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.

Fleet Feet Menlo Park is proud to sponsor this month's athlete who embodies the spirit of Team Sheeper. We believe running can change everything, that an active lifestyle is a healthy lifestyle, and that we all have an athlete hidden within.

Cara Barr

September 2010 Athlete of the Month

"Cara is such a great training partner, hard worker, and motivator. Plus she has great training outfits!"
"Cara has been a consistent high performer both at races and during team training workouts for several years now. High time that she is recognized as 'Athlete of the Month.'"
"Once I crashed into Cara in the pool (my fault) and she was forgiving!"
- Fellow Teammates.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Depends on the phase of life:

- Middle school: Marine biologist
- High School: Cool. Not much thinking about career.
- College: Child psychologist
- Post-college: CEO of a resort
- Grad school (MBA): Investment Banker

My parents told me I’d make a good manager as I was always “directing” my siblings.

Oh, and I always wanted to be a good mom. It seems that one takes a lot of life experience so am still working on that one..

Do you have a spouse or children or pets to tell us about?

Not yet… just an adorable niece and nephew to learn from.

What other hobbies do you have?

- Photography.
- Water sports: surfing, scuba diving, water skiing
- Travel: lived in 10 cities around the world and worked in Cayman Islands, Bahamas, France, New York, London, and Toronto.
- Wellness retreats: adventure sports (surfing, rock climbing) balanced with yin activities (yoga and meditation); raw food instruction; goal setting tools; wellness coaching and individual consultations. www.bodhi-retreats.com

How did you become involved with Team Sheeper?

I met Tim in 2000 as a tri newbie at a Team in Training swim workout. I remember that day he was giving instructions on how to master the pull, as if you’re reaching over a barrel. I still use that visual. When I returned to the Bay area in 2008 the first thing I did was research the tri team options. No other team compared to the multi-faceted, talented, and friendly Sheeper peeps.

What is your athletic background?

Variety is the spice. Growing up in Canada, we adapted our sports to the season. In winter, I would downhill and cross-country ski and even skate in my backyard. Those sports taught me how to keep moving, before icicles started forming in my nose.

In the early years at school I did ballet, gymnastics, skating, and cheerleading. In high school and college, I played soccer and volleyball as primary sports but was always into various activities.

In a third-year college exchange to Edinburgh, Scotland, I played on the Women’s Varsity football (soccer) team. I thought I was tough enough, that is, until I played against some very husky northern Scottish ladies!

What motivates/inspires you?

Ambition.

Envisioning a never-thought-possible challenge, enacting the step-by-step process to do what it takes, and achieving a long sought-after goal. Isn’t it cool what we can accomplish when we believe in it.

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

Ironman Arizona! I’m stoked return to 140.6.

Then I plan on dialing it back to about 0.0 for the month of December. Just in time for the Lap Queen comeback.

What is your favorite Team Sheeper workout or memorable moment?

Fave workout is Wednesday night chase groups. Exhilirating! Thanks to you guys who come out each week, you push me hard than I ever have on the bike.

A memorable event was the end of year team party followed by a very rough morning at Lake Merced relay with team (ti)Red Bulls!

Several other character defining moments come to mind: the 2008 EPIC epic ride, coaching Junior Tri team and watching the first-time finishers’ huge smiles, my bike crash and overcoming the fear of descent, the 700 mile ride to San Diego at sub-optimal saddle height, Las Vegas Pumpkinman ITU qualifier and the bottle service that ensued.

Most memorable in general is the amazing people I’ve met through the sweat, tears and laughter, who have become like family, through all this craziness we put ourselves through.

What is your favorite race?

California: Wildflower weekend

Ontario: Muskoka Tri Series

I’d love to set up a team challenge between Team Sheeper and the Toronto tri
group in a showdown at one of these races.

What would you choose as your last meal?

It would involve a bold 20-year-old Tawny Port and fat cigar. However the meal would be about who I was with rather than the food. It’s only the memories that we leave behind...

..but I believe a tres leche cake helps solidify good memories!.