The race bibs are written, the t-shirts are ordered, the permits issued and paid for... wow! The 2009 Splash and Dash is almost here!
Counting some students, 52 people have signed up and we expect at least another 14 to sign up between now and on race day. 70 would be a cool milestone to hit.
Tonight I went with some students to Home Depot to get some course markers and sign posts, also posterboard and the like. Also processed a few more registrations today (although active.com likes to go down at night when I try to do my offline registrations...)
Will of course pictures and all that after the event as soon as possible!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
A Proper Update
Yesterday I (Brandon Dorman, President of Tri-This! Inc.) went to Wells Fargo, Rubber Soul, and Sierrra Running Company for various reasons.
Pretty amazing when some of the workers at Wells Fargo told me, "Hey, thanks for the free PR on your blog..." which blew me away that they'd been reading it... sure they'd mentioned they thought what I'm doing is cool but I had no idea they'd actually mean it. (note to wells fargo employees: my offer for the Splash and Dash next Saturday still stands. Click here.
While in line I saw Sarah Klose, an old friend from Camp Sugar Pine. We're talking 7 years here... I hadn't seen her in a while so that was pretty cool.
Then off to Rubber Soul to drop off some bikes. That accomplished, it's great to be greeted by the owners. While there I saw some parents of some jr high kids I used to mentor and even tutored for a bit. I felt bad interruepting the Rubber Soul owner's sales pitch, but it was nice catching up. (I did forget to pick up a bike Rubber Soul was going to donate to us... will swing by today before leaving and do that.)
At Sierra Running Company it's been a pleasure to get to know pretty much all of the staff there over the past year and half/two years I guess now! They didn't have bags I was hoping to get for packet pickup, so we'll just use envelopes instead. That's fine.
Now off to a great weekend of relaxing with Meagan, my parents, a baseball game in SF, then Monday is dedicated to the splash and dash!
Pretty amazing when some of the workers at Wells Fargo told me, "Hey, thanks for the free PR on your blog..." which blew me away that they'd been reading it... sure they'd mentioned they thought what I'm doing is cool but I had no idea they'd actually mean it. (note to wells fargo employees: my offer for the Splash and Dash next Saturday still stands. Click here.
While in line I saw Sarah Klose, an old friend from Camp Sugar Pine. We're talking 7 years here... I hadn't seen her in a while so that was pretty cool.
Then off to Rubber Soul to drop off some bikes. That accomplished, it's great to be greeted by the owners. While there I saw some parents of some jr high kids I used to mentor and even tutored for a bit. I felt bad interruepting the Rubber Soul owner's sales pitch, but it was nice catching up. (I did forget to pick up a bike Rubber Soul was going to donate to us... will swing by today before leaving and do that.)
At Sierra Running Company it's been a pleasure to get to know pretty much all of the staff there over the past year and half/two years I guess now! They didn't have bags I was hoping to get for packet pickup, so we'll just use envelopes instead. That's fine.
Now off to a great weekend of relaxing with Meagan, my parents, a baseball game in SF, then Monday is dedicated to the splash and dash!
Monday, May 18, 2009
update
- Debit card from Wells Fargo with Tri-This! name proudly on it!
- 38 people signed up for the Splash and Dash and climbing!
- Running with some new kids this Wednesday Morning
- Water Polo season starts umm... tomorrow after school! (Tues/Thurs afternoons)
- house hunting is going well.
- I decided to ride the 10 miles on roads each way to Masters Swimming tonight. Going there was great, coming back got a flat about 2 miles in. Didn't have a co'2 canister in my pack like I assumed I did... so had to call my uncle. still, a good idea! I did the ride on Saturday and it is a very easy but flat ride and I was able to hit 27mph on flat and sustain it for a bit!
- looking for grants/meeting with the Grant guy on Monday!
- 38 people signed up for the Splash and Dash and climbing!
- Running with some new kids this Wednesday Morning
- Water Polo season starts umm... tomorrow after school! (Tues/Thurs afternoons)
- house hunting is going well.
- I decided to ride the 10 miles on roads each way to Masters Swimming tonight. Going there was great, coming back got a flat about 2 miles in. Didn't have a co'2 canister in my pack like I assumed I did... so had to call my uncle. still, a good idea! I did the ride on Saturday and it is a very easy but flat ride and I was able to hit 27mph on flat and sustain it for a bit!
- looking for grants/meeting with the Grant guy on Monday!
Monday, May 11, 2009
message to my supporters (copied and pasted from email)
Greetings supporters of Tri-This!
Just a note to let you know that Tri-This! Inc. now also has a bank account at Wells Fargo. So now we can actually deposit those checks for the Splash and Dash as well as write them when necessary.
We are currently in debt as has been necessary to establish the team and do a few events.
Tri-This! is unique in using the unique sport of triathlon to train, discipline and lift student athletes from low-income areas in Fresno. For the past two years as Fresno PAL and with a renewed purpose now, we aim to help students go to new heights academically and athletically. Join with me once again as we embark on a $5,000 capital campaign that will:
- eliminate debt incurred in the first 3 months of operation (general liability insurance, government fees, 4 events involving 42 students with some duplicates)
- rent or see if we can receive donated space from a mini-storage facility for bikes, donated clothes not already given out, camping gear etc.)
- extensive bike repairs
- uniforms* (seeking sponsors for these mostly)
Rest assured that for principal exenses and growth we are actively working to find and receive grants. We are working on two currently... but grants take time to process.
Currently the 'goal' event for the crew is the Lemoore Mud Run June 6th. It will probably be mostly paid for by proceeds from the Splash and Dash as well as student fees of $10 'no flake' deposits). We have done this event the last two years.
I wouldn't be doing this nor asking for money if I didn't see results in these students. I wish more people could be with me as when, driving some students up to the snow in January, the suburban grew silent as many of the students saw falling snow for the first time(Joua, Hnuhli, Sovann). The sense of accomplishment when they finish their first triathlon(10+ kids). The motivation to wake up at 4am on a Friday to bring up a failing grade (albert).
Online, one can donate via credit card at
http://www.active.com/donate/trithis09
Donations can also be sent to:
Tri-This!
c/o BRANDON DORMAN
2727 N. Cedar Ave.
Fresno, CA 93703
Please pass along this email as you feel led.
Just a note to let you know that Tri-This! Inc. now also has a bank account at Wells Fargo. So now we can actually deposit those checks for the Splash and Dash as well as write them when necessary.
We are currently in debt as has been necessary to establish the team and do a few events.
Tri-This! is unique in using the unique sport of triathlon to train, discipline and lift student athletes from low-income areas in Fresno. For the past two years as Fresno PAL and with a renewed purpose now, we aim to help students go to new heights academically and athletically. Join with me once again as we embark on a $5,000 capital campaign that will:
- eliminate debt incurred in the first 3 months of operation (general liability insurance, government fees, 4 events involving 42 students with some duplicates)
- rent or see if we can receive donated space from a mini-storage facility for bikes, donated clothes not already given out, camping gear etc.)
- extensive bike repairs
- uniforms* (seeking sponsors for these mostly)
Rest assured that for principal exenses and growth we are actively working to find and receive grants. We are working on two currently... but grants take time to process.
Currently the 'goal' event for the crew is the Lemoore Mud Run June 6th. It will probably be mostly paid for by proceeds from the Splash and Dash as well as student fees of $10 'no flake' deposits). We have done this event the last two years.
I wouldn't be doing this nor asking for money if I didn't see results in these students. I wish more people could be with me as when, driving some students up to the snow in January, the suburban grew silent as many of the students saw falling snow for the first time(Joua, Hnuhli, Sovann). The sense of accomplishment when they finish their first triathlon(10+ kids). The motivation to wake up at 4am on a Friday to bring up a failing grade (albert).
Online, one can donate via credit card at
http://www.active.com/donate/
Donations can also be sent to:
Tri-This!
c/o BRANDON DORMAN
2727 N. Cedar Ave.
Fresno, CA 93703
Please pass along this email as you feel led.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Board Meeting
Highlights from last night's board meeting:
- The board approved making "camps" an integral part of the mission of Tri-This. With the trained high school students as teachers of course. We are looking at putting on camps at the county juvenille detention facility as well as valley teen ranch, a local group home set in the countryside.
- The board also approved reimbursement of $2,000+ of expenses I have incurred as a result of the few trips we have gone on and the typical start up expenses. My credit card thanks them and I look forward to being able to NOT be the intermediary. We have received $600 in pledges so far (grants from USAT and Aetna Foundation) but don't have the money yet...
- Splash and Dash planning is going well. Will probably change the volunteer meeting next week from Tuesday to Wednesday to avoid Cinco de Mayo craziness. It's a HUGE deal here in Fresno since the population I serve is about 70% hispanic.
Swimming championships are tomorrow and Friday. Should be good; if nothing else it means no more after school practice for a few weeks! I am getting sick but might go to Millerton tonight anyway to do some running and swimming?
- The board approved making "camps" an integral part of the mission of Tri-This. With the trained high school students as teachers of course. We are looking at putting on camps at the county juvenille detention facility as well as valley teen ranch, a local group home set in the countryside.
- The board also approved reimbursement of $2,000+ of expenses I have incurred as a result of the few trips we have gone on and the typical start up expenses. My credit card thanks them and I look forward to being able to NOT be the intermediary. We have received $600 in pledges so far (grants from USAT and Aetna Foundation) but don't have the money yet...
- Splash and Dash planning is going well. Will probably change the volunteer meeting next week from Tuesday to Wednesday to avoid Cinco de Mayo craziness. It's a HUGE deal here in Fresno since the population I serve is about 70% hispanic.
Swimming championships are tomorrow and Friday. Should be good; if nothing else it means no more after school practice for a few weeks! I am getting sick but might go to Millerton tonight anyway to do some running and swimming?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Kids Triathlon 09
(all pictures are HERE)
One of my favorite things about coaching is seeing how things change among the team - most of the time (all of the time?) for the better.
Two years ago was our first kids triathlon. It was two weeks after everyone's first triathlon, a week after the first newspaper article and the night after we were invited to a Fresno Coyotes indoor football game. It was also the first event that we were blessed to use the Suburban... at that time on loan from who we eventually bought it for. (correction: I bought it from...).
Last year we were much more experienced and had more kids who did much better! The Fresno Bee was on hand that time and so my kids performed admirably knowing people were watching.
This year it was 'just another triathlon' for the kids even though in retrospect I had the most competitors to date. I relied on parents for their transportation; but as is often the case things fell through for several students in the end and the students going and how they were gonna get there wasn't set until about 7pm last night. This meant I had to pick up three kids up at 5 this morning because I was helping with set up this year so got there at 6... it's always great to see an event go from nothing to 200 kids and probably as many spectators too!
It was a great event once again. Record (?) numbers of kids and great competition in the 15-17 division. Also had two new racers (siblings of students) racing in the 13-14 division.
We placed 2nd and 3rd in the top age group with solid performances by Albert and Aaron. Jr. finished his first triathlon.
(comparison shots:
Albert in 2007:
Albert in 2008:
Albert in 2009:
... only using albert because he's the only one who has done all three). Aside from the obvious, "difference between 15 and 17" body, it's clear that this year his body is more streamlined from being on the swim team this year and he's solid, not just bulky, muscle. Proud of him and all of the other kids at this year's tri!
Looking forward to next year's event already!
One of my favorite things about coaching is seeing how things change among the team - most of the time (all of the time?) for the better.
Two years ago was our first kids triathlon. It was two weeks after everyone's first triathlon, a week after the first newspaper article and the night after we were invited to a Fresno Coyotes indoor football game. It was also the first event that we were blessed to use the Suburban... at that time on loan from who we eventually bought it for. (correction: I bought it from...).
Last year we were much more experienced and had more kids who did much better! The Fresno Bee was on hand that time and so my kids performed admirably knowing people were watching.
This year it was 'just another triathlon' for the kids even though in retrospect I had the most competitors to date. I relied on parents for their transportation; but as is often the case things fell through for several students in the end and the students going and how they were gonna get there wasn't set until about 7pm last night. This meant I had to pick up three kids up at 5 this morning because I was helping with set up this year so got there at 6... it's always great to see an event go from nothing to 200 kids and probably as many spectators too!
It was a great event once again. Record (?) numbers of kids and great competition in the 15-17 division. Also had two new racers (siblings of students) racing in the 13-14 division.
We placed 2nd and 3rd in the top age group with solid performances by Albert and Aaron. Jr. finished his first triathlon.
(comparison shots:
Albert in 2007:
Albert in 2008:
Albert in 2009:
... only using albert because he's the only one who has done all three). Aside from the obvious, "difference between 15 and 17" body, it's clear that this year his body is more streamlined from being on the swim team this year and he's solid, not just bulky, muscle. Proud of him and all of the other kids at this year's tri!
Looking forward to next year's event already!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
kids tri practice
took a few kids out practicing for the kids triathlon this weekend...
Carlos (first time on a bike really... the previous two practices of biking and running he'd just wanted to run), Lindsey (borrowing a killer bike from one of her dad's friends!), Paul (aubree's brother and kids tri camp participant!), and Jr.
good times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)