Special Offer and yes, we are SOLD OUT

Our wetsuit sponsor, XTERRA Wetsuits, just announced a special offering for Tri for Our Veterans racers: 50% discount on an XTERRA Transition Bag. Use the following special offer code RACEPACK and go check it out by clicking HERE. A transition bag for $25!!!

Also, we are SOLD OUT folks-- there are no spots left in any of the races (Duathlon, Triathlon, Relay). Sorry, but we have been forecasting a sell out since early March.

Finally-- have questions about the race course? Make sure you take a look at the videos posted HERE.

"Sea" you in Sea Isle...only 26 days left!
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Interactive Race Maps

Hi Racers-- Ready for Tri for Our Veterans yet? I have posted a few videos, which give an aerial overview and walkthrough of the race course in various sections. These should be REALLY helpful to you as you plan on a successful race in Sea Isle City!

Video #1, Swim Start and Transition Area overview
Video #2, Bicycle Course, Part A, Overview
Video #3, Bicycle Course, Loop 2, Loop 3, and Finish
Video #4, Run Course Overview
Video #5, Duathlon Overview

These videos are not generic maps-- they are real overhead shots of the course brought to you by Microsoft's Virtual Earth technology.

Click HERE to gain access to the videos.

Race sells out; Team Semper Fi storms the beach in Sea Isle

Tri for Our Veterans is SOLD OUT. Sorry, we do not have a waiting list. In 2010, please be sure to register early! Our race continues to grow in popularity and we will have over 500 racers competing this year.

In other news, Team Semper Fi is again competing in the Sea Isle triathlon. Click HERE to learn more about their efforts and their schedule of events.

You can also watch a video interview of one of their members, Dan Lasko, by clicking HERE and HERE Dan competed in the inaugural Tri for our Veterans and was a driving force in getting Team Semper Fi to the beaches of Sea Isle. He also kicked butt at last year's Philadelphia Triathlon (look for his Philly Tri finisher medal in the video).

Lastly, we will be sending out the Athletes' Guide in a few days-- keep an eye out for the notice in your inbox.

See you in Sea Isle...just 29 more days...
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Softmart signs on has Gold Sponsor

Very exciting news: Softmart has signed on as a Gold Sponsor for Tri for Our Veterans!





Softmart is located in Downingtown, PA. They are a global provider of all things IT-- services, software, hardware, you name it, and they've got it! Last year, Softmart was kind enough to donated a number of items as prizes for our winning racers. They liked what was happening in Sea Isle and decided to sign on as a Gold Sponsor. Speaking of GOLD...Softmart is a Gold Certified Partner of Microsoft, which means they have demonstrated years of quality service and support to Microsoft's products and programs.

One of Softmart's largest customers is the US Military-- so the sponsorship really makes a lot of sense for them-- supporting those who served and continue to serve our great country!

RACE UPDATES

• We are just about to close registration. We have hit our maximum and await a few registrations from Team Semper Fi. If you know of anyone who wants to get it, they will need to register by Friday, May 1st, when we plan on closing the registration process.
• There will be no onsite registration.
• Racer Information Packet: This will be posted on Piranha's website in about two weeks. We will blast out an email to the registered racers when it is available.
• Giveaways: This year we have two awesome giveaways for our racers-- a long sleeve, high quality t-shirt (Carolina blue), and Polar Bear insulated water bottles (24 oz, red & blue).
• Volunteers? Interested in helping out our cause? email me at mcculleyfordham@hotmail.com
• First time doing a triathlon? No worries, we have you covered. An experienced triathlete will be hosting a 1st timers meeting on Friday, May 22nd (time TBD) at the registration site.

See you soon in Sea Isle City!

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Mourners pay last respects to fallen Marine from Oxford - The Daily Local News : Serving Chester County

Mourners pay last respects to fallen Marine from Oxford - The Daily Local News : Serving Chester County

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Less than 100 spots left; Treats for Troops

Hey Racers,

Less than 100 spots left for Sea Isle's Triathlon! Please spread the word-- we will sell out in the next two weeks.

On another note, I am very pleased to announce a partnership with Treats for Troops. This organization collects various goods and ships them out to our troops in the field. The list is provided by our military and it is put to very, very good use. At our registration area, we will have a table set up for people who would like to donate the requested items. After the race, we will pack up the goods, deliver them to their Partner Representative in Ocean City, who will then have them shipped out to our troops in the field. Want to make a difference? Here is how-- bring these goods to the race:



baby wipes
bar soap
batteries
beefjerky
body lotion
bubblegum
Campbell's Chunky Chili
Campbell's Chunky Soup
candy
candy bars
cereal bars
Chef boy r dee raviolis
chess set
chewing gum
chicken salad -lunch to go
cigarettes
coffee
coffee creamer
coffee sweetner
coloring books
crayons
cup of noodles
dental floss
deodorant
devil dogs
Dinty Moore beefstew
disposable camera
DVDs
ear plugs
envelopes
eye drops
foot powder
fruit cocktail
games
granola bars
hard candy
hot sauce
ibuprofen
insect repellent
jigsaw puzzle
lip balm
lollipops
macaroni and cheese
magazines
manicure sets
microwave meal
microwave popcorn
mouthwash
music cds
novels
peanut butter
peanut butter crackers
peanuts
pens
playing cards
poker chips
poptarts
powdered drink mix -individual servings
powdered Gatorade
power bars
puzzle books
q-tips
raisins
ramon noodles
razors
Religious Medals
rice krispie treats
Rosaries
salt and pepper
scapulars
shampoo
shaving cream
silly string
slim Jims
soap dish
tissues
toilet paper
toothbrush
toothbrush holder
toothpaste
tootsie pops
toys and games
trail mix
travel fist aid kit
t-shirts
turns
tuna fish in a pouch & Mayo
tuna salad kits -lunch to go
Uncle Ben's microwave rice meals
Vienna sausage
waterless hand sanitizer
white socks
writing tablets

People always ask me-- "How can I help?"--- let me count the ways-- you can race in the triathlon, donate goods to Treats for Troops, volunteer at the Race or simply make a donation.

Keep the Memorial in Memorial Day weekend! See you in 67 days!
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XTERRA Wetsuits sponsors Tri for Our Veterans

I am very excited to announce a renewed partnership with XTERRA Wetsuits. In our inaugural race, the swim caps and some prizes were provided by XTERRA. They have generously stepped up to the plate and pledged their support to Tri for Our Veterans II!

Thank you XTERRA!

XTERRA is also our preferred wetsuit rental partner. As you know, the water temperature will be about 62-64 degrees for the race in Sea Isle and wetsuits are strongly encouraged. Though it is a short swim (400 meters), most athletes will want a wetsuit for buoyancy and warmth. Don't have one? No problem-- XTERRA provides an inexpensive and easy solution-- rent one for the week by visiting their rental shop-- CLICK HERE for more information. Rent it for this race or the Avalon triathlon and others (Stone Harbor Triathlon)

I race wearing an XTERRA suit-- the Vector Pro. I love it-- feels like I am gliding through the water and it is very easy to take off during transitions.

70 days until we hit the water-- you ready?
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Race hits 80% of capacity

Hi Racers,

80 days to go before Memorial Day Weekend kicks off and Tri for Our Veterans II launches. With 80 days to go, we just reached 80% capacity for the race-- what a coincidence! We have over 300 racers signed up and more going into the system tonight (Team Semper Fi). Last year, we capped our race at 400 and we expect the same limits from the city.

If you know of someone interested, or, if you have not signed up for Sea Isle's Summer triathlon, do so now by visiting http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race54.aspx

We will sell out and we will NOT offer any type of registration during race week.

Other race updates:

1. Giveaway: Long sleeve t-shirt, light blue. I met with our supplier and love the design, quality of the shirt.

2. Giveaway II: Hoping to deliver a Coolmax visor to each racer. I tried one supplier, but everything has to make its way to Sea Isle on a SLOW BOAT from China. That will not work. I still have high hopes for a cool visor!

3. Medals for Mettle: The race registration area in Sea Isle will have a table from www.medals4mettle.org. This organization takes your old race medals, cleans them up, puts a new ribbon on it, and gives it to people fighting disease or other health related battles. Very cool idea and we are happy to extend an invitation to them-- if you have any medals you would like to donate, bring them to registration!

More to come...until then, See you in Sea Isle City!
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Oakley signs on as Sponsor

Great news to share-- Oakley has signed on as a sponsor. Our top athletes will be chasing an awesome prize packages, which will include Oakley sunglasses.

Oakley really stands out from the crowd of companies offering sunglasses, especially when it comes to products geared towards triathletes.

I wear the Flak Jacket model when competing and it is a great offering. They are lightweight, a snug, but comfortable fit around my [big] head, and they block the UV rays. Believe it or not, sunglasses actually conserve energy during endurance races. How? Every time you squint due to the sun, you are using muscles, which draw down energy levels. Oakley sunglasses can help you go longer, go farther.

I am very happy to see so many companies stepping up to help our military veterans. If you are a company looking to help, I'd like to point out our social networking prowess-- Tri for Our Veterans had 450 competitors last year and attracted 2,000+ spectators. Our email blast list reaches more than 7,000 people. This race blog has attracted more than 1,000 page views per month for over a year, and the Facebook Group has more than 90 members in the 15 days since it was created. If you sponsor, people will know about it!

Sea you in Sea Isle City!

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SELL OUT coming...Heads up.

Hey racers,

Tri for Our Veterans II is really shaping up nicely. Our sponsors have been great and I wanted to give a shout out to XTERRA Wesuits. They are again supplying us with a sponsorship package, which includes prizes for the winners and swimcaps for all participants. THANK YOU XTERRA!

XTERRA is also preferred partner for anyone looking to purchase a wetsuit OR if you need to rent a wetsuit. Click HERE if for rentals, or HERE for purchasing.

I swim with a Vector Pro X2 and love it.

SOLD OUT? I received an email this week about our status. We are not sold out...yet. We recently eclipsed the 75% mark-- I encourage everyone to register now if they want a spot. Last year, we allowed a number of athletes to register on the day before the race. This will not be happening in 2009.

Register now by clicking HERE. See you in Sea Isle City!
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Long time no post!

Wow! Has it really been almost a month since my last posting on this blog? What kindo fo race blog am I offering?

The Race Director just woke up to find 103 days before race day. YIKES!

I have been busy elsewhere. Here are some updates:

1. Race giveaway: Looks like we are going with a sport visor and long sleeve t-shirt. Check out Headsweats, a new, up and coming company focused on hats/visors that wick away the sweat. They have a great product and we have tentatively agreed to go with one of their visors as a race giveaway. My wife is helping me pick the t-shirt this weekend-- to be clear, there will not be a WHITE t-shirt as the giveaway! 2008 Racers expressed disappointment with this aspect of the race and we aim to please. Last year's Polar bottle was a huge hit, but we wanted to offer something different this year and I think the Headsweats visor will be welcomed.

2. Race registration stands at 150-160. Last year, we had 400 and we expect a little more in 2009. The City of Sea Isle has not yet told us our cap, but my guess is around 500. Sign up now-- the registration fee goes up on March 1st!

3. Course review: The course was reviewed by Sea Isle's Police and Beach Patrol. Good news! No significant changes to this year's course. We are blocking off more corners with NO PARKING signs, which will make the turns go smoother.

4. Duathlon: Remember, this year we will hold a duathlon (run-bike-run). The first leg is a two mile run on the street. Them you follow the bike and run legs of the triathlon. Pass the word!

5. Tri for Our Veterans on Facebook: Join the Tri for Our Veterans Group on Facebook!

See you soon in Sea Isle City!
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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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Discounted registration fee expires soon

Reminder: Only TEN (10) days left to take advantage of 2008 pricing. Register today for "Tri For Our Veterans II" and enjoy the SAME registration fee as last year's race.

http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race54.aspx

Discount expires on 12/25! New this year-- a Duathlon-- run, bike, run. The duathlon will be started alongside the triathlon race.

Tri For Our Veterans II is scheduled for 5/23/09, the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, in Sea Isle City, NJ. This sprint triathlon benefits two military veteran organizations-- The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and Sea Isle's VFW Post 1963. Matt McCulley is the Founder & Race Director; Sea Isle's VFW Post is the financial clearinghouse and 501 (c) 4 charitable sponsor.

Triathlon: 400m Ocean swim, 12.3 mile bicycle course, 3.1 mile run (hard sand).
Duathlon: 2 mile road run, 12.3 mile bicycle course, 3.1 mile run (hard sand).

Veterans Day

Please keep all of our Veterans in your thoughts and prayers today. A heart wrenching story abour our soldiers in Afghanistan can be found HERE.

Ongoing work for Tri for our Veterans 2...thinking about giveaways for our racers...will probably post another survey in the next few days.

We are LIVE and OPEN for [holiday] business!

Friends, Family, and Competitors:

I am happy to announce the launch of Tri for Our Veterans II. The Piranha website listed us last night and we are open for registration. Click HERE to go to the web page and registration.

With the holidays approaching, we have a special one time offer available. Sign up by Christmas and receive the pricing from 2008! Keep this in mind when you are trying to figure out what to buy for friends and family.

Curious how Tri for our Veterans got its start? Click HERE for the story.

See you in 220 days!
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Date is set for Tri for Our Veterans II

This week, we received permission to host Tri for Our Veterans II (Thank you Sea Isle City). On Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 at 7:30 AM, the 2nd annual Tri for Our Veterans will kick off.

This summer triathlon in Sea Isle City is truly special-- the only American triathlon dedicated to our military veterans. Last year, we welcomed 400+ racers to the Jersey Shore and rasied $35,000 for two veterans' causes-- Sea Isle's VFW and The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

In 2009, we plan to introduce a duathlon alongside our super successive triathlon event. Our duathlon will be a 2 mile run, followed by a 12.4 mile bicycle, and then a 3.1 mile run. The last two legs of this race followthe final two legs of the triathlon course.

Registration will open on/about October 1st.

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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Avalon Islandman 2008

Yesterday was the tri in Avalon. This was the first triathlon I ever competed in and I really, really like the race. When I first started to put Tri for Our Veterans together, I often thought about Avalon and how it was shaped, organized, and directed. Their race director, Midge, does a wonderful job and she continued her great work yesterday.

The race was a lot of fun and it too donates a significant amount of money to various organizations and charities. The course is very nice-- especially the bike, which I consider the best in South Jersey. The swim yesterday was brutal-- the water temperature was fine, but boy was it rough. I was smacked in the face with a monster wave and it threw me right on omy back. Just goes to show you-- you cannot control Mother Nature. Tri for Our Veterans had colder water, but it was smooth as silk out there. I think I would rather have a cold, but calm ocean!

Iron Granny (my mom) completed her 2nd Tri-- and she broke two hours! Awesome race, Iron Granny!

Check out the results by clicking HERE.
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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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Photos, Tri for Our Veterans II

I would say this photo says it all. Nice job, Athletes. You were fast, furious, and extremely patriotic.

Check out more photos like this at: http://picasaweb.google.com/seaisletriathlon

As for next year, we have already been invited back by the City of Sea Isle. Plans are already taking shape (crazy, right!)...and we plan on offering a duathlon alongside of our triathlon.

See you in Sea Isle City...2009!