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Hotsheet
June 19, 2009
by Tim Sheeper
In this edition:

Hawaii 70.3

The whole body "buzz" of Hawaii is just now wearing off since returning a couple of weeks ago.  The race/adventure is now embedded in our memories as we attempt to carry the aloha spirit forward in our lives.  Hawaii is always a good trip/race regardless of one's race result.  The way I see it, the trip is usually 4-6 days and the race is usually 4-6 hours.  The actual race is only a  fraction of the time spent on the island, so it should not dominate the experience.  If you have a good race result the trip is good.  If you have a less than desirable race result the trip is still good. 

Racing in the hot/humid conditions of Hawaii is one of triathlons ultimate challenges, which is why the Ironman is so enticing to so many athletes.  One must learn how to race in the tropical dessert-like setting with harsh winds and oppressive heat.  Acclimation is necessary if one has the expectation of demonstrating ones true form on race day.  With limited access to similar conditions in our own training, the best offense for us was to get in the best shape possible, then conservatively pace the race for the swim and bike.  Running well during the race comes down to how well one does in the heat, and how well one "held back." 

I am very proud of the way our entire team approached the training, and handled themselves before, during and after the event.  The cohesiveness and genuine interactions between team members was grounds enough to consider this trip a rousing success, regardless of the race results.

I feel extremely positive with how our Season One progressed and culminated.  I hope we are able to duplicate the same successes next year.  Who knows, maybe we will be in Hawaii again.  Remember, we will ask for team feedback on team focus races in early fall.

If you are interested in viewing Hawaii 70.3 team results, go to:  The Ironman 70.3 website and look around for what you want.  Every body who completed the event carriers the memories with them and not just their time.  That is the Hawaiian way.


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Alcatraz Results

1. One-of-a-kind event
2. Unique swim-It can get lonely and wavy out there.  "Am I swimming straight?"
3. Bumpy-hilly-short-intense bike.  To go fast, one must throw caution out the window
4. Run-not a run, but an adventure-tunnels, stairs, sand, rocks-max heart rate test done on the sand ladder. 
5. Most difficult part to the event-being on a boat with 2000 anxious athletes for a entire hour before the swim
6. 19 Team Sheeper athletes completed this near-home town event. 
7. Amazing results-in the grand scheme of things everything we seem to do is well past ordinary and at least approaching amazing.
http://www.teamsheeper.com/events/event.php?event=9007


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Silicon Valley Olympic Triathlon

The races are lined up for us to knock down in the next couple of months.
The next one is this Sunday June 21 in San Jose for the flat and fast Olympic tri.  Race, watch, whatever. 
http://www.usaproductions.org/events/triathlon-series/tri-svot


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30/30/30 Run Challenge

30 runs in 30 days, for at least 30 minutes total per day.  Who is doing it?  Let me know so I can create a list.  We will send out some motivation as we move into the second half of the training adventure. Send to Tim.


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Grinder #1-Gazos Creek

Keep your calendar open and marked for Saturday August 8 for our first grinder of 2009, which is going to be a dusty, hot, hilly and challenging Gazos Creek Road ride.  The ride can be done on a mountain, cross or road bike(with running shoes).  Grinder #1 is embedded into our Spec Ops weekend, which is two days of dirt running and dirt riding and just plain being close to dirt and nothing else. Sound like fun?


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Lake Berryessa Swim Results

Well the 28th annual Berryessa swim day dawned mild and calm.  Berryessa has long been the place for veteran open water swimmers to race and for beginning open water swimmers to learn the craft of sighting, swimming straight and pacing without blowing up.  A two mile swim and one mile swim are offered and they both have wetsuit divisions, so in essence there is something for everyone.  We had first timers as well as age group winners.  The Berryessa day should never end with a swim as the road cycling and running around the lake is just too good to pass up.  So a few of us took a ride through the vineyards and mountains of the Napa Valley followed by a meandering run lakeside.
Results at:
http://menlomasters.com/events/results/berryessa_2009.html 


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Alcatraz Challenge

If you did not get a chance to race the Escape From Alcatraz triathlon, and you are anxious to get into the Bay to see what it is really like to swim from the Rock.no worries, we are doing it again.  On Sunday July 12 , the Masters and triathletes will be competing in the Alcatraz Challenge which is a 1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz to Crissy Field, followed by an optional run across the Golden Gate Bridge and back.  This is a first time event for our teams and something that a number of people are really excited to put on their life list of accomplishments.  Come on out and join in:
http://www.alcatrazchallenge.us/entry.html


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Santa Cruz Pier Swim

Keep your calendars open for the Santa Cruz One Mile Pier Swim on Saturday August 1.  The Pacifc Masters Swimming Open Water Championships will be hosted by the Santa Cruz Masters.  This is the same swim course used for the Sentinel and Big Kahuna Triathlons.  The swim race begins at 11:00am allowing enough time to drive over the mountain the morning of the event.  We will follow the swim with and organized run along the Sentinel and Big Kahuna run course which is along East Cliff Drive overlooking the Monterey Bay.  Our weekend bike ride will happen on Sunday August 2 that week.

For more info: http://www.pacificmasters.org/comp/schd.html


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Fred Ride

On Saturday June 27, Team Sheeper athletes will don an alternate persona for the traditional Saturday morning ride.that of a "FRED."  The term FRED is an out-dated, non-endearing term used throughout the '80's to describe a less than capable cyclist.  A "FRED" is mostly always a newer rider to the sport of cycling who may try but fails miserably at conforming to the unwritten dress code and code of conduct of snobby road cycling.

Here are the vitals of the day:
1. It will still be a challenging workout.  We are not completely fooling around.
2. No lycra bike shorts showing. (Board shorts)
3. No bike jerseys showing  (Bowling shirt)
4. No fast, expensive or properly fitting bikes (Neighbors Huffy from the shed)
5. Aero is not the aim. (Upright and comfortable)
6. No regular sport fueling foods (Pop-Tarts)

Let's live down the myth that triathletes are too serious.


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Kids to Summer Camp

I want to make the team aware of the fact that the money most of you donated during Christmas went into a fund for our foundation and the $1000 collected was leveraged into over $8500 worth of Summer Camps for the 12 kids of Building Futures Now.  The bits of money we were able to devote to each child was a sign to these camps as they in turn reached out and offered major scholarships so these kids could attend the local camps.  The participating camps are:
Hidden Villa, Camp Galileo, Marine Sciences Institute, Basketball, LaCrosse and Jefunira.

Finally, I want to share a story told  to me by the director/teacher of these 12 kids. 
"Yesterday we [BFN kids] met our penpals at Encinal School in Menlo/Atherton and they lined up with their penpals to get popsicles and in order to get a popsicle they had to interview one another about summer plans.....It was such a thrill to overhear:  "I am going to Camp Galileo and we get to build a go-cart."  "I am going to sleep overnight for  two weeks at Hidden Villa."  "I am going to the ocean part of Marine Science Institute....."  Watching them yesterday amidst the sea of white faces at this beautiful school in Atherton, I felt so proud of them....they really are going to be able to float between both worlds with grace and dignity."

Thanks Team Sheeper athletes.


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