Athlete of the Month

The Team Sheeper Athlete of the Month award is handed out to a member of the team on a monthly basis, 7 or 8 times a year. The AOM is someone who made a notable contribution to the team or did something remarkable. Selection is made by nomination and voting by the membership.

You can nominate anyone and the nomination period is usually during the first week or two of the month. Look for notification that nominations are being sought.  When nomination close, the voting starts and once all the votes are tallied, the new AOM is crowned.

Besides bragging rights for a month, our AOM gets some goodies from our gracious sponsors, such as free shoes from TRH, a massage from SMI, gift certificates from GoRide.

GoRide Bicycles is proud to sponsor this month's athlete who embodies the spirit of Team Sheeper. Located in Redwood City, GoRide Bicycles continues the 30-year tradition of Garner's Pro Bikes.

Paul Gorman

October 2006 Athlete of the Month

In the words of a team member: Stormin' Gorman has demonstrated consistent strength in going long this year - CA HIM 70.3, Wildflower Long Course, and Ironman CDA. Marked improvement on the bike and now his run is getting faster too! Watch out, he's gunning for the top 5% of his age group. And of course he did that crazy SLO bike ride in October, followed by the half marathon. And the Rock and Roll half marathon two weeks later. Crazy!

Are you currently employed and/or describe your employment/career?

I am self-employed and fully engaged in several health care related businesses. I am a physician by training, but could not resist the siren call of entrepreneurship. Having responded to that call, I now find myself marooned on the 'Island of No Paycheck!' I have several care homes in Redwood City that provide assisted living services to seniors, and I also operate Glow Skin Revived, where we offer medical cosmetic services, including laser treatments and injectables, for those seeking non-invasive skin rejuvenation. I also co-founded QuickHealth with my partner, boss, and fellow Team Sheeper triathlete, Dave Mandelkern. At QuickHealth, where I serve as Chief Medical Officer when not putting out fires, we offer a variety of primary care services to walk in customers at locations throughout the Bay Area.

Do you have any specific career aspirations?

It took me some time to realize this, but I can boil it down to this: What kind of work can I do that is so much fun and engaging that I actually look forward to doing it, and want to do it? Who wants to get up everyday dreading the day ahead? As long as I have that zeal, I'll basically be satisfied. I think I have found the key, for myself, by starting and running my own businesses.

What other hobbies do you have?

I do have a passion for the outdoors, and l love hunting and fishing. I grew up in Virginia, and got hooked on both as a youngster. I spent a lot of my free time growing up engaged in one or the other. I am glad that the triathlon racing season winds down at the end of summer, just in time for hunting season! Out here in California, this often means long drives, overnights in a spike camp, or trips out to Colorado, Arizona, or other great destinations in the West.

How did you become involved with Team Sheeper?

I first learned about Team Sheeper in May of 2004, shortly after moving to Redwood City. I happened to be 'jogging' one morning when I went by Herkner Pool and saw the Team Sheeper banner and swimmers heading in for one of the morning workouts. I had been dabbling in triathlons for about a year and realized I needed some guidance and structure if I was ever going to make a go of it. I checked out the website, called Tim, and decided to try swimming. I did this for about two months before joining the full team just in time for the anxiety producing summer combo workouts out on Canada Road!

What is your athletic background?

I don't have an athletic background to speak of. I swam on the local pool swimteam while in grade school, and also played little league football, baseball, and soccer. I did not do any organized sports after the age of 12, though in retrospect I wish I had. I took up running on my own in 1997, and ended up running a few marathons. I got interested in triathlons in late 2002, though I did not train and race until spring 2003.

What is it you like most about triathlons?

I love being outdoors and training with other motivated people. I have met so many interesting, inspiring, and high energy people through the multi-sport 'lifestyle'. Being part of a great team with an outstanding coach has inspired me to do things I never would have done on my own. Apart from this, the opportunity to learn something new in every workout and race, about my fitness, my equipment, my attitude, my nutrition, and my preparation, is an endless source of fascination. Not to mention the joy and fun I can have watching others develop and achieve great things!

What races are you planning for the remainder of this year, or the future, that you are gearing up for?

At this point, I would like to focus on quality, not quantity. When I race, I want to be prepared, and race well. I have noticed steady improvement since joining the Team, and would like to see that trend continue, though I do believe all of the low lying fruit has been picked! Going into 2007, one key race I have committed to is the inaugural Ironman Louisville in August. My younger brother and his wife signed up for this after I pestered them to do so, and I think we'll go out there and have a time to remember.

What are your Triathlon, or personal goals / aspirations?

I can't say I have the Kona bug yet, but qualifying for Kona would be a great thing. I suspect I'll just have to keep aging in order to do so! I do want to race well, and still think I can throw down some PRs in the 70.3 distance, the Ironman distance, and the full and half marathon distances. I would also like to qualify for the Boston marathon. I may check out bike racing or time trialing, and would like to do some endurance bike racing. In terms of work, I want to get to the point where I have more flexibility with time and location, so I can visit friends and family and pursue non-work related passions more regularly!

What is your favorite Team Sheeper workout or memorable moment?

Where to begin? Two events spring to mind. The first would be this year's Epic Ride, which started well enough, but soon devolved to me bonking at the top of Zayante, only to throw up and then fall off my bike a few times. I gratefully remember Kirsten Kempe and Mike Osmond keeping an eye on me for awhile before we stopped for a sag break somewhere on Skyline. I was ready to push on but humbly accepted a ride in the sag for a few miles after Mike Robles pointed out that I had been riding on a flat rear tire for a while. How come I didn't know that?

The other event was the incredible ride Tim, Jason Campbell, and I made down to San Luis Obispo this past October. Despite a late start and a detour in Mountain View, we covered some beautiful country and persevered despite no support and some relatively water-free stretches. The half-marathon run to the ocean the next day was the perfect capstone to a demanding endurance sport filled weekend, and all of this with no flat tires!

Is there anything else we should know about you?

Other than the fact that I am basically a redneck from Virginia? I come from a largish family by today's standards: I have nine sisters and three brothers, and twelve nieces and nephews (still counting). I credit whatever work ethic I have to my mom, who went back to work as a nurse after getting us off to school, and is still doing so full time! I love to watch movies and read newspapers and historical and political biographies, and I do like to cook. Oh, and sleeping is up there to. If I stop moving, I'm out!