NewsIronmanlife: Gearing up for Lake Placid
Kevin Mackinnon has final look at some exciting pre-race stories
Published Saturday, July 24, 2010
Poor Michael Phelps. The guy is here to watch his sister, Hilary, race on behalf of an amazing cause - TeamCindy, which is raising money and awareness for brain aneurysm research - and he can't even walk through the expo here at Ironman Lake Placid without causing a stir.
It’s a great cause – here’s some information I found on the charity’s website:
TeamCindy honors the life of Cynthia Lynn Sherwin and promotes widespread public awareness of the dangers of a ruptured brain aneurysm - the sudden and silent killer that took her life and the lives of tens of thousands each year. Cindy was a dedicated athlete, marathoner and triathlete. She was struck down at the young age of 33 while training for her first Ironman competition, Lake Placid 2007. TeamCindy enables and encourages athletes to participate in triathlon events in Cindy's name and to raise awareness and money to continue the fight against this deadly disease through The Brain Aneurysm Foundation.
TeamCindy was founded in 2008 with one athlete who ran in Cindy’s name in the Ford Tempe Ironman. In 2009, five TeamCindy athletes participated in Ford Ironman Lake Placid. Ten TeamCindy athletes will participate in the 2010 Ford Ironman Lake Placid with other athletes scheduled to compete in the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco, the St. Anthony's Triathlon in St Petersburg, and The Boston Marathon.
TeamCindy is committed to expand throughout the US and abroad in order to fulfill its mission to raise money for research into the early detection and screening of brain aneurysms.
You can learn more about TeamCindy here
Speaking of celebrities racing for a good cause:
I wrote about Ryan Sutter a few weeks ago. (Click here.
The man we all got to know a few years ago as the one who swept Trista Rehn off her feet on the Bachelorette and then became an Ironman is back – this time raising money for a great cause, First Descents. Started by professional kayaker Brad Ludden a decade ago, the charity put over 600 young adults with cancer through the adventure kayaking program.
According to his charity website – Ryan Sutter’s 10 10 10 Challenge (101010.firstdescents.org), “By the end of 2010 Ryan Sutter will have trained for 700 hours, traveled 8500 miles, and climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest four times. He has taken on this incredible challenge all while wearing the Team FD jersey in an effort to challenge 10,000 people to give $10 in honor of First Descents' 10th year anniversary.”
Some other shout-outs:
Go Ryan Go! Another Ryan, this one Van Praet, is competing as one of five tandem riders here in Lake Placid. Van Praet has tirelessly raised money for ALS research over the years (his father died of the disease) and raced in Kona a few years ago without a guide – he’s been steadily losing his sight since birth and now has to race with a guide. Syd Trefiak will be leading Ryan through the day here tomorrow – their first Ironman together.
Pierre Lavoie – back again. For years Pierre Lavoie was a lock for a top-10 finish here in Lake Placid and there’s a good chance that the former 40-44 age-group record holder from Kona will do it again tomorrow. Lavoie also races on behalf of charity – he’s lost two children to Lactic Acidosis, and will be out on the course again tomorrow both tearing things up and raising awareness and money for a great cause.
Timex’s Keith Meyer will be out on the course tomorrow – decidedly unprepared, but no-doubt ready to have a great day. It’s always fun to see our sponsors show their commitment by taking part in our races.
I got an earful from our chief technologist here at Ironman, Travis Sitzlar, about Ironman Radio – he suggested that I get my butt in gear and record some sessions with Mr. Welch. This is especially important since we’re developing some mobile applications, in which Ironman Radio will be an option. So … we’re back. You can find this week’s version here.
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You can reach Kevin Mackinnon at kevin@ironman.comComments powered by Disqus.
