CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

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Cecilia Perkins
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Race Report Barb s Half Ironman Vineman Aquabike Half Aquabike Sonoma Wine Country, CA July 27, 2013 (Guerneville Windsor) Martha Szufnarowski, TriLaVie Founder and Head Coach 2013 Barb s = 1.

1 Race Report Barb s Half Ironman Vineman Aquabike Half Aquabike Sonoma Wine Country, CA July 27, 2013 (Guerneville Windsor) Martha Szufnarowski, TriLaVie Founder and Head Coach 2013 Barb s = 1.2 mile swim + 56 mile bike mile run (70.3 miles traversed) Women Only Event Aquabike = 2.4 mile swim mile bike + WINE! Co-ed Event Half Aquabike = 1.2 mile swim + 56 mile bike + WINE! Co-ed Event SUCCESS! All Team TriLaVie members finished their races and claimed medals indicative of a HUGE accomplishment for LIFE! Triathlon is more than just a sport, and these events test the limits of our body and mind beyond the imagination. You have to do it to understand it. Each TriLaVie member has her own story to tell. Each woman had varying levels of challenge and discomfort nay PAIN! Each woman found a way to keep moving forward to the finish line! It is overwhelmingly emotional to see the accomplishments of TriLaVie women. A snapshot of these extraordinary athletes is below and the full results are attached. Please notice the age groups! WHAT??? Only one racer (Becky Flora) is in her 30s!! The rest are in their 40s, 50s and 60s. WHAT??? YES! The average age of TriLaVie members in 2013 is 48. Did anyone expect that so many of these wise women would take on Half Ironman distance and Aquabike? Surely not me! When I started coaching an all-women s team in 2006, I expected most women to race sprint distance, a limited stealth crew to take on Olympic and a scant few to do half Ironman. Ironman? Maybe one or 2 each year. You have truly exceeded all my expectations and are constantly changing our understanding of women s strength with each success story. CONGRATULATIONS to all the racers. Having a front-row seat to your journey and an understanding of what it takes to do these endurance events, I am blown away by your unique and strong finishes. CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

There are many outstanding aspects to this race, but one is particularly impressive. Barb s Race is a women-only half ironman (70.

In the past, the money raised came from the race entry fee and optional fundraising. This year, the fundraising component was mandatory, but reasonable.

The race directors limited the entrants and yet raised more money than ever before. Barb Recchia is the honoree as a 3x cancer survivor and is present at each race.

2 There are many outstanding aspects to this race, but one is particularly impressive. Barb s Race is a women-only half ironman (70.3) distance triathlon which raises money for cancer research and support. In it s 13 th year, Barb s Race has raised more than $750,000. In the past, the money raised came from the race entry fee and optional fundraising. This year, the fundraising component was mandatory, but reasonable. Athletes paid $150 to register (1/2 the cost of most ½ Ironman races) and pledged to raise another $250 or pay it themselves. The race directors limited the entrants and yet raised more money than ever before. Barb Recchia is the honoree as a 3x cancer survivor and is present at each race. She often gives the medals at the finish line and did so to most of the athletes this year. Barb and RD Russ Pugh As if that wasn t reason enough to love this race, it is also paired with a full Ironman, full Aquabike and half Aquabike that are open to men and women. Great options for your friends and family. Most notably, there is a level of organization, volunteerism and support for Barb s that is exceptional due to the multiple races going on simultaneously. Let s say you are not one of the fastest racers on the course. Normally the crowds and energy would diminish during your run. At Barb s, the energy increases as the ironman racers enter the run course and the aid stations stay stocked and loaded for your whole event! Since Team TriLaVie had finishers in the range of 6-11 hours, this was a nice feature. Please understand that I have a special relationship with each athlete. It sounds cliché, but you really are all special to me and your path to success is important. Each time I witness a finish-line crossing, I well up with tears. I know how much you did to get there and know that you hid a few dark moments too. I hide behind my camera-phone and statistical logging duties to keep from completely breaking down with emotion. During the race, I feel energized and strong. But the culmination of 20+ finishes, recapping of race stories and witnessing your emotion breaks me down. When it is all said and done, tears of joy flow from my eyes and I re-live the incredible moments of the day. Thank you for giving me that gift and reinforcing that our sport impacts our lives profoundly. KarIn and Mary with recovery food

On that note, I want share some highlights from the race, but don t mean to intentionally exclude anyone! You are all my favorites sure in your own special ways.

What do you need right now? Pat: I need LOVE! TriLaVie Members: Pat, you look great! Pat: I feel like shit!

Pat is batting 1000 for podium finishes. Laura with podium wine award Speaking of podium finishes for 1 st time Half Ironwomen, Laura Roesgen took 2 nd in her age group of 50-54 on her 50 th birthday!

3 On that note, I want share some highlights from the race, but don t mean to intentionally exclude anyone! You are all my favorites sure in your own special ways. The funniest moments came from Pat Shaffer (66) when she was half-way through the run and about to head out for lap #2. Martha: How s it going, Pat? Pat: This is HARD!! Martha: No kidding. What do you need right now? Pat: I need LOVE! TriLaVie Members: Pat, you look great! Pat: I feel like shit! (shouting, by the way) Coach note: Pat achieved 2 nd place in her age group with a podium finish, but didn t collect her award. PAT! Didn t we tell you to ALWAYS check the awards table???? Geesh. Pat is batting 1000 for podium finishes. Laura with podium wine award Speaking of podium finishes for 1 st time Half Ironwomen, Laura Roesgen took 2 nd in her age group of on her 50 th birthday!!! What a great gift for her. Hubby had special shirts made to honor the occasion! Half Ironman at 50, Ironman at 100. (I don t think it will take that long). Throughout the day, I watch the race and cheer from various vantage points along the course. I love doing this! The day started with a swim at Johnson Beach in Guerneville in a clear river. It was great to see the TriLaVie athletes put aside their fears and concerns and get in the water for the start of the race. This swim is unique in that you can stand during most the course. Yup. Pretty shallow water and a narrow Mary, Karin, Jana, Colleen 70.3 venue. This makes the swim congested with lots of shoving and body-checking. More so than most triathlons. TriLaVie members held their ground (so to speak) and emerged victorious. Quick transition (some were long ) to the bike and off they went. Analisa, Becky, Donna - Aquabike A huge thanks to Bill Davis (Mindy s husband) for driving me, Dianna and Linda (Donna s friend) around the bike course to track the athletes. At one point, we stood on a corner and rang our cowbells for everyone and counted team athletes. Your energy was awesome!! But please, ladies, don t let go of your handlebars to cheer for my video camera!! Just smile back and holler. LOL!! I am happy to report that we did not have to witness or assist any crashed/injured cyclists this year! A couple of SAG assists for tire changes and gear fixes for very, very grateful racers. Thanks, again Bill! After the bike, we all headed to Windsor High School for the run and finish line. This year I was disappointed to find that spectators were prohibited from going past Mile 1 on the run. I usually take my bike around and cheer ALL the athletes, but could not this time. Boo Hoo. I positioned myself at the run turn-around/bike dismount area to get the best view of the team and cow-belled away!! Because there are 2-loops on the run, it is great to see everyone at their ½ way point. The difficult thing for the athletes???? They come PRACTICALLY into the finish line, take a 1-loop-bracelet, and head back out!!

It was nice to check in with everyone and have all the team be available for each other s finishes and cheering. Outstanding!

4 At this time, there are actually people finishing! Can you imagine how hard that is psychologically? Yikes! A good feature of this set-up is that the spectator area, turn-around, finish line and athlete food area are all in one place. It was nice to check in with everyone and have all the team be available for each other s finishes and cheering. Outstanding!!! If you are reading this and are new to triathlon or you compete at the sprint/olympic distance, you probably can t wrap your head around 70.3 or miles in one day. Each woman who is on the list below felt as you did. How do you DO this? It is an unbelievable accomplishment that takes untold hours of preparation and sacrifice for the athlete as well as her family and friends. No joking. I think each one will tell you it s all worth it. Laura, Danielle, Cindy, Colleen, Analisa Congratulations st timers!!! A special shout-out to the TriLaVie members completing their firstever Half Ironman 70.3 triathlon: Zena Ellis (I WILL finish), Jana McCluskey (I am OBSESSED with details and with finishing despite a foot injury set-back), Laura Roesgen (I was MADE for this distance), Diane Rogers (it is a HEALING GIFT that I can do this) and Pat Shaffer (I FEEL like shit, but I ROCK it out). All the worrying and obsession paid off! YOU DID IT!!!! Half Ironman is FOREVER!!! You get the 70.3 tattoo permission.! BFFs Zena (pronounced ZAYNA) and Diane

) and Donna Lorenzen (celebrating her new body after an 80 lb weight loss and 2 major surgeries to eliminate excess skin!

5 Congratulations Aquabike 1 st timers!!! Analisa Albert (recovered nicely from her bike crash 2 weeks ago and on her way to Ironman Arizona), Toan Dang (a previous non-swimmer but century cyclist!) and Donna Lorenzen (celebrating her new body after an 80 lb weight loss and 2 major surgeries to eliminate excess skin!) Toan (rhymes with Swan), Becky, Analisa, Robin, Donna Congratulations to repeat 70.3ers who are on their way to Ironman Arizona in November!!! Amy Buch, Melinda Davis, Patty Hammel, Mary Kim, Karin Langford, Hilary Mayo, Colleen Wilcox and Danielle Winkler. For them, this was just a catered training day with friends!! Mindy, Danielle, Mary, Colleen, Amy, Karin, Hilary, Patty Ironman Arizona Trainers

And, yawn, the 70.3 and Aquabike finishers who did it again just because they could.! LOL!

hamstring injury), Cindy Mason (wants to beat all her other team mates, look out), Tricia

longest Aquabikes I can find Flora, and Robin Littrell (only chose the half Aquabike

train). Yup. Stellar performances from them all!!! I say it again, because it is true.

! It takes a village to raise a triathlete!

For starters, Bob and Robin Littrell drove me to and from Windsor.

They seem to enjoy it if I do say so myself! (this is the story I will always tell myself!

6 And, yawn, the 70.3 and Aquabike finishers who did it again just because they could.! LOL!! They must have forgotten the pain and only remembered the pleasure!! Janice Bora (finally retired!), Donna Gelnett (who was 1 hour faster than last year), Patricia Kwan (recovering from hamstring injury), Cindy Mason (wants to beat all her other team mates, look out), Tricia Portugal (can t miss a race), Becky I can t ever run again so I might as well do the longest Aquabikes I can find Flora, and Robin Littrell (only chose the half Aquabike because she was so busy planning her daughter s wedding in July there was no time to train). Yup. Stellar performances from them all!!! I say it again, because it is true. What an AMAZING group of women accomplishing AMAZING feats. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL!! It takes a village to raise a triathlete! Let s thank all the folks who support us along the way, shall we? For starters, Bob and Robin Littrell drove me to and from Windsor. Would you like to be stuck in a car with me for 18+ hours? They seem to enjoy it if I do say so myself! (this is the story I will always tell myself! THANK YOU BOB AND ROBIN!!! I appreciate ALL you do for me and Team TriLaVie. Robin and Bob - Race + Tolerate! Nachole and Nadine Becky and Mom Mark and Zena Reilly and Diane Dick and Laura Donna and Linda Mindy and Bill Thanks for reading this report! There is so much more to say about the day and the AMAZING women of TriLaVie. Just remember, whether you train for the honorable sprint distance, Olympic, half ironman or ironman, I have LOVE in my eyes for you all! Coach Martha with heart-shaped sunglasses

Race Roster Barb s Half Ironman Vineman Aquabike Half Aquabike Sonoma Wine Country, CA July 27, 2013 (Guerneville Windsor) First Name Here is your esteemed roster of racers go TEAM TRILAVIE!

7 Race Roster Barb s Half Ironman Vineman Aquabike Half Aquabike Sonoma Wine Country, CA July 27, 2013 (Guerneville Windsor) First Name Here is your esteemed roster of racers go TEAM TRILAVIE! Last Name *Indicates First time at this distance Age Group Race 2013 TOTAL Division Place Janice Bora Barb's :38:46 6 Amy Buch Barb's :37:51 25 Melinda Davis Barb's :50:01 19 Zena Ellis* Barb's :47:11 21 Donna Gelnett Barb's :49:04 10 Patty Hammel Barb's :50:02 40 Mary Kim Barb's :57:54 28 Patricia Kwan Barb's :13:14 16 Karin Langford Barb's :08:52 38 Cindy Mason Barb's :45:45 9 Hilary Mayo Barb's :54:03 20 Jana McCluskey* Barb's :47:54 51 Tricia Portugal Barb's :02:04 32 Laura Roesgen* Barb's :03:12 2 Diane Rogers* Barb's :37:10 62 Pat Shaffer* Barb's :31:41 2 Colleen Wilcox Barb's :36:30 21 Danielle Winkler Barb's :24:09 13 Analisa Albert* Aquabike 8:04:07 8 Toan Dang* Aquabike 9:57:03 9 Becky Flora Aquabike 8:46:01 12 Donna Lorenzen* Aquabike 9:24:24 17 Robin Littrell Half Aquabike 4:00:30 5

Welcome to the GC Tri 2017 Year In Review! It was another great year with so many memorable moments and so many personal goals achieved.

Welcome to the GC Tri 2017 Year In Review! It was another great year with so many memorable moments and so many personal goals achieved. Thanks for sharing your 2017 highlights and pictures and thanks