Something happened to me last week that I thought would never happen. Million to one odds. You know the kind of thing I am talking about---getting struck by lightning, finding a man at the door with balloons and a big check, seeing a winning strategy from a Democratic presidential candidate. Last Wednesday afternoon, I was bitten by a snake. I was pulling weeds in the garden and must have disturbed the slumbering serpent. At first I thought I'd been stuck by a thorn, but I quickly realized my error when I pulled my hand out of the weeds and saw the snake attached to my finger. Quick synopsis of events: have a heart attack, call poison control to find out if snake is venomous (it wasn't), quick visit to the ER for a tetanus shot, some antibiotics, and a band-aid for the fang holes in my finger.
Once I had recovered from the attack (more terrifying than painful), I realized that I needed to celebrate my victory over Evil. What better way to celebrate than call up a few of my closest friends and compete in a triathlon? Unfortunately my closest friends were unavailable, so I settled for Mary Wood and her daughter Jenny, Deb Gordon, and Bobbi Kisebach. We traveled to Hammonton, New Jersey (Blueberry Capital of the World!) to compete in the Hammonton Sprint Tri/Du. Mary and I endured the chilly waters of Hammonton Lake at 64 degrees, while Jenny, Bobbi, and Debbie all did the du. The bike course was flat with a decent headwind to battle on the way back (it wouldn't be proper race report without mention of a headwind), and the run was mostly flat and shaded. The Fasttracks Multisport Group cleaned up-with all members in attendance winning or placing in their age group! I was so proud of all of my closest friends' replacements.
It is now Monday evening and the MS City to Shore 2008 is just a wonderful and unforgettable memory for 14 Fast Trackers who braved the predications of rains, and possible thunder showers to raise over $3200 for MS. The 11 cyclists were:
Terry Clopper-Chaves
Marissa Crocco
Lori DePolis
Gwen Goldberg
Darren Henderson
Bobbi Kisebach
Barry Lerman
Andi Lieberman
Chris Radl
Donna Radl
Debbie Zyskowski
Our three (3) support people were:
Tom Chaves
Greg Packard
Harry Rimmer
Although the day remained overcast, the weather was warm. A beautiful day for a 75 mile bike ride from Cherry Hill, NJ, to Ocean City, NJ. We proudly wore our Fast Tracks jerseys as we had our team picture taken, as we progressed through the back roads of New Jersey, and as we celebrated our victories at the finish line. It was quite a day. Saturday evening we hit the Ocean City boardwalk for funnel cake, curly fries, Mack & Macco pizza, ice cream, caramel popcorn, and fudge. Sunday morning we biked, walked, ran, and/or swam in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Several of us enjoyed the experience so much that we have already signed up for the MS 2009 ride. Again, we have named our team Fast Tracks.
If you enjoy cycling, the comradery of your fellow Fast Trackers, and angsting about the weather for 5 days just prior to the ride, then please consider joining the Fast Tracks MS City to Shore 2009 team.
Happy running, walking, biking, and swimming. Enjoy these warm days of autumn.
Our fifth annual radnor red is in the books . . . . what a day!
*** 411 registered with 348 finishers - a 25% increase in participants!
*** Over 80 volunteers on race day to manage the course, registration, food, parking, and finish line . . .
*** Six vendors at our initial race day expo
*** A new course designed by our own Jim Donaghy that had 12 obstacles including water pits, logs, benches, & fences (the only complaint we heard was - only 12 obstacles? NOTE: Jim did have 31 in his initial version of the course . . . )
*** Our generous sponsors provided great financial support to the cause (Fast Tracks, The Running Place, Kohls, Reedman Toll, Roberts Automall, SEI, Brooks, Dr. Nick Romansky, University of Phoenix, RIQ Design, Elco & Associates, KHR Solutions, Primo Hoagies, Meredith Murphy (Licensed Acupuncturist), Ellis Athletic Center, Progressive Chiropractic). Check out all the generous sponsors at http://www.radnorredsteeplechase.org/2008sponsors.html#anchor_52
*** The weather was simply gorgeous for a steeplechase run . . .
Thanks to all the Fast Trackers who supported the race - running, volunteering, being on the race committee . . . it was great to see so many out there Sunday morning and we couldn't have done it without you . . . you have made Fast Tracks proud . . .
Our beneficiary Students Run Philly Style had over 100 participants in the race as one of their own kicked off the race with the National Anthem . . .
Special thanks to the race committee below who have worked hard since late spring to make the event the success it was!
