Rev3 Williamsburg... Why YOU should race Rev3!!

Rev3 Rocks... and PR, BABY!!

 I had an amazing race in Williamsburg!!!  The last time I raced the 70.3 distance was Ironman Raleigh

Running is fun?

70.3 and it was a terrible day!  (Well, not terrible in the fact that I was able to get out there and race, but terrible in that I walked most of the half marathon.)  I finished with a time of 6:36:change.  (I'm not looking up the exact time, just know that it was respectively in that ball park.)  I completed Williamsburg in 5:07:23!!  I ran the entire half marathon except the part where my left hamstring completely cramped up.  It was simply a great day for me all around!

Trepidation

Swim Start

The most daunting portion of a triathlon for most people is the swim.  We all love to bike and run, yet we seem to slog through our swim workouts.  Swimming can be a tedious endeavor.

 Rev3 Team was front and center at the swim practice handing out samples or Triswim, Foggies and spraying folks who were practicing in a wetsuit with Trislide.  (These are all fantastic products created specifically for swimmers and triathletes by SBR Sports, INC.)

Mr. Opdyke with Team Rev3 

The big question on each participants mind was whether or not the swim would be wetsuit legal.  The Rev3 race director Eric Opdyke was readily on hand answering each nervous athlete's question before the pre-race meeting.  Jonathan Williamson, the swim coordinator and jack of all trades, was on hand giving the water temperature updates and reassuring athletes that they could race in a wetsuit if they wished, but the points and placing would be nullified due to USAT wetsuit rules.  Eric and Jonathan also announced that there would be an open water swim clinic for those who wished to attend during the swim practice.

Having the race director, swim coordinator and Team Rev3 on hand created an incredible sense of ease for nervous athletes with pre-race jitters.

Expo-losion

Sean English

No one throws a party like Rev3.  Sean English and Stu Stacy were both rocking the mics with constant updates about race details and the music was pumping throughout the expo creating a party atmosphere.

The Rev3 Adventure team had both an adult's adventure race and family adventure race taking place.  Kids were racing Trykes and athletes were milling around the Rev3 MultiSport Store.  (If you forget anything for race day Hannah Heisler has got you covered!  You can even pick up some sweet Rev3 Water Bottles.  Those things were clutch on the 56 mile bike!!)

Sometimes the most difficult park of a larger race is packet picket up.  Not Rev3!!  You grab your packet and its on to get your chip.  Tim and Lisa take you through the computer timing sign in in about thirty seconds and Viola!! your registered and race ready!

Oh, and did I mention the HUMONGOUS HDTV at the expo??  People can see past race footage, interviews with pros who have raced previous Rev3 events and interviews with people just like you and me!

Race Day

Yes, we all know that race day a triathlete wakes up SUPER EARLY... I'm talking 3:30am after having gone to bed around 9/10pm, if you could actually sleep!!)  

Rev3 staffers were on hand to help sleepy-eyed athletes find their areas in T2.  Ashley Quinn was

The Best Staff in the Business!!

escorting groggy and nervous athletes towards the charter buses that carried them to T1 and swim start.  She even held a bus so that friends could ride together.  Nothing is more pleasant in the morning than seeing Ashley and her awesome smile greeting you!  (Quick plug, if you are thinking about racing Cedar Point and your child enjoys triathlon, Ashley has organized a Revvie... Knoxville was a huge success, this girl knows what's up!!)

The busses brought athletes to T2 and Sean "The Voice" English was keeping the vibe light and giving constant swim updates as athletes prepped their bikes. Thanks to Fat Frogs Bikes for being on hand for last minute mechanical issues!  

At go time, Sean led the athletes in a moment of reflection, and respectfully stated he understood that folks might be of different faiths, but it is important to reflect on what we are able to do.  The anthem was sung.  (This was a highlight for me because I was able to blend two of my passions in one day.  I sang the anthem and raced!)

The bike course was well-serviced with incredibly pumped volunteers.  I know "Bahston" Bob and Tracy had something to do with the festivities and cheerfulness of these awesome volunteers.

Perhaps the most mundane part of the race could have been the run.  When I looked at it online it was simply 5K loop that the 70.3 athletes would complete four times.  One would think this might get a little boring!  It was far from it.  Each time spectators and families were cheering you on with new signs and Sean English was updating the crowd and cheering on athletes the entire time!  (The man spoke for nearly 72 hours straight!)  

And the pinnacle of the entire experience... YOU, the athlete, can run across the finish line with your entire family... and wait for it... you get the Finisher Photo FOR FREE!!!

One More Thing...

Glow Runs!!  Rev3 Glow Run two days before the race!!  The community comes out and there is a 1 mile or 5K option.  It is fantastic!!

Final Finisher Celebration!

Oh, and the Final Finisher Celebration!  The Final Finisher at each race has his/her picture at the finish line with the entire Rev3 Staff and Team!  Sean cues up some spectacular music as he/she is escorted by the Sweepers to a BLOCK PARTY!!

The experience at a Rev3 event is unparalleled!  It is fun for the whole family!  So if you are on the fence about a destination race this summer, sign up for a Rev3 event!  (If you do two or more you might even qualify for Knoxville Championship in 2015!!)  If you comment on this blog, like/comment on Facebook, retweet or tweet to me I might even throw in something that will sweeten the registration deal if you're on the fence.

Come and #rocktherevolution!!

PR in the books!!

Old Dreams and New Beginnings

Andy and I after HPU Ceremony

I have been in the field of education for over ten years.  Last year, I received my Masters in Educational Leadership from High Point University.  I became a licensed principal upon graduation.  Last summer was spent as an administrator of the Guilford County Summer Arts Institute (SAI).  This program is an amazing summer experience where students are immersed in an area of visual or performing arts.  It truly was and continues to be an authentic educational experience for every student who is chosen and participates.  My hats off to Superintendent Green and Arts Coordinator Nathan Street for advocating for it during the first roll out of the GCS Strategic Plan.

Aside from working with SAI, I had begun to apply for administrative positions within GCS and throughout the greater Triangle and Triad of NC.  There were a few interviews with amazing "break up" letters; as I started calling them.  There were some interviews with no responses at all, and then there were simply no responses to the emails, resumes and phone calls made.  This was extremely disheartening!  August began and Cross Country season ramped up and I went back to "The Ranch", a term we use when referencing Southwest Guilford High School.  I worked alongside Coach Boulton, Coach Brown and Coach Johnson.  I ran with the kids and Coach Boulton gave me more and more freedom in the creating of workouts for the team, especially our "A" runners.  I coached Cross Country not to add to my paycheck because I wasn't receiving any pay for it, but simply because I love running and helping others develop as runners.

This coaching experience led to a greater relationship with the High Point Off'n Running/Fleet Feet Sports Store.  I started a training group out of that store now known as the "Funner Runners"; Funner Runners 3 starts July 21st at the store and please come and join us as we target a 10K and/or Half Marathon!!  This relationship with the store and its owner John Dewey and newly minted General Manager, also one of my best friends, Michael Vance led to more responsibility at the store such as helping to plan Pub Run nights and working with people through other programs in meeting their running goals.  Something was starting that wasn't focused within the school.

School started and the training group was wrapping up.  I was ready to attack the new school year and
hopefully produce another musical.  Musicals, acting in them and directing them, are definitely one of my passions.  Unfortunately, there was to be no musical this year due to scheduling conflicts and lack of funding.  Class sizes at the beginning level of theatre were reaching the high thirties and I was struggling to manage the immense diversity within the class.  There would be students who were considered "Gifted and Talented" with students who had an IEP over a mile long.  I do not fault the school for this scheduling nightmare because they were and still are under enormous pressure of scheduling students in tested classes.  The school was also faced with a scheduling nightmare due to the fact that despite claims from the NCGA, the budget for education had been greatly reduced and we lost a teacher in the middle of the semester because we were nineteen students under our projected numbers.  The teacher was moved schools and the students were jumbled into other classes.  How is that fair to the students, teacher and school??  We were continually asked to do more with less and at our beginning of the year meeting all our principal could do was shake his head about the deep cuts and new regulations placed on education.

Simply put, during my tenure at SWGHS, the number of tested subjects went from five to three to over ten.  The Common Core had been implemented and it was a full court press come testing time.  This year alone students were in testing for over twenty days of the school year.  How is authentic learning taking place when students are constantly being tested in the name of "accountability"?  I began to feel as if I wasn't truly teaching anymore, but merely holding court and keeping a space for students.  Do not misunderstand me, I love teaching theatre and helping a student see how theatre can help them in the 21st Century, but with over thirty students in a class it was increasingly difficult and I noticed that I was barely able to keep calm.  It was time for a change, the only issue is I had no idea what the change would be!

The Snow came down in January, February and March.  I approached Mike about possibly increasing my responsibilities with the shop.  The Rev3 Team Summit had just ended and I had met some of the most amazing and inspiring people EVER!!  (As Dawn Davis calls them, "My People".)  Dewey asked me to come in and talk about what I could bring to the shop.  It was a great discussion and his energy was and is amazing!  I left the meeting buzzing.  I had no clue what it could lead to, but it was simply exciting talking to Dewey about possibilities.  About a month later, Dewey emailed a proposal to be the manager of the High Point OnR/Fleet Feet store.  This was interesting and an unknown.  I had worked in a bike shop, managed an Abercrombie, but this was something new.  I wasn't sure at first because ten years of my life had been in the classroom; I was a freaking Teaching Fellow!  I had been pursuing administrative positions to no avail, I had just recently been announced as a member of Team Rev3.  (Still one of the coolest things to date!!), was I ready to jump ship??

The next few weeks were spent talking with my parents, Mike, Jeremy and a few other trusted friends and advisors.  Ultimately, my mother stated (paraphrased), "You love triathlon.  This is a great opportunity.  Education in NC is really going no where.  Why not?!?"  Dewey had created a plan where I would be easing into the position by working one day a week at the Greensboro shop.  There I learned to fit people for shoes as well as find the appropriate apparel and for the most part customers were and continue to be incredibly gracious. 

Rev3 Williamsburg Finish

Who knows if I will ever return to education.  (I even recently cancelled my NCAE membership which was a huge step because I have been a local Association Representative, served on the local board and served on the state level Board of Directors.)  All I can for now is that I will work to create an amazing atmosphere at the High Point Fleet Feet and represent Rev3 to the best of my ability at their races and other locally produced races.  I am thankful to all my mentors who worked with me and helped me become an accomplished educator.  I will treasure those experiences and I WILL miss the students who I have taught and directed over the past ten years.  Leaving what is often viewed as a calling can be a difficult choice, but we all develop many passions throughout our lives and how often do we truly get to indulge them?  One of my favorite singer/songwriters David Lamotte has a lyric in the chorus of his song Time: "There's no time like the present.  There's no present like time."  With the volley of attacks on public education, a stagnant salary schedule and the welcoming embrace of the running and triathlon community locally and nationally it seems that time is offering me the present and I must do as the great teacher, John Keating from the movie Dead Poets Society, told his students to do on his first day, "Carpe Diem!"