Hello Gators, Tonight's the night!... Our first ever Spring-Valley YMCA Multisport Gators members' meeting! It takes place in the Corporate Conference Room starting at 7pm. After the meeting ends (around 8:30pm) a handful of us (or maybe two handfuls) are going to stop at the Railroad Street Bar & Grill in Linfield (approx 3.5 miles / 6 minutes from the Y). Please feel free to join us if you are available! This week's topics include... . About a Gator. Sharing secrets! . "Building a Training Plan" Seminar. Learn how to prepare for a great 2015 season! . GFC #2. Are you ready to commit to the 2nd Gator Fitness Challenge?!? Now's the time! . RefrigaGator Swim. Will you join us for a New Year's Day Open Water Swim?!? . Recommended. Swim better and trainer ride company! Happy Birthday: Happy Birthday to the following Gators! . Sunday, December 14: Steve Gilman . Sunday, December 21: Nabil Radouane About A Gator - Kenneth Beauchamp: Learn about Ken's background, approach to endurance sports, and maybe something about what makes him go so fast... See attachment. "Building a Training Plan" Seminar: This Saturday we get a jumpstart on our brand new 2015 seminar series. The topic will be "Building a Training Plan" and will be delivered by Danny Friend at 7:15am in the conference room at the Y that is just behind the main lobby. The seminar will run until about 8:30am and be followed by an optional Tri Club 78 minute bike trainer "12 Days of Christmas" pool deck ride. See you there! Gator Fitness Challenge #2: Based on the success of the ongoing GFC #1, we've decided to continue with another challenge for the first three months of 2015 (January 5-April 5). This challenge will be to complete a minimum of 2 hours per week of biking, swimming, and running with at least 30 minutes on each activity. We will once again have some prizes that you can win for participating including one hour consultation or training sessions with some of our coaches (and perhaps other prizes as well). Additionally, we're adding a new component. You can optionally select a partner to participate with. For each week that you and your partner both successfully complete, you will receive an extra entry into the prize drawing! So, who's in for GFC #2? Reply back with a brief "Sign me up for GFC #2!" if you'd like to participate! RefrigaGator Swim: On January 1, 2014 Nabil, Gregg, and I decided to participate in Pottstown's annual "Polar Bear Swim". We loved it so much we're going back for our second "RefrigaGator" open water swim again this coming New Year's Day (10:30am. plenty of time to recover from the night before!). If you are inclined to do so, feel free to join us. You can also come and simply watch the spectacle. Let me know if you are interested. Reply back if you are interested! Some links. . More information (page down to "11th Annual New Year's Day Celebration and Bonfire at Riverfront Park" and "7th Annual Polar Bear Swim - 'Tis the Season to be Freezin". <http://www.pottstown.org/index.aspx?NID=136>http://www.pottstown.org/index.aspx?NID=136<http://www.pottstown.org/index.aspx?NID=136> . You Tube video from the 2014 event (see if you can find us). http://youtu.be/xiTFFRlWtUg<http://youtu.be/xiTFFRlWtUg> Recommended: You might be interested in checking out the following. . Article: Visual Cues To Make You a Better Swimmer<file:///C:/Users/Don/Documents/Triathlon/Tri%20Club/Newsletters/triathlon.competitor.com/2014/05/training/visual-cues-make-better-swimmer_98692#V5gMCRiA1JoBRMIG.99> . Podcast: Zen and the Art of Triathlon #582 - Productivity<http://www.zentriathlon.com/>. This almost 2 hour podcast from one of my favorite podcasters, Brett Blankner, includes an interview with a guy that has his own productivity podcast called "Beyond the To Do List<http://beyondthetodolist.com/>". It also includes some great training tips and insights from Brett, who is an early 40s triathlete and coach. Entertaining to listen to as you work through a long run or bike trainer session! Weekly Workouts: Remaining workouts for this week include... . Thursday, 12/18: . 7:30pm-8:30pm: Bike Trainers on the pool deck with Danny . 8:45pm-9:30pm: Yoga in the Studio with Maribeth . Saturday, 12/20: . 7:15am-8:30am: "Building a Training Plan" seminar with Danny in the conference room off of the Y lobby. . 8:45am-10:03am: Bike Trainers on the pool deck with Don M. Special "12 Days of Christmas" workout. If you plan to attend the seminar and also do the bike workout, please set up before the seminar. Go Gators! Don M