Sports Buzz
Congratulations to Bethel Quarterback Joe Piatnik, WFSB’s Friday Night Athlete of the Week!
DEC 1, 2012
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Congratulations to Bethel Quarterback Joe Piatnik, WFSB’s Friday Night Athlete of the Week!
Bethel High School quarterback Joe Piatnik, BHS ’14, won WFSB’s Athlete of the Week. Photo contributed.
The Bethel High School Wildcats Football Team has something to be proud of this season! Their own quarterback, Joe Piatnik, was named WFSB’s Friday Night Athlete of the Week for Week 11! Joe had 249 rushing, 3 rushing touchdowns and 3 touchdown passes. Joe, junior at BHS, received a “Property of Friday Night Football” t-shirt and a caricature of himself drawn by artist Bob Domfried.
Click here for Joe’s stats. The BHS football team is currently 4-6-0 and #78 according to Max Preps.
Click here for WFSB video.
WFSB Nominates Bethel Quarterback Joe Piatnik for Friday Night Football Athlete of The Week
NOV 26, 2012
Posted by Bethel Buzz
WFSB Nominates Bethel Quarterback Joe Piatnik for Friday Night Football Athlete of The Week
Photo: WFSB
Bethel Quarterback Joe Piatnik has been nominated by WFSB News Channel 3 for the Friday Night Football Athlete of The Week. Joe had 249 yards rushing, 3 rushing touchdowns and 3 touchdown passes. Click here to vote.
From the BHS School Email Alert:
Bethel Quarterback Joe Piatnik has been nominated in WFSB’s statewide poll for FNF Athlete of The Week.
Please vote for Bethel’s Quaterback Joe Piatnik at WFSB.COM through Friday afternoon.
Click on Sports and Friday Night Football.
The poll has just been posted online:
http://www.wfsb.com/category/211206/friday-night-football
The winner will be announced on Friday’s 6pm newscast then again on the 11:15pm FNF show.
Also, Park & Rec. HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL LEAGUE IS BACK!!
THE LEAGUE IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN GRADES 9-12. See website for details.
Bethel Mom & Fitness Guru Helps Locals Reach Their Goals
NOV 13, 2012
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Bethel Mom & Fitness Guru Helps Locals Reach Their Goals
Personal Trainer Rachel Brown, owner of Fitness By Rachel. Photo credit: Chris Brown
Bethel mom and fitness guru Rachel Brown takes her workouts seriously and wants her clients to do the same. Motivated by a love of helping people reach their goals, Rachel uses whatever it takes to aid her clients in accomplishing what they set out to do.
Originally from Manhattan, Rachel moved to Bethel 14 years ago after working in advertising for over 10 years. “I knew after I had kids that I didn’t want to go back to that life,” she said.
“It was a way to de-stress from being a new mom with kids 15 months apart,” Rachel said. “Once the kids were in school full-time, I sat at home and thought, ‘Alright, now what?’”
Taking kickboxing for a year got her into prime shape and Rachel soon began teaching the classes at the studio where she first began. Teaching everything from for cardio classes and kickboxing for three years, and branching out to teach that and other style fitness classes in the area, Rachel realized that she had what it takes to start her own business, Fitness By Rachel.
“I got my certification in Personal Fitness Training 5 years ago. I have since added certifications in Kid and Teen Fitness, Sports Nutrition, and more,” she stated. Getting recertified each year enables Rachel to stay current on the latest fitness trends and information she can bring back to her clients.
So what sets Rachel apart from the rest of the personal trainers out there? She explained it this way: “I’m not affiliated with a gym, don’t need a gym membership to train with me. I try to make it fun and functional so you can work out wherever you are. If you have equipment or if you don’t, it doesn’t matter.”
“What I do is more of a supplement to most people’s workouts. People don’t use it as a ‘one an only.’ I push people to do what they would not be comfortable to do on their own, introduce new and different things, weights, bars, balls, machines, bands, and other things they might not do on their own,” she said.
Rachel inspires her clients by making their workouts customized. She trains each person differently because she says everyone needs something different.
“My clients range in age from their from their teens to their 70s. If I have a lazy teenager, we work through it to find ways to motivate them. I play a lot of different roles. I like to help connect what in their life is affecting or inhibiting their success and work through it find ways to be successful and reach goals they want to reach.”
Rachel said it gives her a sense of accomplishment to help her clients feel proud of what they’re doing.
“There’s a certain feeling you have at the end of the day when you accomplish all the things you set out to accomplish. There’s an inner peace and that’s what we’re looking to achieve it s not just about the workout- it makes you motivated and less inclined to do things that are harmful to yourself. There’s a certain satisfaction to checking things off your list.”
Fitness By Rachel operates out of her own home studio or she can come to you. Rachel will customize each workout with the client in mind down to every last detail, even going as far as customizing playlists to match her clients’ perfect workout speed.
By keeping in mind that each of her clients is a unique individual with different ways they are motivated, Rachel helps them not only to lose weight and get in shape, but also to feel good about themselves as they continue on their journey.
“It’s about getting your brain wrapped around it and appreciating your accomplishments and celebrating them and being proud of them.”
For more information about Fitness By Rachel please visit her here:
Website link— Fitness By Rachel
Facebook link—> Fitness By Rachel
Twitter link —> @rachelsgym
Email Rachel@fitnessbyrachel.com
Phone #: 203-943-2584
Be sure to look for Rachel’s “Friday Fitness Tip of the Week.”
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Bethel Youth Wrestling Club Season begins November 5th 2012
Bethel Youth Wrestling Club Season begins November 5th 2012 and runs thru mid April 2013. If your fall sport runs long and you can’t start on the first day of practice, you can join the team when your sport season ends! There are 2 practices per week for Elementary, 3 for Middle School, from 6-8 p.m. in the BHS Wrestling Room. There is 1 match per week, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Bethel Municipal Center or nearby township. This is for K thru 8th grade and all are welcome! WRESTLING SHOES & HEAD GEAR REQUIRED. Cost $175 (family max $300) Great Off-season conditioning for Football, Lacrosse, Soccer and Baseball. For more info and to register for the upcoming season log onto their website: www.BethelYouthWrestlingClub.com
John Demille 47th Annual Firecracker 8K Road Race & Walk to Benefit Scotty Fund & ProAccess
Posted by Bethel Buzz
John Demille 47th annual Firecracker 8K Road Race & Walk to Benefit Scotty Fund & ProAccess
The following information is from Fast Track Timing–
Event Details:
JOHN DEMILLE 47th ANNUAL FIRECRACKER
8K ROAD RACE &WALK
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4th 2012
SPONSORED BY: BETHEL PARKS & RECREATION
ALL RACE PROCEEDS GO TO: SCOTTY FUND
ALL WALK PROCEEDS GO TO: PRO ACCESS, Bethel’s Teen Center
TIME:
8:00 a.m. Kids Mini Cracker Races: 3-10 years old
LOCATION:
Route 302, P.T. Barnum Square
9:00 a.m. 8K Road Race and 2 Mile Walk
Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center
1 School Street, Bethel, CT 0680
ENTRY FEE: Kids Mini Cracker $5.00
Road Race & Walk Pre-Registered $20.00, after June 22nd through race day $25.00
60+ Club $15.00
Registration and Race Packet available at the Bethel Parks & Rec. office 7/2 & 7/3 till 6:00 p.m.
AMENITIES:
Tech Shirt and Race packets to first 400 ‘Pre-registered’ runners or walkers.
T-shirts to first 100 Mini Cracker runners.
*Mini Cracker shirt sizes are limited and will be allotted on a first come first serve basis, therefore for “Mini Cracker” only, shirt sizes are not guaranteed.
$200.00 Cash Prize to the first place male and first place female to complete the road race.
$100.00 Cash Prize to the second place male and second place female to complete the road race.
$50.00 Cash Prize to the third place male and third place female to complete the road race.
Running Sneakers to the first Bethel male & first Bethel female to complete the road race.
Woodbridge Running Company/Brookfield gift certificate to the top finishers in each category.
AWARDS:
Will be given to top three male and female runners in each division.
10 & under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
Chip timing and split time, with finish time posted at the end of road race and walk by Fast Track Timing, LLC.
Water stations and refreshments will be available to all participants.
Musical Entertainment!
Ralph J. DeSantis Memorial Golf Tournament Scheduled for Monday June 25
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Bethel High School
300 Whittlesey Drive
Bethel, CT 06801
203-794-8600 x428
BHS Swim Team Collects First Win
Posted by Bethel Buzz
BETHEL SWIM TEAM COLLECTS FIRST WIN ~ By Robert Rogers
In a very exciting meet, the Bethel Swim team scored a 96-90 win over Platt/Maloney. Despite over a two hour bus ride which found them a little lost, BHS collected their first win of the season and their first road win since 2008. The “Boys” Bethel Swim team is the most unique team in the state, fielding a majority of girls on their roster for their ninth consecutive year and this meet challenged Bethel’s 9 boys and 28 girls versus the 35 boys of the Meriden Co-Op team.
Highlights in the first half events saw state qualifier sophomore Tucker Bjornson (200 Free) and freshman star Olivia Wootton (200IM) collecting first places. Sarah Whalen (200IM) and Kevin Gallagher (50 Free) collected seconds and Katie Bozzuti, Aiden Ford, Juliana Bell, James Canfield, Chris Wong and Cara Bernardo also collected points. Alex Nackid and Julia Morton took 3rd and 4th in diving.
Bethel was down 53-41 at the half, but a big comeback was planned in Bethel’s lineup. Gallagher and Canfield took 1st and 2nd in the 100 Free and the 500 Free trios of Whalen, Bozzuti and Molly Nichols came up huge with a 2-3-4 finish.
The next two events would be Bethel’s best events; taking 1st in the 200 Free Relay with (Wong, Bjornson, Canfield and Gallagher) and the 100 Back with a 1-2-4 with Bjornson winning by almost half pool length, followed by Wootton and Ford. Bethel took an 80-76 lead and found themselves trying to hold off an opponent for the first time in the season.
The 100 Breast split points with Molly Nichols, Johnny Esposito and Davidson Abiali taking a 2-3-5 places, leaving the last event; 400 Free Relay; to decide the winner. The BHS team of Wootton, Gallagher, Canfield and Bjornson won by over a pool length with their season fastest of 3:54.01.
BHS is now 1-7 and faces last year’s state champions Pomperaug this Tuesday at WCSU at 4pm.
Bethel High School Sports Teams Fight Back Against Cancer
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Bethel High School Sports Teams Fight Back Against Cancer
The following press relase was sent from Relay For Life Bethel representative Kelly Stewart–
Bethel high school basketball coaches Ray Turek and Christin Morgatto are getting their teams involved in the fight against cancer by hosting Coaches vs. Cancer events. Coaches vs. Cancer is an initiative started by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to benefit the American Cancer Society. The program empowers coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer and uses the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness through year-round fundraising activities, and advocacy programs.
Coach Morgatto’s girls team will be hosting their Coaches vs. Cancer event on Friday, February 10 – which will also be the night they honor their senior players.
Coach Morgatto said, “We have lots of activities planned for the evening . It will be a very special night.”
The team will be wearing pink t-shirts and have a special pink bake sale to benefit the American Cancer Society. There will be a half-time raffle and the team will also be selling Wall of Hope cards in honor/memory of those who have battled cancer.
Seniors Casey Oberhammer, Autumn Sorice and Stephanie Forese will be honored at the game and will also be spokespersons at half-time.
The boys team, coached by Ray Turek will host their Coaches vs. Cancer event on Friday, February 3. They will also be selling the Wall of Hope cards and will have a half-time raffle as well. Coach Turek said the team will be sporting pink laces in honor of the cause.
The basketball teams join other Bethel sports teams who have hosted fundraising events for the American Cancer Society. Coach Katie McGown and the field hockey team , Coach Mitch Trainor, Coach Alicia Trinklein and the girls soccer team and Coach Jason Gill and the football team all hosted great events in the fall.
Kelly Stewart, the American Cancer Society’s Coordinator for the Coaches vs. Cancer program and a Bethel resident, said she is very proud of Bethel High School’s participation. “When you see this many teams at one school joining in the fight against cancer, it says a lot about the community you live in.”
Please come to the games and support the teams and the fight against cancer.
Bethel Boys – Friday, Feb. 3 vs. Brookfield, BHS gym 7:00pm
Bethel Girls – Friday, Feb. 10 vs. Stratford, BHS gym 7:00 pm
Bethel Wife & Mom Runs Across America
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Laura said she connected with the Rev 3 group of athletes through their blogs and was inspired by what they were doing so she decided to apply to join the team and was selected to be on the team. “We are a diverse group of people selected not for our athletic prowess and podium finishes, but for our character and social media presence,” she said.
Interview With a Veteran: Memorial Day Road Race
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Interview With a Veteran: Memorial Day Road Race
Editor’s Note: The following is a brief interview with Bethel resident and Veteran Daniel R. Gaita who recently announced plans were finalized for a 5K in Bethel on May 19, 2012. Gaita served from 1992-1996 in Bosnia, Somalia and Haiti.
“BB” (Bethel Buzz) interviews “DG” Dan Gaita.
BB: What does this race mean to you personally?
DG: As a veteran this event hits home, but especially when I consider that one of my uncles was killed in the Pacific during World War II by a Japanese kamikaze fighter plane and my Grandfather is fortunate enough to be with us after nearly being killed by a grenade in WWII in Europe. I consider myself both blessed with this heritage yet indebted to all those that paid the ultimate sacrifice through their heroism and bravery in defense of our Nation.
BB: What was the biggest challenge in planning this event?
DG: So far the biggest challenge is ensuring the race route, venue, date and time obtained all required local and state approvals. It is a multi-step process that requires all agencies be on board. A big thanks is in order to Bethel Police Captain Robert Cedergren who has proven instrumental throughout this process. Without his support and leadership, this event would never have gotten off the ground. Also, the Bethel Police Commission deserves credit for moving the approvals along too. They have also been very supportive.
BB: What do you hope this race will accomplish on a personal and town-wide level?
DG: Since the event coincides with Bethel’s annual Memorial Day Parade Weekend, we want it to broaden local awareness of the sacrifices endured by generations of brave men and women that left home to protect us and never got a chance to reap the benefits of their personal and ultimate sacrifices. That is why there will be no water stations throughout the race, and no prizes at the end. That is also why we have created a course that forces runners to climb to the top of Hoyts Hill and Governors Lane. That is also why each runner will be handed a POW/MIA flag at the peak of the first mile hill climb which they will proudly carry for the duration of the race. It is one thing to “think” about sacrifice, but it is an entirely different animal to actually endure it.
Editor’s note: The following is a press release from Dan Gaita that details more information about the race—
Bethel veterans plan emotional 5k tribute run
Bethel, CT, Jan 3, 2012: Bethel’s Joseph W. Tarrant, Jr. American Legion Memorial Post 100 has finalized plans to host its inaugural 5K War Memorial Tribute Run in honor of our nations fallen war heroes. The event is scheduled to start at 8am, Saturday May 19th 2012 at the Bethel Municipal Center.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Legion Scholarship Fund which aids veterans and children of veterans through individually awarded scholarships to offset the cost of higher education, books, supplies, and institutional fees.
The course, which recently received approval through the Bethel Police Commission, will begin with a ceremonial bugle playing of Taps followed by a firing squad start then take participants pass the Bethel V.F.W Hall on Main Street before sending them for a grueling “tribute” first mile hill climb up Hoyts Hill and Governors Lane where each runner will be given a grave site sized P.O.W./M.I.A. Flag.
Runners will continue the duration of the race with flag in hand, descending back down the hill, pass the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on South Street and pass the Bethel American Legion on Elizabeth St. before finishing on School Street across from the Veterans Monument adjacent to the Municipal flag pole.
What makes this event so special says event coordinator Dan Gaita, is that no prizes will be awarded and there will be no water stations throughout the race until the finish line. “This is an event to honor those that died defending our freedom. It’s not about who wins or about getting a prize. Those brave men and women died for all of us, they got no prize but we have our freedom because of them.” Said Gaita, who also serves as the Veterans Service Officer at the Bethel American Legion Post 100.
The primary goal of this event is to build the American Legion Post 100 Scholarship Fund for veterans and their children while simultaneously paying tribute to our fallen war heroes.
The event also occurs the day before Bethel’s annual Memorial Day Parade.
Those interested in participating can register online by visiting: http://bethelamericanlegion.com/5k.htm The 5k will also be one of the least expensive in the area with registration only $15.
Businesses and individuals that may be unable to run but would still like to support this event can also do so by visiting the link above.
Dreadlock Mom Runs For Her Life in NYC Marathon
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Dreadlock Mom Runs For Her Life in NYC Marathon
Thirty-six-year-old Heather Roles has been to hell and back. On Sunday, November 6, the former Bethelite and single mom will run in the New York City Marathon, along with 47,000 runners. Coming back from a life of drug addiction and homelessness, Heather now lives a healthy lifestyle and is prepared to run the 26.2-mile course to reclaim her health and her life.
Heather’s story is intense, and one she will be sharing on live T.V. on Sunday morning on NBC. The media group will interview Heather during Wave 1 of the race, at about 11:30 a.m., just as she runs past the 14-mile marker. She has come a long way from just six years ago when she was living out of her car with a three-year-old son in tow. Running, she said, is the saving grace she needed to get her back on her feet again and headed along the right path.
“I used to set Elijah up in a blanket with a matchbox car at the Immaculate High School track and I could not even make it once around. It took months to run my first mile. I began meeting folks from the running community who continue to show me an amazing amount of support. I then resumed work at the Sesame Seed where I have been on and off for 20 years. They have been another huge source of support; my co-workers as well as the customers,” Heather said Saturday.
“I had a rough road, one that I am very used to. I have battled serious addictions my whole life.”
Regarding her recovery Heather said: “I began to reclaim myself following the Grateful Dead 18 times across the country. I was in every state but North Dakota. It was the beginning of finding the community I needed.”
After quitting a heavy smoking habit Heather found out she has Stage-4 liver disease. She has set up her own website and is currently in the process of raising funds to donate to The Liver Foundation, a charity near and dear to her heart. Click here to donate.
“This is the last marathon I am running for me. I know there are millions of people who need a new liver now, as I will in the near future. That’s why the next, and all the future events, will be for The Liver Foundation. I will need a new liver eventually. My health right now is fantastic, I compete in triathlons all summer and have found distance running to be the peace I need.”
Besides her son, Heather’s motivation, she said, is: “Where I came from and where I want to go!”
For more information about the NYC Marathon, click here.
For more information on The Liver Foundation, click here.
Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge Rescheduled For This Saturday
Posted by Bethel Buzz
Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge Rescheduled For This Saturday
The following information was submitted from Don Pavia, Council, Knights of Columbus–
Cheerleaders Organize Car Wash For BMS Student Battling Cancer
Cheerleaders Organize Car Wash For BMS Student Battling Cancer
On Sunday, September 25th, St. Mary’s School student Anastasia DeLuca, along with her cheerleading team at Champion All Stars, is holding a charity car wash. The car wash will benefit Bethel Middle School student Jaxxon Reed, who has been battling cancer.
The day after Thanksgiving in 2006, Jaxxon complained to his mother that his head was burning, according to a press release from Spirit Nationals. The next day Jaxxon was in surgery for a malignant brain tumor, Neuroblastoma. The surgery was followed my numerous rounds of chemotherapy at Yale‐New Haven Hospital. In February of 2008 medicine was approved and administered to Jaxxon. By June of 2008 Jaxxon, his mother Kim and his sister Lexxi moved into the Ronald McDonald house in New York City. Click here to article in New York Post.
Kim home-schooled both of her children at the Ronald McDonald House while Jaxxon was being treated at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center. Jaxxon continued his treatment plan until his release nearly a year later. Jaxxon is now an eighth grader living in Bethel and has been cancer-free for 3 years.
For the past 5 years, Champion All Stars of Danbury has been helping Jaxxon and his family through fundraisers and support. For the past 3 years Spirit All‐Stars of Hamden has also helped the Reeds. Together they have raised well over $20,000.
This Sunday, September 25th, Champion All Stars will hold the car wash from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Automotive, 214 Greenwood Avenue. Donations will be accepted.
For more information click here or call 798-8656.
Sports Buzz Talks On Red Sox Standings & Bethel’s Matt Barnes
Sports Buzz Talks On Red Sox Standings & Bethel’s Matt Barnes
~ By Scott Lewis
SportsBuzz is live on Thursday from 6:00-6:30 p..m. on Comcast Cable Channel 23. The show will re-air on Friday at 1:00 p.m.
We will be discussing the Red Sox slipping in the standings behind the Yankees as they deal with some nagging injuries. We will also be talking about the Red Sox signing draft pick and Bethel and UConn alumni Matt Barnes to a contract on Monday.
We will be talking about the Patriots romp over Jacksonville and Brookfield native Scott Lutrus’ performance for the Jags. The Jets loss to Houston and Rex Ryan’s over-reaction to pre-season football and the Giants losing to number one pick Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.
Also we will talk about rookie Keenan Bradley’s stunning win at the PGA Championship and Tiger Woods complete collapse.
As always, we welcome callers during the live show at 203 792 4101.
And the show can be seen with all previous shows at:
http://sportsbuzzthefanaticalview.blogspot.com/
Sports Buzz is LIVE Thursday! ~ By Scott Lewis
Sports Buzz will be live this week, on Thursday, from 6:00 to 6:30 on Comcast Cable Channel 23.
We will be wrapping up the Westerners season, as they fell to fourth place in the final week and then lost a tough three game series against the number one seed Keene in the first round of the playoffs to end their season.
We will also be talking pro baseball, with the Red Sox maintaining first place over the Yankees and the Mets treading water since the trade deadline. Also we will touch on Joel Barlow alumni, pitcher Chad Morton attempting to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates in playoff contention.
We will finally be talking about football now that the lockout is lifted. The Patriots and the Jets have both been making big roster moves and the Giants have had some controversy in training camp.
We may find some other things to talk about too. We always welcome callers to chime in on any topic. Call in live at (203) 792-4101.
The show will re-air on Friday at noon. All Sports Buzz shows can be seen online at by clicking here.
To follow Sports Buzz on Facebook for regular headlines, click here.
Bethel Man Completes Iron Man at Lake Placid
Iron Man Lake Placid: Getting there from Bethel, CT. ~ By Kevin Crowell
Editor’s Note: Kevin could not run the last 4 months of his training due to a stress fracture. The fact that he qualified, competed and finished is a huge accomplishment and something to be very proud of. Kudos to Kevin from Bethel Buzz!
WRITTEN BY: KEVIN CROWELL
A little over 43 years ago, 12 athletes completed the first ever Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. On Sunday, July 24 2011, 12 athletes from Bethel Cycle Sport completed Ironman Lake Placid (IMLP), one of 26 Ironman events currently occurring around the world.
For those less familiar with this sport, the term triathlon refers to the specific combination of swim, bike and run. The Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike and full 26.2 mile marathon, for a total of 140.6 miles.
One obvious question many people have is “why?” The answer to this is as varied as the competitors, but in general it typically has to do with seeking a difficult challenge or attempting to find and test the limits of one’s own endurance.
Having just completed my first Ironman I now have a very keen sense of what is required to prepare for such an event. It boils down to two components: perseverance and support. Clearly there is a significant amount of support derived from one’s family, as training takes a lot of time. It would be extremely difficult to go through the seemingly endless hours and miles of training alone and with no other external support. Here I would identify three main categories of support: coaching/planning, training support and medical/nutritional support.
Coaching support can range from an athlete developing their own training plan, to purchasing pre-developed plans, to enlisting a specific coach that adapts to the changing needs of the athlete. I enlisted the services of a local coach from Monroe, Eric Hodska, an experienced athlete, coach and personal trainer with 20 years of experience.
Having the plan is one thing, but executing it is another. Here it was essential to have a variety of training support to rely on. Bethel Cycle Club is one of the largest in the Northeast and it is no problem to find one or more training partners for just about any ride one needs to do. Every triathlete needs to have access to a great bike shop and I am only a 5 minute drive from one of the best, Bethel Cycle.
Training support also applies very specifically to swimming, the one discipline of triathlon that many find most challenging. Not only do you need to have regular access to a swimming pool, it is also helpful to have access to other athletes for workouts and advice. On this front I am again very fortunate to have the Western CT YMCA so close to home. Not only are there 2 pools (25 yard indoor pool and 50 meter outdoor pool) but there is a large number of triathlete swimmers who frequent the pool.
Now let me touch on the medical side of the equation. It is not uncommon to develop mild or serious injuries while training. I was able to take advantage of exceptional services within minutes of my home. This included nutrition support from Christine Gallichotte in Brookfield, chiropractic/ART support from Gene Zeitler in Newtown and Ridgefield and the excellent physicians at Danbury Orthopedic as I worked through a stress fracture.
Race week was hectic with all of us making our way to Lake Placid on Wednesday or Thursday, most of us trekking our families along for support and post-race family fun. Race morning came with mixed weather news. The lake temp crept up to 77F, so it became a “wetsuit optional” swim, meaning if you wore one you would not be eligible for awards or Kona slots. For many this did not make a difference, but for those who wanted a chance at qualifying for an age group award, wetsuits were left on shore.
There are no words to describe a mass swim start with somewhere near 2,600 athletes. The Southern portion of Mirror Lake and shoreline was plastered with green and pink swim caps, with many athletes hoping not to get too beat up when the cannon sounded. I went out to the far side of the lake with Sue Fleming in the hope that it would be a bit slower and slightly less crowded. Our stronger swimmers took up position on the front line beside the course markers to make sure they had the shortest distance to cover. Within moments after the cannon sounded the lake was churning with arms and legs, everyone trying to get their own little piece of lake in which to swim.
Over the two laps each of bike and run it was pretty easy to see the Bethel Cycle athletes. It is a great feeling to be part of a team when you are doing a race of this length. You are never alone.
By the end of the day we had 12 members of the club finish the race, with a mix of finish times including some in the top 10 and 20 in their age groups. Our team included experienced Ironman veterans such as Tim Inall and Mike Koron, plus several first-timers (Sue Fleming, Terry Rychlik and myself). We had two athletes break 11 hours (Tim and Mike Biehl), one with the fastest AG bike split (Morgan Cotter) and one smoking marathon (3:38 by Mike Biehl).
Despite my interest in my own time and performance, I was more interested to hear how the other BC athletes fared. After seeing them all day on the course it was great to catch up with them after the race to hear how their days went. To see my friends and teammates succeed was truly the race result to celebrate.
Patriots on Fire at Firecracker Road Race
Patriots on Fire at Firecracker Road Race ~ By Wendy Mitchell
Three hundred thirty-four contestants began their Fourth of July Monday morning by running at the 46th annual John Demille Firecracker 8K road race. The race began at P.T. Barnum Square and is a fundraiser for The Scotty Fund, a local charity that helps families with children who have life-threatening or critical illness by providing financial and family support.
The event kicked off at 8:00 a.m. with a Kid’s Mini Cracker race, followed by a Family Fun Walk at 8:30 a.m. Runners took their marks at 9:00 a.m. to trek the 8K course through downtown Bethel, following the red-white-and-blue spray-painted arrows on the roads to guide them on their race to the finish.
Newtown’s Kevin Hoyt, 21, took the top spot with a race time of 27:40.
Malika Mejdoub, 29, of Morocco, won first place in the women’s division with a race time of 29:37.
Owner of Bethel Cycle and Fitness, Greg Pelican, took third place overall with a running time of 29:40.
The race was sponsored by Bethel Parks and Rec, Dr. Stanley Kessler, Boylan Chiropractic, Proforma Design, Caraluzzi’s Market, Culligan Water, Woodbridge Running Company, Union Savings Bank, Anderson Plumbing, The Edge Performance Training, Savings Bank of Danbury, Big Y, Bethel Jaycees and Fairway Mechanical Services. All race proceeds go to benefit The Scotty Fund.
To read additional race results, click here.
Firecracker Race Will Benefit The Scotty Fund
Reposted from the Bethel Parks & Rec:
JOHN DEMILLE 46th ANNUAL FIRECRACKER 8K ROAD RACE & FUN WALK
MONDAY, JULY 4TH, 2011
SPONSORED BY: BETHEL PARKS & RECREATION
ALL RACE PROCEEDS GO TO The Scotty Fund
TIME: 8:00 A.M. Kids Mini Cracker Races: 3-10 years old 8:30 A.M. Fun Walk
9:00 A.M. Road Race 8K
LOCATION: Route 302, P.T. Barnum Square. Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center, 1 School St, Bethel, CT 06801
ENTRY FEE: Kids Mini Cracker $5.00 Road Race & Walk Pre-Registered $20.00, after June 24th through race day $25.00.
60+ Club $15.00 Registration and Race Packet available at the Bethel Parks & Rec. office 6/27 – 7/1.
AMENITIES: Tech Shirt and Race packets to first 400 ‘Pre-registered’ runners or walkers. T-shirts to first 100 Mini Cracker runners.
*Mini Cracker shirt sizes are limited and will be allotted on a first come first serve basis, therefore for “Mini Cracker” only, shirt sizes are not guaranteed.
$200.00 Cash Prize to the first place male and first place female to complete the road race. $100.00 Cash Prize to the second place male and second place female to complete the road race.
$50.00 Cash Prize to the third place male and third place female to complete the road race. Running Sneakers to the first Bethel male & first Bethel female to complete the road race. Woodbridge Running Company/Brookfield gift certificate to the top finishers in each category.
Awards given to top three male and female runners in each division. 10 & under 11-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
REGISTRATION:
Chip timing and split time, with finish time posted at the end of road race. Water stations and refreshments will be available to all participants. Musical Entertainment!
Online Registration: http://register.fasttracktiming.com Mail Application and Entry Fee to: Eileen Earle, Race Director
Bethel Parks & Recreation 203-794-8531 One School Street Bethel, CT 06801
Make checks payable to:
Bethel Parks & Recreation
—————————————– In consideration of acceptance of this entry, I, the undersigned, Intending to be legally bound, do hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, waive and release any and all rights and claims for damages I may have against any and all race sponsors, or the cities and towns in which the race is contested, their representatives, successor or assignee, for any and all injuries suffered by me in said event. I attest and verify that I am physically fit and sufficiently trained for completion of this event and a licensed Medical Doctor has verified my physical condition within the last six months. Further, I hereby grant full permission to any and all of the foregoing to use my photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, recordings, or any other record of this event for any purpose whatever without compensation or remuneration. Have a fun race!
Last Name: ________________________________________
First Name: _______________________Sex: Male/Female_____
Address: _________________________________________________City: _________________State: _______Zip _________ Phone:__________________________________ Road Race: ______ Walk:______ Kids Mini Cracker Race: ______ Running shirt: S______ M______ L______ XL ______ Age on Race Day:______________
Mini Cracker T-shirt sizes: XS (2-4)_____S (6-8) _____ M (8-10) _____ L (12-14) _____
Child’s Date of Birth:__________ How did you hear about this race? ___________________________________________________________________________ Signature: ___________________________________________________________________
Race #__________________
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