*Hello Gators,* Summertime has arrived! Memorial Day Weekend… A day off of work, the Shore, fireworks, suntan lotion, extra time to get in another workout, barbeque, vacations… And a great opportunity to thank our veterans, both those still with us and those that have passed on, for providing us with the ability to enjoy all of it! We have a number of Gators that are veterans so here’s a brief “summertimeout” to thank them for their service and share some of their background with you… - *Ken Beauchamp, **US Navy, 1987-97.* Also attached to the US Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. - *Danny Friend, US Coast Guard, 1990-94, *Quartermaster 3rd Class. Assignments included - Fisheries & Search & Rescue (Kodiak, Alaska; 1991-1992) - Drug Enforcement, Search & Rescue and Immigration (Cape May, NJ 1993-1994) - *Andy Rosebrook, US Navy, 1988-2002.* Assignments included… Officer and enlisted Submarine Warfare Qualified, fast attack. - *Don Schlichtmann, US Air Force, 1983-90.* Assignments included… - Intelligence morse code radio operator (Misawa Air Base Japan and San Vito Air Station Italy - Also worked in base operations at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL - *Doug Schmidt, US Marines, 1975-79,* E-5 Sergeant. Asssignments included COBOL programmer (Kansas City, MO) - *Jon Wesler**, US **Army, 1998-2002, 2006,* Captain. Assignments included… - Tank Platoon Leader - Tank Company Executive Officer - Fort Hood, TX, and Kuwait Thanks to you and any others that we may have missed for your service! This week's news topics include... - *Accomplishments… *Taking over the SEC and FC!!! - *Who’s Next?... *Hammer time in Hammonton!!! - *Workouts Update… *This weekend we’ll be at Blue Marsh and Lake Nockamixon!!! - *Mark Your Calendars… *Seminars to make you faster and healthier plus lots of club events in June!!! *Accomplishments**: *A new first for the club… We competed in three events over the past week and had outright race winners in all three!... - *Saturday, May 21:* - *Kentucky Ale Horse Capital Marathon (Louisville, KY): Michelle Sipe* crossed off Kentucky, which is state #32, in her ongoing adventure to run a marathon in all 50 states (next up… Wisconsin in July). Michelle was not intending to run for a fast time, but her results were very solid as always… Top 30% of all females and top 50% overall and in her age group. Congrats, Michelle, better results than Nyquist!! - *Xterra Oak Mountain Triathlon (Pelham, AL): Don Morrison *finished in the top 30% overall and also won his age group… *PODIUM!!!*... Awesome, Don, way to xterra it up! - *Sunday, May 22:* - *French Creek Triathlon (Elverson, PA): *Special thanks to all of the Gators that volunteered at either the ToughKids Philly Triathlon and/or the French Creek Triathlon this weekend! And extra special thanks to *Michelle Leonard* and *Byron Solvason* for volunteering both days! All of the following Gators achieved successful results… - *Sprint Triathlon:* - *Jason Brannen*... Jason’s results included a #25 overall finish as well as top 30% finishes in all three legs as well as narrowly missing the podium with a #4 finish in his age group! - *Kerri Brannen*.... Kerri successfully completed her first triathlon of the season! - *Gabriel Rosello*… Gabriel completed his *FIRST TRIATHLON!!! *Gabriel’s results included a top 20% bike finish and a top 50% overall finish. Great debut, Gabriel! - *Susan Ryan*… Susan completed her first triathlon as a Gator along with her husband, Jim Ryan! - *Olympic Triathlon:* - *Vince Bellino*… Vince successfully completed his first triathlon of the season on his way to participating in Ironman Mont-Tremblant 70.3 in Canada in June! - *Jim Foster*… Jim is also working towards Ironman Mont-Tremblant 70.3 in June! - *Tiff Pfluger*... Tiff was #3 in her age group… *PODIUM!!!*... Tiff’s other accomplishments included top 40% of all females and top 50% in the swim and run!! - *Tim Pfluger*… Tim finished #2 in his age group… PODIUM!!!... and also #11 overall. Tim’s other achievements… #3 overall run, top 15% bike, and top 40% swim!! - *Chris Reiter*… Chris finished #21 overall and also was #5 in his age group as well as top 25 overall in the swim, bike, and T2 plus top 35% on the run!! - *Logan Washburn. *Logan had a very successful Gator triathlon debut finishing #2 in her age group… PODIUM!!!... and in the top 33% of all female finishers! Logan was also in the top 30% on the swim and in the top 50% for T2!! - *King of Prussia 10 Miler (King of Prussia, PA):* - *Don Mack *finished #7 overall and was #2 in his age group. Don’s son, Josh Mack, also ran in his first event longer than a 5K and finished #8 overall winning his age group in the process!! - *Frank Moffa* finished in the top 20% overall as well as in the top 45% of his age group!! - *Jen Ruiz *finished in the top 25% overall as well as in the top 15% of all female finishers and #7 in her age group!! - *Gators Teamwork: *The Gators won the team competition… *PODIUM!!!*... and received a plaque as a result!! - *Rev3 Knoxville Triathlon (Knoxville, TN): Andy Rosebrook* had a great day achieving his first *PODIUM!!!* with a division win that included top 3 finishes in the division in all three legs and both transitions! Besides that, Andy’s other accomplishments included top 20% overall, top 20% bike, top 30% swim and run, top 40% T1, and top 45% T2!! - Ironman Chattanooga 70.3 (Chattanooga, TN): Michelle Bradley completed her *FIRST HALF IRONMAN DISTANCE EVENT!!! *Great job, Michelle! *Who’s Next**?: Memorial Day Weekend leaves us with a light event schedule… *Best wishes for a safe and successful race to club running sponsor Chester County Running Store’s *Don Morrission* who will be participating in the *Hammonton Sprint Triathlon (Hammonton, NJ) *this *Saturday, May 28*! *Workouts Update**: *Some notes for this weekend… - *Saturday, May 28, 8am, Blue Marsh (Elverson, PA): *Join us for this uncoached group workout! See the Facebook event for more details. - *8:15am-ish: Open Water Swim*… Water temps are likely to be in the low/mid 60s so bring your wetsuit! - *9:30am-ish: Cycling loop… *17.5 miles and 1,400 feet of climbing on the “Cujo Loop”… Some are planning to do 2 loops. - *11:00am-ish: Run off the bike… *“At your own pace” - *Monday, May 30, 7:30am, Lake Nockamixon (Quakertown, PA – Independence Triathlon Course Preview Ride/Run… *We’ll start promptly at 7:45am from Parking Lot #1 and complete two loops of the 10 mile bike course followed by 1-2 loops of the 2 mile run course. See Facebook event for more details. NOTE: Since this is Memorial Day both tri swim workouts (morning and evening) are canceled. *Mark Your Calendars**: *Upcoming events include… - *Upcoming Seminars:* - *Wednesday, June 1, 7pm, YMCA Corporate Conference Room: “Race Prep and Faster Transitions” *(led by Ken and Kelly Beauchamp)… See the Facebook and sign up today! - *Wednesday, June 8, 7:30pm-8:15pm, YMCA Front Conference Room: “Chiropractic and the Triathlete” *(led by club lead sponsor, Mike Connelly, Centre for the Healing Arts)… See the Facebook event and sign up today! - *Upcoming Club Events:* - *Sunday, June 5:* - *Morning: Independence Triathlon/Duathlon (Lake Nockamixon, Quakertown, PA)… *12 Gators registered - *1pm: “Gator Season Kickoff Party” (Spring City, PA)… * See Facebook event for more details! - *Sunday, June 12: Ironman Eagleman 70.3 (Cambridge, MD)… *7 Gators registered - *Friday, June 17: “Beer and a Mile” (Limerick, PA)… *See Facebook event for more details! - *Saturday, June 25-Sunday, June 26: TriRock Philly Triathlons… *Sprint on Saturday (3 Gators registered) and Olympic on Sunday (6 Gators registered, plus Mike Aliprantis is making a guest appearance from Austin, TX). Go Gators! *Don M*