IronKids has announced that Team Winter will be one of their two official charities for the 2010 triathlon season. Team Winter will be teaming up with Iron Andy, the other charity, to offer kids an opportunity to fundraise for our cause or encourage them to race for a cause near and dear to them.
In addition, Winter has the great honor of being an ambassador for IronKids. She hopes to encourage kids to lead an active lifestyle and hope to slow down the escalating crisis of childhood obesity over the next several years. She wants to serve as a role model to other kids showing them that anything is possible, even as a kid. She hopes to grow the numbers of kids involved in the IronKids series over this next year. This series exposes kids to a great sport that combines the activities they already do as a kid (swim, bike, run). Winter will be traveling to many of the events not only to bring awareness to my charity but to help out kids and families that may be new to triathlon.
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[caption id="attachment_451" align="alignleft" width="201" caption="Humboldt Redwoods"]
[/caption] My fall running season had many great highlights. I had some unfinished business in the Redwoods of Northern California. Last year at the ½ marathon, I realized after crossing the finish line I was a mere 12 seconds from the 12 and under course record. This year I went back with one goal in mind, to not just beat the record, but to put a significant dent in the record. My coach, Bob Williams, told me to just beat the record by a little and save up for the next day. I had a qualifying 3000m race the very next day for middles school x-country. I would need to place in the top 7 of that event to go on to All-City Championships.
It sounded like a reasonable plan until I got out there on the Humboldt Redwoods ½ marathon course. My legs felt great, the pace was easy, so I was back to my original plan. I crossed the finish line in 1:40:40. A new PR and a new course record, beating the course record set back in 1988 by 11 minutes and 11 seconds- fitting for an 11 year-old. I am not done with the Redwoods yet though. It is a very magical place and I love to run there. But more so, I love to just run and play and hike through the groves of the Redwoods. Next year I will go back to break the 12 and under course record in the 5k. Oh, and yes, the very next day I did win the 3000 m middle school event showing my coach that maybe the youth don’t have quite the recovery issues as adults. I went on to be the All-City x- country Champion for Middle School several weeks later.
Junior Olympic x-country racing culminated in Hoover, Alabama this year. I was proud to be part of a great team this year, Bowerman Athletic Club. This is Nike’s youth x-country team and they have a lot of great athletes and coaches. I managed to take 48th at Nationals in the 3000m. I raced against some amazingly fast girls. Even more amazing, therewas only a minute from first place to my 48th place finish. That means almost every second a girl was crossing the finish line.
With x-country now done, my coach still has me running around 25 miles a week to keep my base and I hop on my compu-trainer 2-3 days a week. Swimming is still 4 days a week with my local swim team. Every weekend is now full of snow. I am thrilled to be back in the mountains racing downhill for another great season. I will spend the next two months focusing on my Winter sport.
My mantle looks bare where I keep my winnings. Right before Christmas I sent out my last two first place trophies. They made very unique x-mas gifts for two people. One gentlemen said it was probably one of the best gifts he had received in 44 years for x-mas. My National Championship trophy will now be at the Prostate Cancer Foundation. I chose to give that special trophy to Mr. Milken. He is not only a prostate cancer survivor, but runs the Prostate Cancer Foundation to help find cures for prostate cancer. I could think of no better person to give my National Title trophy to. I look forward to the 2011 season and have lots in store for Team Winter.Happy New Year!
Winter
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