishments: What a weekend! 20 Gators in action and many, many successes…Saturday, August 15:Boston Light Swim (Boston, MA): Nabil Radouane successfully completed this massively long (8 miles) and cold swim… Unbelievable, Nabil, way to go!!Sunday, August 16:Ironman Timberman 70.3 (Gilford, NH): Chris Phillips, rallied by the cheers of his family who were close enough for him to see them on a boat during the swim, was able to set a half Ironman distance PR and finished in the top 30% overall, despite a total failure at trying a new technique of heart rate monitoring (Chris accidentally left his HR chest strap in his bike helmet and didn’t realize it until about 35 miles into the bike when it popped loose and dangled down; Chris says this technique does not work well… actually… at all). Chris also received his finisher’s medal from the race winner, Andy Potts… Chris was disappointed to learn that Andy did not remember Vince Bellino pacing him for about 3 yards during Andy’s victorious 2013 Ironman Lake Placid event. Great accomplishment, Chris!!Iron Girl Columbia (Columbia, MD): Diane Lynch... You are a triathlete! Congratulations to Diane who completed her 1st triathlon!!Pigman Long Triathlon (Palo, IA): Ruth Subach achieved double success by completing her 1st half Ironman distance event and placing 3rd in her division… PODIUM!!... Awesome job, Ruth!!Challenge Pocono (Pocono Mountains, PA): 17 Gators overcame the high heat and humidity…Olympic: Andy Rosebrook got the large contingent of Gators in Pocono off to a great start with a very solid race. Andy’s achievements included a top third swim in both his age group and overall, passing 12 additional participants during the bike, and a top 50% finish in his age group as well as a top 30% overall finish… Great race, Andy!!Half Ironman Distance:Individual:Michelle Leonard, competed in just her 2nd triathlon successfully completed her 1st half Ironman distance event and also managed to pass on the bike 10 of the 20 competitors in her age group and 46 participants overall that were ahead of her at the start of the bike leg. Michelle past 2 additional competitors in her age group and 39 competitors overall on the run for a top 35% age group finish… Excellent debut, Michelle!!Byron Solvason, just three weeks removed from setting an Ironman distance PR in Lake Placid, went on to set a half Ironman distance PR, which is saying something, as Byron has done a few of these. Byron’s other accomplishments included passing 19 age group competitors and a staggering 141 competitors overall during the bike leg and a race finish in the top 35% in his age group and a top 25% finish overall… Way to go, Byron!!Allison Wesler also set a half Ironman distance PR and was able to pass 24 competitors in her age group as well as 90 competitors overall during the bike leg… Great race, Allison!!Jon Wesler was strong right from the start with a top 50% swim in his age group and a top 40% swim overall. Jon then went on to pass 2 in his age group and 61 overall during the bike leg and finished in the top 45% overall… Fantastic event, Jon!!Relay: We had four relay teams compete and all four finished in the top 50% of the 13 team field…SV Lady Gators: Steph Bieloski (swim), Kelly Beauchamp (bike), and Tiff Pfluger (run) finished #5 relay overall and as the #2 female relay team. They also had the #5 relay swim, relay bike, and relay run. Nice job, ladies!Team Gator Done: Joe Boris (swim), Ken Beauchamp (bike), and Tim Pfluger (run) easily cruised to a relay division 1st place finish… PODIUM!! The team’s accomplishments included the #1 relay swim, #1 relay bike, and #2 relay run (2nd only to a US Olympic half marathon runner hopeful). Great all around event, guys!Team MnMmM: Maddie Matarazzo (swim), Tim Mosebey (bike), and Don Mack (run) finished as the #3 relay team… PODIUM!! The team’s accomplishments included the #3 relay swim, #6 relay bike, and #3 relay run. Way to get it done, team (and glad to hear you are doing okay, Tim)!Team Inebrigatored: Chris Reiter (swim), Brian Kozera (bike), and Vince Bellino (run) finished #6 relay overall and also had the #6 relay swim. This team also overcame great adversity to get here and it is great to report that Brian is cancer free, Vince is clot free, and Chris is still injury free!! Way to go, guys and awesome suds filled finish! Who’s Next?: Just one Gator in action this weekend; best wishes for a safe and successful event, Nabil!Sunday, August 23: Cedar Island 5K Swim (Avalon, NJ): Nabil Radouane makes it 5 events in 6 weeks with another lengthy swim as he continues on his goal to swim 50 miles of swim events in 2016. Elections: There were no additional nominations for club officers for the election, so the nominated candidates are announced as the winners and will begin their 2 year terms starting on January 1, 2016. Congratulations to…President: Byron SolvasonVice-President: Frank MoffaTreasurer: Chris ReiterSecretary: Don Mack Also, we are looking for new members to join our leadership team. One position that is opening is for a Social Committee co-chair position (i.e. to assist in planning our fun social events). If you are interested, please reply back. Do You Got Game?: We are seeking both runners and volunteers for the Sunday, October 11 Spring-Valley YMCA “Game Day 5K”…Volunteer opportunities: We are looking for help and the following link has all duties assigned for sign up. All volunteers receive a special shirt!... https://www.runtheday.com/registration/volunteer_signup/31500Race Registration Discount: Any Gator that registers can receive $5 off with the promotional code “gators”. Race registration link… https://www.runtheday.com/registration/select_race_type/31500 So What Do You Think?: In case you haven’t seen it, an e-mail went out last night to our member survey. We’re hoping for a very high participation level as your input will help the club leadership to plan for the balance of 2015, all of 2016, and beyond. Here is a link to the survey, which will take less than 10 minutes to complete… https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/99D3CXK And thanks to the 20+ of you that have already responded! Mark Your Calendars: All of these diamonds would make you think we were a baseball club!Saturday, August 22, 7am start time: Tri Club bike ride will depart promptly from the Reynolds Dog Park at 7am. Ride duration will include a 35-40 mile loop (2+ hours) followed by a 1 hour SRT or Valley Forge loop. Pace groups will be determined based on turnout. NO ONE will ride alone.Monday, August 24-(at least) Sunday, August 30: All indoor pools at the Spring Valley YMCA will be closed for annual maintenance. The outdoor pools will be open with special hours on some mornings (5am-8am) and other area Y’s will have indoor pool times available. We will NOT have any Tri Swim indoor workouts next week.Tuesday, August 25, 6:15pm: During our regular Tuesday evening Tri Club workout, Dimond Bikes will have a few sample bikes to test ride for anyone that is interested. These bikes have a very unique look as they do not have a seat post. You can find more info here… http://rustersports.com/dimond/Thursday, September 9, Inaugural Gators Fantasy Football Draft: Our draft will take place immediately following the Thursday night Tri Club bike ride. The official draft start time is 8pm and it will take place at Buffalo Wild Wings in Oaks. Space is very limited, but if you are interested in watching the festivities, please reply back and we’ll let you know if space is available.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