On September 10th and 11th I had the opportunity to experience triathlon in a whole different way. I was not a participant, but employed to help produce the event and it was an eye opening experience that I will not soon forget!
On Saturday the 10th, I had the privilege of serving as the Race Director of the TOUGHKids Championship Race. This was the culmination of a four race series for kids that had events in Connecticut, New Jersey, West Point, and finally in Croton-on-the Hudson.
The age groups were 4-6, 7-10, and 11-14. The distances for each were 20yd swim/run, .5mi bike, 100yd run (4-6), 100yd swim, 2.5mi bike, .5mi run (7-10), and 200yd swim, 5mi bike, 1mi run (11-14).
Having never been a Race Director before, I was a little nervous at the start, but the rest of the race staff were such great professionals, I really just felt like an actor following an excellent script. When the script is good, the acting is easy.
The first part of the day started shortly after 6:30 am when Jonesy, Paul Huddle, and I set up the race course with cones, red duct tape, and spray paint. Jonesy just gets things done, plain and simple, and Paul has so much race production experience from his days setting up Ironman events, and more, it was hard not to be intimidated. They were such great guys though, that they immediately made me feel comfortable, so I could make executive decisions on how the course would be set up. Normally, course set up would already be done, but since there was so much rain that flooded the park, changes had to be made on the fly. Even when you think you have everything set up for a great race, you never truly know until the race is underway.(more on that in a minute).
The race got underway after a tribute in honor of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. I gave the pre-race instructions, and we were ready to go. The first racers were the 4-6 year olds. They were able to have one parent help them through the entire course. It was great to see all the little ones go! The next group were the 7-10 year olds. Everything started out great there as well, but quickly got hectic. They had to do two laps of the bike course. Unfortunately, the way we set up the turn around created some traffice jams by the bike mount and dismount. As I mentioned, sometimes you just don’t know until the race is underway. I had to make a quick change to the course before the 11-14 year olds got started. They had to complete 4 loops, so without the change it would have been even more challenging to prevent traffic jams. Thankfully, the change worked great! Big thanks to the staff that helped make that happen.
At the end of the event, all kids made it through safely, and a good time was had by all. I was tired, but very satisfied with how the race went. I have great ideas for how to make next year’s event even better, and have a new respect for race directors, organizers, staff and volunteers everywhere.
The next day was the adult race. It was a half ironman distance race, which means a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mi bike, and 13.1 mile run. It’s a challenging distance on any course, but this is the TOUGHMAN, so it was a little tougher than most. I had no direct responsibilities for this race, so I just made myself available where I was needed. As it turned out, I was given the job of training the Maxim Girls(models representing Maxim magazine) to be wetsuit peelers(of course we called them wetsuit strippers…pun intended.) I was simultaneously envied and made fun of by most of the male staffers, Jonesy and Paul most of all. I just considered it a reward for all my work the day before. Once the “Girls” were “trained,” I took the job of getting all the swim waves together and in place to start the race.
Chatting with many of the racers as they waited for their wave to start is always a fun time. From racers having pre-race anxiety, to those quietly kissing a loved one for luck, and others just plain excited, each person will experience the race a different way. I just tried to make them all smile, motivate them, and hopefully, take the edge off the nervousness of waiting for their waves to start. Each wave went off smoothly, so I went over to check on the Maxim Girls to see how they were doing. Everyone at the wetsuit peeling station were having a good time. Of course, “the Girls” got a lot of action from the male athletes, one of which actually tried a pick up line by telling a “Girl” that they had met before. I laughed in disbelief that he would even think to do that during a race… where’s the focus, man?!!
From there I helped at the bike mounting area trying to keep everyone clear to get on their bike and get rolling. I was amazed at how many people had their cell phone out texting people before they got going… I mean, REALLY??!! If any of my athletes ever do this, I will confiscate their team uniform!
Later on I self-appointed myself the job of keeping the runners clear of the cyclists when they returned from the run and bike respectively. There were a number of situations where I had to keep runners in line to prevent collisions with over enthusiastic cyclists wanting to get to transition fast. Then came the oddest moment of the day for me. There was a bandit runner on the course! I saw him coming fast and yelled for him to get off the course, but he didn’t stop. I ran and pushed him off the road, and chased him a little further, but stopped because I didn’t want to run into athletes starting out on the run course. Thankfully, he was off the course and didn’t cause harm to any competitor. I was so angry that I yelled into the radio for someone to “take him out!” Smartly, no one did, but I did give him a piece of my mind later when I saw him leaving. Some people just don’t get it.
In the midst of all I was doing, I was still able to cheer on my athlete, Andrew who was doing his first half. He did great in the swim and bike, but suffered a bit on the run. Overall, he still beat the time he wanted to beat and I was happy for his accomplishment. Great job, Andrew!
By the end of the race, all the staffers and volunteers were tired, but we still had enough energy to help run in the very last finishers of the race. There’s nothing like seeing these athletes that have been out there for more than eight hours dig in for one last push to the finish. It was inspiring to see them not give up even though you knew they were suffering. It felt great to escort them through the finishing chute. All of the athletes are now officially TOUGHMEN, TOUGHWOMEN, and TOUGHKids! Congrats to you all!!!

I am tired and sore in a much different way from competing, but ultimately incredibly satisfied with what we(race organizers, staff, and volunteers) were able to accomplish; a great race and experience for all the athletes involved. So, the next time you complete a race, please make sure to thank all the volunteers and staff for all the hard work and dedication they put in to make sure your day is memorable. I know I will!

For more information on the TOUGHMAN and TOUGHKids Triathlons, go to www. toughmantri.com and www.toughkidstri.com.

Helping Kids Race Toward Their Personal Best

…. and helping families of 9/11 victims along the way

By Kathleen Willcox

Preparing children for the demands of the real world while simultaneously lightening burdens is all in a day’s work for Jeffrey Boyer. Everyone wants children to grow up to be happy, well-rounded, successful adults. What no one can agree on, however, is how those ephemeral qualities should be defined, much less how they can be achieved.

One thing’s clear: children and adults are struggling more than ever. Test rates are down, obesity is on the rise, quality of life is flatlining and mood disorders are cropping up with alarming frequency. While exercise alone isn’t a panacea for our ills, few would object to it on principle.

“Training kids in an endurance sport helps them in so many ways,” Jeff Boyer, a trainer and coach, told Scarsdale Patch. “Aside from the obvious physical health benefits, kids who train at early ages learn self-discipline and endurance, which will help them in countless ways in their schoolwork now and their personal and professional lives in the future.”

Mr. Boyer, a triathlon expert and a certified youth and adult coach, says that his training programs can help both serious athletes and kids who “have tried out for teams, but didn’t make them and are kind of left in a lurch during the school year.” His training programs for children, which have been designed to work around school athletic programs, if necessary, focus on running, biking and swimming.

The triathlete’s triumvirate also happens to be perfect for some of the more, shall we say, athletically challenged among us.

“I’ve never met a kid who can’t run,” Mr. Boyer said. “Ditto biking and swimming. The question is just bringing them to their next best level, which is different for everyone.”

Children in his programs can start as young as 4. The ultimate goal is a half-triathlon; the youngest racers run about 100 yards, swim 20 yards in water and bike a mile (training wheels are fine, and so is an adult “helper”). The older kids aim to complete a more serious race; 7-10 year olds swim 100 yards, bike 2.5 miles and run 0.5 miles, while 11-14 year olds swim 200 yards, bike 5 miles and run a full mile.

“Training kids is fascinating,” Mr. Boyer said. “I love watching them grow as athletes and individuals. We incorporate more games, but they’re educational, so often they’ll end up learning a lot about the mechanics of bikes and different forms of racing through the interactive games we play.”

Most importantly, he said, the racers feel a real sense of personal accomplishment after standing up to the challenge. On September 10, 2011, one of the culminating events of Mr. Boyer’s training program is taking place, and it’s part of the Toughman Triathlon festival weekend. Much of the proceeds of the festival will be used to benefit the victims of 9/11.

The Triathlon festival was launched four years ago, with just 100 competitors. Now, the Toughman Half Iron Distance Triathlon has more than 1,000 adult competitors and scores of children participating. A portion of every entry will go toward the Croton-Buchanan Cortland 9/11 Memorial that is being built on the banks of the Hudson River. Mr. Boyer first began working with the festival last year.

“One of my personal clients, Andrew McMurray, a vice president over at Zachy’s Wine in Scarsdale, has taken it to a new level this year,” Mr. Boyer reported. “Andrew and Zachy’s teamed up for the 10th anniversary to sponsor the triathlon and create a separate organization that will benefit the families of those who died in the Trade Center.”

The Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund was created to help the victim’s children receive financial assistance for postsecondary education.

The Tough Kids Triathlon starts at 10:00 am at Croton Point Park on Saturday, Sept. 10. The Toughman Half Tri (1.2 mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1 mile run) starts promptly at 7:00 am.

Go to support the athletes or the kids, or to remember the victims of 9/11. Either way, participants and onlookers are helping people get to a better place, faster.

For more information on Mr. Boyer and his programs for children and individuals, check out his site at http://b-athletics.com. For directions or info on signing up for the triathlon, go to www.toughmantri.com. (The adult’s race has been filled for weeks, but there are still a few spots available for children.)

I want to talk about “excuses” as they pertain to training, and to life in general. I’ve been dealing with them a lot lately, and it’s starting to get me down. I’ve decided that I’m going to make a list of as many excuses as I can remember hearing so we can all get them out of the way. That includes me by the way.

1. I got in late and just can’t get up to workout.

2. I don’t have time in my day. (see #3, #10, #13, #20, and #23)

3. I’m too tired! (see #1)

4. I’m too slow to train with the group. (see #12 and #33)

5. I’m too fat. (see #12)

6. I don’t know how.

7. It’s raining.

8. It’s cold.

9. I don’t look good in tight clothes. (see #5)

10. My work schedule is too demanding. (see #3)

11. I’m not motivated. (see #6 and #12)

12. I’m scared.

13. My kids schedule is to crazy. (see #3)

14. I have no babysitter.

15. I don’t know how to change a flat tire.

16. I’m injured. (only slightly sympathetic to this one..)

17. Something hurts… (see #16)

18. My bike is not working properly.

19. Your training schedule doesn’t fit with mine. (see #13 and #10)

20. I’m too busy training everyone else. (this one’s on me…)

21. I don’t like swimming. (biking, or running…)

22. I’m going to be away. ( for a long time…)

23. I take care of everyone else before me. (see #33)

24. I don’t like change.

25. It’s hard work.

26. I only have a hybrid bike.

27. My husband won’t let me. (works the opposite way too guys…)

28. I feel guilty taking time for me. (see #23 and #30)

29. It’s hot.

30. It’s against my religion to workout this day.

31. I don’t feel good. (see #17)

32. I travel too much for work. ( see #10)

33. I feel lazy. (you are lazy…)

34. I did a race once already… (see #33)

35. I like to eat certain foods… (doesn’t everyone??)

36. I don’t like to feel pain. (see #33, #25, #21, #17, and #12)

37. It’s a holiday. (see #33)

38. I’m on vacation. (see #37 and #33)

39. My car won’t start, or broke down. ( see #33)

40. I ate too much. ( see #35)

41. I’m out of work. (I don’t have money either… stop going to starbuck’s everyday…)

42. I’m allergic to pool water. (or the ventilation system is horrible…)

43. I slept through my alarm. (see #3 and #12)

44. I can’t run any faster.

45. I have allergies. (see #42)

46. Someone else is sick and I have to take care of them. (see #23)

47. I don’t have the right clothing. (see #9)

48. I don’t like the downhills. (see #12)

49. I don’t like the uphills. (see #33)

50. Life gets in the way. (REALLY??)

I decided to stop at 50. Why? Well, even though I could probably write down 50 more, I believe you get my point. We all have any number of reasons why we decide not to do something. Whether that’s working out or trying something new. Things are difficult. Don’t quit. Things are scarey. Be brave. Things are tiring. Hang tough. The worst thing to do is nothing! I’ve learned that many times. I’m still learning that! The team motto is B Strong. B Fast. B Fit. JUST B. Remember that that comes from the quote by Socrates; “To do is to be.” So, STOP IT ALREADY! If you tell me you want to do something, complete some race, get in shape, whatever… MAKE IT HAPPEN!

I will not give any excuses for this rant. It needed to be said to you, and to myself.

The question is, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?!

Coach B