Don't forget, if you want to get a preview of the race course, we have a number of options for you to familiarize yourself to the course design.
1. Click HERE to view the videos of each and every segment of the race course. Get a bird's eye view of the transition area (entrances/exits), bike course, swim and run courses. All have audio commentary from me. (I'm no Larry Mendte!)
2. Download the Athletes' Guide by clicking HERE. The Guide has all the maps and instructions you need to compete.
3. First Timers Meeting: At 7pm on Friday, May 22, 2009, we will host a first timers' meeting at the VFW Post in Sea Isle. The meeting is in the same room as check-in. One of our elite competitors, Mark Brace, will lead the session and walk everyone through the course, transition area, and other related triathlon topics. Mark will also do his best to answer all of your questions in a Q&A session at the end of the meeting. Make time to get to this meeting!
The Tri for Our Veterans course is a very easy course to understand. The swim is a simple out/over/in design, the bike route is a 3 loop course of a rectangle, and the run is an out and back race on the beach.
Last year, our inaugural race, only one racer got lost out of 400 competitors! He was in the Air Force and the US Marines who competed said he did not have his RADAR tuned properly!
If this is your first triathlon-- have no fear, you will complete it and have a blast. If you are a racing veteran, then you should recognize the fact that this course is fast, flat, and fabulous.
See you in Sea Isle-- 18 days to go...
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Showing posts with label injured marine semper fi fund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label injured marine semper fi fund. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Training Tips
Tri for Our Veterans is off to a BOOMING start with 110 people signed up so far. Very exciting. Last year, we had 400 registrations and we will surpass this number by May.
I am often asked questions about the race-- is it a good race for 1st timers, is the ocean swim scary, how should I tailor my training, and will the sandy beach run slow me down. Here are some answers and a few training tips:
1st Timers? Yup, more than welcome. Last year, 40% of our racers were "rookies" and 99.85% finished. Pretty good, huh? The Sprint Distance is a great way to experience a triathlon. All of the distances are as short as possible and you can practice the various legs (see training tips below).
Ocean swim scary? Are you kidding? A scary swim, to me, is a stagnant, land-locked lake or pond with yucky run off (when it rains, dog/goose crap and other stuff finds its way into the pond), low visibility, and who knows what on the bottom. In the ocean, you are swimming in a very clean, visible water table. Our race is staffed by Sea Isle City's Beach Patrol, who can be at your side in seconds, thanks to their outstanding training and equipment (jet ski!). The Beach Patrol are in the water with you and surround the swim course. Plus, we also set our swim course to go WITH the current...you'll be out in no time. Last year, the average time in the water was under 14 minutes (fastest was 6 mins, slowest was 19 mins).
Slow, sandy beach run? Running on the beach is certainly different than running on the sidewalk. Will it be slower than running a 5k on the streets? Yes, but our average times map consistently with the garden variety 5k road race--- meaning, not that much of a difference. One suggestion is to try and do a training run on the beach. Another tip, find the hardest piece of salty beach line and stick with it. Positives--- running next to the ocean is just awesome.
Training tips? My fist triathlon was the Avalon Islandman, a race I still go back to every year-- wonderfully run and the course is very similar to ours in Sea Isle (same distance too). Looking back, I would have done a lot of things differently. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Plan backwards: Race date is May 23rd. Plan your training from that day and march backwards on the calendar. You'll want to hit certain milestones in training (run "X" miles, Bike "Y" miles). Try to "peak" or hit your longest distances in early May. You'll want to leave two weeks to taper off your training. The body needs to rest.
2. Do a "Brick": A brick work out means you are putting two training sessions back-to-back. I suggest doing a bike ride followed by a run. When getting off the bike, some racers experience "jelly" legs and you'll want to have that experience when hitting the run. Try it out-- do a mock race if you need to. By doing a brick, you'll eliminate the surprise feeling of jelly legs.
3. Distances: Because this is a Sprint distance (400m swim, 12.3 mile bike, 3.1 mile run), there is no need to train at heavy distances. It is more important to consistently hit the distances. For instance, training for the run portion does not require you to log 40 miles a week or a 10 mile run. Instead, focus on doing 3.1 miles well-- hone in your speed by running hills, completing a brick, and having the confidence to do all three segments.
4. Average finishing time: Last year, the average finishing time was 1 hour, 28 minutes. By May one of your goals (if this is your first triathlon), should be to exercise for over an hour. Preferably, work out for 90 minutes-- any type of cardio will do and any combination. The Brick I suggested? Maybe a goal for you is to be able to bike for 60 minutes and immediately switch to a 30 minute run. If you can do this by May, you can complete the race.
5. Plan your work, work your plan: Using the "backward calendar", you have laid out your workout plan for the race. Now do it! Sounds easy, but so many people have already given up on their January 1st resolution of getting in shape. Don't be that guy/girl.
See you soon in Sea Isle City...133 days before the race.
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.
I am often asked questions about the race-- is it a good race for 1st timers, is the ocean swim scary, how should I tailor my training, and will the sandy beach run slow me down. Here are some answers and a few training tips:
1st Timers? Yup, more than welcome. Last year, 40% of our racers were "rookies" and 99.85% finished. Pretty good, huh? The Sprint Distance is a great way to experience a triathlon. All of the distances are as short as possible and you can practice the various legs (see training tips below).
Ocean swim scary? Are you kidding? A scary swim, to me, is a stagnant, land-locked lake or pond with yucky run off (when it rains, dog/goose crap and other stuff finds its way into the pond), low visibility, and who knows what on the bottom. In the ocean, you are swimming in a very clean, visible water table. Our race is staffed by Sea Isle City's Beach Patrol, who can be at your side in seconds, thanks to their outstanding training and equipment (jet ski!). The Beach Patrol are in the water with you and surround the swim course. Plus, we also set our swim course to go WITH the current...you'll be out in no time. Last year, the average time in the water was under 14 minutes (fastest was 6 mins, slowest was 19 mins).
Slow, sandy beach run? Running on the beach is certainly different than running on the sidewalk. Will it be slower than running a 5k on the streets? Yes, but our average times map consistently with the garden variety 5k road race--- meaning, not that much of a difference. One suggestion is to try and do a training run on the beach. Another tip, find the hardest piece of salty beach line and stick with it. Positives--- running next to the ocean is just awesome.
Training tips? My fist triathlon was the Avalon Islandman, a race I still go back to every year-- wonderfully run and the course is very similar to ours in Sea Isle (same distance too). Looking back, I would have done a lot of things differently. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Plan backwards: Race date is May 23rd. Plan your training from that day and march backwards on the calendar. You'll want to hit certain milestones in training (run "X" miles, Bike "Y" miles). Try to "peak" or hit your longest distances in early May. You'll want to leave two weeks to taper off your training. The body needs to rest.
2. Do a "Brick": A brick work out means you are putting two training sessions back-to-back. I suggest doing a bike ride followed by a run. When getting off the bike, some racers experience "jelly" legs and you'll want to have that experience when hitting the run. Try it out-- do a mock race if you need to. By doing a brick, you'll eliminate the surprise feeling of jelly legs.
3. Distances: Because this is a Sprint distance (400m swim, 12.3 mile bike, 3.1 mile run), there is no need to train at heavy distances. It is more important to consistently hit the distances. For instance, training for the run portion does not require you to log 40 miles a week or a 10 mile run. Instead, focus on doing 3.1 miles well-- hone in your speed by running hills, completing a brick, and having the confidence to do all three segments.
4. Average finishing time: Last year, the average finishing time was 1 hour, 28 minutes. By May one of your goals (if this is your first triathlon), should be to exercise for over an hour. Preferably, work out for 90 minutes-- any type of cardio will do and any combination. The Brick I suggested? Maybe a goal for you is to be able to bike for 60 minutes and immediately switch to a 30 minute run. If you can do this by May, you can complete the race.
5. Plan your work, work your plan: Using the "backward calendar", you have laid out your workout plan for the race. Now do it! Sounds easy, but so many people have already given up on their January 1st resolution of getting in shape. Don't be that guy/girl.
See you soon in Sea Isle City...133 days before the race.
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.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Idea for Tri: One Year Later
It has been one year since I dreamed up the Tri For Our Veterans race. Coincidentally, we just sent The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (IMSFF) a final check for $4500. In total, we raised $14,500 for the IMSFF and an additional $14,500 for the new Veterans' Memorial in Sea Isle.
I am very pleased with our results.
The needs of our veterans' are not going away. Every day, casualties are reported in both Afghanistan and Iraq. These soldiers will need our help when they return. Tri For Our Veterans II planning has already started and we look forward to raising the bar and donating more money to organizations like the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Thank you to all who volunteered, raced, and watched this year's race. I will be posting some key announcements for Tri for Our Veterans II in the coming months, including the addition of a duathlon event run simultaneously next to the triathlon. The race will also continue the tradition of handing out the best prizes and race packs. Please stay tuned for more information.
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I am very pleased with our results.
The needs of our veterans' are not going away. Every day, casualties are reported in both Afghanistan and Iraq. These soldiers will need our help when they return. Tri For Our Veterans II planning has already started and we look forward to raising the bar and donating more money to organizations like the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Thank you to all who volunteered, raced, and watched this year's race. I will be posting some key announcements for Tri for Our Veterans II in the coming months, including the addition of a duathlon event run simultaneously next to the triathlon. The race will also continue the tradition of handing out the best prizes and race packs. Please stay tuned for more information.
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
We're #1
If you were at the race, you know we handed a check for $10,000 to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. We were still closing the financial books on the race and we could not give them the full amount we raised, so we figured we would give them a significant portion of the funds. Plus, let's face it-- $10,000 is a nice round number!
As it turns out, we are sending another check for roughly $3,000-4,000. The kind people at the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund told me this was their largest donation from a community event.
Yes, Sea Isle friends, we are #1!!
Of course, this was only 50% of our total revenue. The rest of the money was turned over to Sea Isle's VFW, for their efforts to improve the Veterans' Memorial in town. Honestly, it feels great to help our worthy soldiers AND honor the past through a [local] memorial.
Lastly, we are kicking in plans for next year. This year, I think we had some very cool give aways for our racers-- t-shirt, Polar water bottle, and a beach bag. Check out the poll on the side of this blog and vote for next year's SWAG!! What should we do-- premium beach towel, Coolmax hats (sweat wicking hat), Under Armor like t-shirt, or cotton long sleeve. VOTE!
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As it turns out, we are sending another check for roughly $3,000-4,000. The kind people at the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund told me this was their largest donation from a community event.
Yes, Sea Isle friends, we are #1!!
Of course, this was only 50% of our total revenue. The rest of the money was turned over to Sea Isle's VFW, for their efforts to improve the Veterans' Memorial in town. Honestly, it feels great to help our worthy soldiers AND honor the past through a [local] memorial.
Lastly, we are kicking in plans for next year. This year, I think we had some very cool give aways for our racers-- t-shirt, Polar water bottle, and a beach bag. Check out the poll on the side of this blog and vote for next year's SWAG!! What should we do-- premium beach towel, Coolmax hats (sweat wicking hat), Under Armor like t-shirt, or cotton long sleeve. VOTE!
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Saturday, May 24, 2008
Finshed...12 hours later
Yes, most of the racers finished 12 hours ago, but I needed a break before tonight's posting. After lunch, a 2 hour nap, dinner, and Rita's, I am finally able to type.
First, awesome job, racers. Check out the results by clicking HERE. We had very few problems, limited-minor injuries. Sea Isle's Beach Patrol rescued a few racers-- one person remarked that he had never did an ocean swim and was intimidated. The ocean was chilly, but calm.
Second, we raised almost $30,000 for our veterans' causes. This is really a tremendous feat for a first year event. THANK YOU! Besides raising a boatload of money, we also paid for the best timing service available (Go Piranha Sports), assembled a great racer bag (Polar Bottles), and handed out some outstanding prizes (iPOD, Swiss Army Watches, Gift Certificates).
Thirdly, we really pulled together the community of Sea isle City. I was shocked to see more than 120 volunteers show up for the meeting on Friday night-- only half of which had signed up before the meeting-- the others heard about it through word of mouth. People simply wanted to help our veterans-- THANK YOU! The City of Sea Isle was so supportive-- we just could not have done it without their support.
Lastly, I am working on a collage of photos. I will work to post them soon and you are free to download them (yes, free pics!).
I am exhausted-- went to bed at 1030 last night and up at 330. Most of the night, I did not sleep and woke up thinking about the race (I honestly counted bike racks 6 times in my head). Though tired, this is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever been apart of (behind my family events-- witnessing the birth of my 3 children, getting married, etc.). Thank you all for the many compliments-- we all did something special today-- we recognized the role of our military and its veterans, something every American should do. I know during my next race, I will surely recall the image of Team Semper Fi members crossing the finish line with a smile on their face as inspiration. Man, the Marines in Sea Isle are athletes-- they kicked butt out there today. Despite some of their injuries, they out kicked a majority of the age-group participants!
(Dan Lasko, I will be emailing you for swim tips-- your time was amazing).
Thank you all for reading this blog over the past few months, for supporting this race, and for keeping the Memorial in Memorial Day. You helped your fellow Americans today-- those brave souls who put on a uniform to protect our many freedoms. Thank you!
See you in Sea isle City...2009!
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.
First, awesome job, racers. Check out the results by clicking HERE. We had very few problems, limited-minor injuries. Sea Isle's Beach Patrol rescued a few racers-- one person remarked that he had never did an ocean swim and was intimidated. The ocean was chilly, but calm.
Second, we raised almost $30,000 for our veterans' causes. This is really a tremendous feat for a first year event. THANK YOU! Besides raising a boatload of money, we also paid for the best timing service available (Go Piranha Sports), assembled a great racer bag (Polar Bottles), and handed out some outstanding prizes (iPOD, Swiss Army Watches, Gift Certificates).
Thirdly, we really pulled together the community of Sea isle City. I was shocked to see more than 120 volunteers show up for the meeting on Friday night-- only half of which had signed up before the meeting-- the others heard about it through word of mouth. People simply wanted to help our veterans-- THANK YOU! The City of Sea Isle was so supportive-- we just could not have done it without their support.
Lastly, I am working on a collage of photos. I will work to post them soon and you are free to download them (yes, free pics!).
I am exhausted-- went to bed at 1030 last night and up at 330. Most of the night, I did not sleep and woke up thinking about the race (I honestly counted bike racks 6 times in my head). Though tired, this is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever been apart of (behind my family events-- witnessing the birth of my 3 children, getting married, etc.). Thank you all for the many compliments-- we all did something special today-- we recognized the role of our military and its veterans, something every American should do. I know during my next race, I will surely recall the image of Team Semper Fi members crossing the finish line with a smile on their face as inspiration. Man, the Marines in Sea Isle are athletes-- they kicked butt out there today. Despite some of their injuries, they out kicked a majority of the age-group participants!
(Dan Lasko, I will be emailing you for swim tips-- your time was amazing).
Thank you all for reading this blog over the past few months, for supporting this race, and for keeping the Memorial in Memorial Day. You helped your fellow Americans today-- those brave souls who put on a uniform to protect our many freedoms. Thank you!
See you in Sea isle City...2009!
.
.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Down to 22 slots...18 days...
Tick...tick...tick...
We now have 19 days until race day. Over 320 folks have registered for the race and it looks like we will shut down the online registration early. 350 sounds like a nice, round number. Plus, there is still a lot of operational work to be completed.
I am toying with an idea to auction off 12 race day entries, but I don't know-- sounds like too much work on the day of the race-- when there is plenty of work to be done.
Anyhow-- spread the word, we are closing up shop soon...
If you are racing, CLICK HERE for the Athletes' Guide. It should answer all of your questions about the race.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE RACE.
We now have 19 days until race day. Over 320 folks have registered for the race and it looks like we will shut down the online registration early. 350 sounds like a nice, round number. Plus, there is still a lot of operational work to be completed.
I am toying with an idea to auction off 12 race day entries, but I don't know-- sounds like too much work on the day of the race-- when there is plenty of work to be done.
Anyhow-- spread the word, we are closing up shop soon...
If you are racing, CLICK HERE for the Athletes' Guide. It should answer all of your questions about the race.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE RACE.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Race Article in The Press of Atlantic City
The Press of Atlantic City was kind enough to feature Tri for Our Veterans in today's newspaper. Click here to read the article.
40 days 'til race day...
40 days 'til race day...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Trophies for top finishers
Most races give out trophies or awards for top performances. Top relay team, 1st place, and top performances in age groups (i.e. Men 30-34) are all examples. Tri for Our Veterans is no different-- we will have awards and they will coincide with our veteran's theme. All top performances will win a customized dog tag key chain, as pictured above. I was worried if this was going to be well received by our military and veterans in attendance, but the VFW assured me it was "a-ok". My number one goal is to put on a great race and raise a lot of money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, but a close second is to raise awareness to the true purpose of Memorial Day-- honoring our military. Hopefully, we can accomplish both!
We are now over 180 participants...guarantee your spot by registering HERE before we close out the race.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Press Coverage: Tri for Our Veterans
Click directly on the article for a larger viewing of the article.
Ok, it is not the New York Times, but I think the Sea Isle Times did a nice job of highlighting the race. We appreciate the public relations. If you are having a hard time reading the article, click HERE and it will take you to their website.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Racing for a Just Cause: Semper Tri
It has been a very busy week. Registrations have really soared in the past two weeks and we are now 100 days away from the Tri for Our Veterans race. A number of news organizations have started to pay attention and I am guessing there will be a few stories about the race, once the weather breaks and Memorial Day comes into focus. In two interviews this week, I stressed the participation of Team Semper Fi and the courageous veterans who make up this team. Team Semper Fi is made up injured Marines and Sailors who participate in sporting events to help raise funds and awareness for our wounded. Check out their site by clicking HERE and learning more.
One question was raised in both interviews: "Ok, so 50% of the money goes to the VFW to refurbish the town's Veterans' Memorial fountain. The other 50% goes to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. What do they do?"
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a phenomenal organization-- 94% of every dollar raised goes directly to the injured Marines. They have a very low administrative overhead rate. The short answer is-- they do anything and everything to make a wounded Marine comfortable when returning home. Yes, the government provides a lot of resources for our injured soldiers, but they cannot provide all things.
As an example, The Inquirer published a story about a local Marine, Cpl. Raymond Hennagir, as he returned home from Iraq. Click HERE to read it. Cpl. Hennagir returned home from the front when an IED blew off both of his legs and part of his hand. His one request was to attend his platoon's homecoming from Iraq at Camp Lejeune, which would require a special medical van for the long distance trip. The US Government cannot pay for these types of requests; this is where The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund comes into play-- they paid for Cpl. Hennagir's trip to welcome home is fellow Marines. Cpl. Hennagir was 21 years old at the time of the explosion.
I first heard of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund in this article. Combined with the article in the NY Times, this article pushed me to create the Tri for Our Veterans race. I am hoping you will join us on Memorial Day weekend and have some fun, honor our veterans, and cheer on Team Semper Fi.
Don't forget to REGISTER for the race. Click HERE.
One question was raised in both interviews: "Ok, so 50% of the money goes to the VFW to refurbish the town's Veterans' Memorial fountain. The other 50% goes to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. What do they do?"
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a phenomenal organization-- 94% of every dollar raised goes directly to the injured Marines. They have a very low administrative overhead rate. The short answer is-- they do anything and everything to make a wounded Marine comfortable when returning home. Yes, the government provides a lot of resources for our injured soldiers, but they cannot provide all things.
As an example, The Inquirer published a story about a local Marine, Cpl. Raymond Hennagir, as he returned home from Iraq. Click HERE to read it. Cpl. Hennagir returned home from the front when an IED blew off both of his legs and part of his hand. His one request was to attend his platoon's homecoming from Iraq at Camp Lejeune, which would require a special medical van for the long distance trip. The US Government cannot pay for these types of requests; this is where The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund comes into play-- they paid for Cpl. Hennagir's trip to welcome home is fellow Marines. Cpl. Hennagir was 21 years old at the time of the explosion.
I first heard of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund in this article. Combined with the article in the NY Times, this article pushed me to create the Tri for Our Veterans race. I am hoping you will join us on Memorial Day weekend and have some fun, honor our veterans, and cheer on Team Semper Fi.
Don't forget to REGISTER for the race. Click HERE.
Monday, February 4, 2008
New Developments, 110 days to go
Sorry for the delay in blogging-- just got back from a week in warm weather on business. Luckily, my company has a number of athletes employed and my team is stocked with triathletes. During the work week, I was lucky enough to run in warm weather and swim off the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. On Friday, I swam 1.5 miles in the Caribbean and capped the trip off on Sunday by running 13 miles on the deck of a cruise ship as it plodded past Key West....which got me thinking....Tri season is rapidly approaching. I wish you all the best in your training over the next few months.
Recent developments:
* I am very thankful for my friendship with Chuck Brodsky, founder of the Nation's Triathlon in DC. If you have been reading since the beginning, you know that Chuck and I worked together at a small DC software company, ran our first marathon together (Philadelphia) and he has been so helpful in my efforts to launch Tri for Our Veterans. Now, Chuck has gone well beyond the call of friendship and my race is featured on The Nation's Triathlon website. Click HERE to check out his site. He is almost sold out, so if you want to race in our nation's capitol this September, sign up now.
* New sponsor: XTERRA Wetsuits is sponsoring the Tri for Our Veterans race. How awesome is that!! Xterra has a phenomenal reputation in the tri-o-sphere as the best wetsuit, bar none. And now they are a major sponsor. More details to come. In the meantime, if you need a wetsuit for the race, click HERE.
* 110 days and counting-- as I have stated a hundred times, this race is a complete NON PROFIT and all monies go to the local VFW in Sea Isle and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Please do us a favor-- if you want to sign up, don't hesistate...sign up NOW by clicking HERE. If you have already registered...thank you...but your mission is not over. We need more participants to raise enough money for our noble veterans. Pass along the details about this event to your friends, family, and fellow competitors. We have a team relay, which allows three people to join up and take a stage each-- and if they cannot find a swimmer to do the 400 meters in the ocean, email me at mcculleyfordham@hotmail.com and I will find one for you!
This race is going to be fun, well organized, and will surely make you proud to be an American. Plus, I am working on some great swag, like a beach bag, cool tee shirt, and, of course, a water bottle. Stay tuned, register, and get back to training.
Recent developments:
* I am very thankful for my friendship with Chuck Brodsky, founder of the Nation's Triathlon in DC. If you have been reading since the beginning, you know that Chuck and I worked together at a small DC software company, ran our first marathon together (Philadelphia) and he has been so helpful in my efforts to launch Tri for Our Veterans. Now, Chuck has gone well beyond the call of friendship and my race is featured on The Nation's Triathlon website. Click HERE to check out his site. He is almost sold out, so if you want to race in our nation's capitol this September, sign up now.
* New sponsor: XTERRA Wetsuits is sponsoring the Tri for Our Veterans race. How awesome is that!! Xterra has a phenomenal reputation in the tri-o-sphere as the best wetsuit, bar none. And now they are a major sponsor. More details to come. In the meantime, if you need a wetsuit for the race, click HERE.
* 110 days and counting-- as I have stated a hundred times, this race is a complete NON PROFIT and all monies go to the local VFW in Sea Isle and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Please do us a favor-- if you want to sign up, don't hesistate...sign up NOW by clicking HERE. If you have already registered...thank you...but your mission is not over. We need more participants to raise enough money for our noble veterans. Pass along the details about this event to your friends, family, and fellow competitors. We have a team relay, which allows three people to join up and take a stage each-- and if they cannot find a swimmer to do the 400 meters in the ocean, email me at mcculleyfordham@hotmail.com and I will find one for you!
This race is going to be fun, well organized, and will surely make you proud to be an American. Plus, I am working on some great swag, like a beach bag, cool tee shirt, and, of course, a water bottle. Stay tuned, register, and get back to training.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
From the Civil War to Iraq/Afghanistan: When will we provide for our military veterans?
If you have been following the Tri for Our Veterans race blog, you know that all of the proceeds will be split between Sea Isle City's VFW Post 1963 and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. It is really important to keep our veterans in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to serve in the Middle East (we are approaching the 5 year anniversary of the Iraq War-- almost 4,000 US soldiers killed in action). Just this week, an important article was published, detailing the trauma these soldiers bring home with them from the front. Click HERE to read about it. Basically, it chronicles how our veterans struggle to re-enter American society after being on the front lines. After ducking bullets and dodging IEDs, they come home to a country tracking the latest drama with Brittany Spears. Our vets face a myriad of obstacles in the transition from the war front to the home front. Homelessness, for one, is a rampant problem for our returning soldiers and has been in every conflict since the Civil War. In 2006, our government counted 336,000 veterans as homeless, which is simply heartbreaking.
The aforementioned article will give you a better insight to the problems facing our returning men & women in uniform, but the one quote that caught my attention, "War changes people", reminded me of when I was a kid and my Dad would introduce me to certain Vietnam Veterans-- he would sometimes comment how different that his friend was before Vietnam. It is very sad to see the same problems occur, 30 years later.
Thankfully, great organizations are helping our returning soldiers and you can too. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is one of those wonderful organizations. The Semper Fi Fund has done a phenomenal job of raising lots of money (almost $17 million since May, 2004), while keeping expenses, like salaries, very low. For each dollar raised by the fund, 95 percent of that revenue is distributed to our veterans and their families.
When you are debating to do this race, think about how your efforts will go to help our veterans. Since this country's inception, they have protected and fought for our freedom and we owe them.
Click here & Sign up for the race-- we will sell out!
The aforementioned article will give you a better insight to the problems facing our returning men & women in uniform, but the one quote that caught my attention, "War changes people", reminded me of when I was a kid and my Dad would introduce me to certain Vietnam Veterans-- he would sometimes comment how different that his friend was before Vietnam. It is very sad to see the same problems occur, 30 years later.
Thankfully, great organizations are helping our returning soldiers and you can too. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is one of those wonderful organizations. The Semper Fi Fund has done a phenomenal job of raising lots of money (almost $17 million since May, 2004), while keeping expenses, like salaries, very low. For each dollar raised by the fund, 95 percent of that revenue is distributed to our veterans and their families.
When you are debating to do this race, think about how your efforts will go to help our veterans. Since this country's inception, they have protected and fought for our freedom and we owe them.
Click here & Sign up for the race-- we will sell out!
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