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2013 Events Opening Soon!
Greetings!
 TriColumbia is pleased to announce that the EnduraFit 2013 Ironman 70.3 EagleMan and the EagleMan USATMA Aquabike Championship will open for registration on Tuesday, October 9th at 9 am EST. Once again, the race will feature 30 Ironman Triathlon World Championship slots and 30 Lake Las Vegas 70.3 World Championship slots!
 The Athleta Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon and the Iron Girl Rocky Gap Triathlon will open for registration on November 12, 2012 at 9 am EST. These two events will join the Athleta Iron Girl Half Marathon benefiting the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center (registering now) in making up the 2013 Iron Girl Triple Crown Series. Finish ALL three events, and you will earn the coveted title of "2013 Iron Girl Triple Crown Finisher." Yours to keep will be a special 2013 Iron Girl Triple Crown medal and exclusive bragging rights! Plus all Triple Crown Iron Girls will receive a unique Triple Crown Gift mailed to them after completion of the last event!
Please note, if you were one of the first 500 women to sign up for the 2012 Iron Girl Rocky Gap Triathlon, you will receive a special invitation via email on or about November 2nd to register early for the 2013 Athleta Iron Girl Columbia and 2013 Iron Girl Rocky Gap events. Registration for our hallmark event, The 2013 Columbia Triathlon, now in its' 30th year, is open as well! Don't miss this wonderful event that brings athletes back year after year. TriColumbia is proud to be a 501c3 non-profit, making a difference for participating athletes by providing superior events and memories to last a lifetime, and by giving back to our community with support for many local and regional charities, which provide a full spectrum of services for citizens in need. Thank you for helping us achieve our mission! To register visit our website, click on your favorite TriColumbia event, and then click on the registration link. We look forward to seeing you at the start line next year! Enjoy the off season and train safely for 2013! Celebrate Life!
Robert Vigorito, Founder/CEO, USAT Certified Level 2 Race Director
Kari Ebeling, COO, USAT Certified Level 1 Race Director & The TriColumbia Team |
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2012 ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival Wrap Up
 Congratulations to all finishers at the 9th annual ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-Atlantic. The September 29th race took place on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and the weather cooperated with clear skies and moderate temperatures. Athletes enjoyed four top shelf events for all skill levels - The Ultra Distance USATMA Ultra Distance Championship, The Aquabike (long distance), The Skipjack 75.2 and the Bugeye Classic Intermediate Distance. Six hundred athletes gave it their all as they battled the wind through the spectacular Blackwater Wildlife Refuge.
31 year-old Matias Palavecino of Alexandria, VA placed first in the USAT Mid-Atlantic Ultra Championship with a time of 9:03:11. Brady Dehoust, 2011 reigning Ultra Champion and three-time ChesapeakeMan Ultra winner (2011, 2009, 2007), placed third. 44-year-old Melanie Lenahan from Clinton, NJ was the top female finisher with a time of 11:10:57, beating out her friend and competitor, 46-year-old Eve Campeau of Califon, NJ, by milliseconds. Palavecino and Lenahan each took home a cash prize of $1,000.
"I want to give a BIG thanks to TriColumbia for the memorable event," said Palavecino. "From the volunteers who kept us hydrated to the Dorchester County Police department who kept us safe, the event went off without a hitch. And the five star brunch at the awards ceremony was a great way to end the weekend. I will definitely be back next year."
We were pleased to welcome Mid-Atlantic college students from Georgetown University, the University of Maryland and The Naval Academy to the Bugeye Classic which was part of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Triathlon Conference 2012-2013 Race Series. The 2012-13 MACTC series will serve as qualification for the 2013 Collegiate Nationals in April. Teams will compete in at least two series races and the MACTC Championship at Rev3 Half Full in order to earn Nationals slots.
All funds raised by Make-A-Wish competitors will directly support granting wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions in Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. 44-year-old Mike Manatos of Bethesda, MD raced in the Bugeye Classic and raised more than $60,000 alone for the foundation.
"I was thrilled to raise over $60,000 for Make-A-Wish this year and break the $500,000 mark and 75 wishes granted over the 15 years I've been racing for Make-A-Wish," said Manatos. Although this was my first ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival, my family and I had such a great time that it will be the first of many more to come."
Registration for the 2013 ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival will open on January 14, 2013.
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TriColumbia Friend Teresa Byrnes Is Heading to Kona After a Hard-Fought and Inspiring Journey!
 Teresa's first ever triathlon was our very own Columbia Triathlon in 2001, and ever since she has been hooked on the sport. However, in the midst of training, Teresa was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer and also lost her nephew in a car accident. Despite her illness and grief, Teresa decided to compete in our Ironman 70.3 EagleMan race and set a PR! After a double mastectomy, 16 weeks of chemotherapy and 8 weeks of radiation, Teresa is now cancer free and has dedicated herself to raising funds and awareness for breast cancer. Last year, Teresa raised more than $8,000 for the MaccaNow Foundation at Ironman Arizona! Now that's inspiration!
Check out Teresa's story and wish her luck in Kona!
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Shane Lauer Is The First Athlete Affected by Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy To Complete 140.6 Mile Ultra Distance Triathlon
Shane Lauer, 19, of Phoenix, MD, an athlete affected by Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy that has confined him to a wheelchair with life-threatening disabilities, participated and finished the 2012 ChesapeakeMan Ultra Distance Triathlon. Despite facing overwhelming challenges, Shane is a competitive athlete who earned his entry to this Ultra Distance Triathlon by finishing 4 half ironman distance triathlons over the last four years.
Over the last four years, Lauer has competed in numerous multisport events, including three full marathons, two sprint triathlons and four half ironman distance triathlons. For any athlete this is a substantial accomplishment, but Shane has persevered in these grueling races to chase his dream to complete a full ultra-distance triathlon.
Lauer reached his dream with the assistance of a team of athlete volunteers affiliated with the non-profit organization Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA). The team included Chip Connor, David Slomkowski and Ben Mortenson. Connor, from Glen Arm, MD is director of Melalueca Wellness Company and towed Shane in a custom designed harness and raft during the swimming leg of the race. "When I am in the water towing Shane, it is absolutely inspiring. Slomkowski, of Timonium, the Founder and Executive Director of ASA biked with Shane in a specialized bicycle. "Shane's decision to enter this race is a testament to the potential of the human soul. This is an incredible accomplishment for Shane, his family, and for the people that created and carry on the vision, mission and values of Athletes Serving Athletes", said Slomkowski. Mortenson, also Shane's legal guardian, and director of Young Life Capernaum, pushed Shane across the finish line in a custom built racing jogger. Ben conveyed that Shane is so excited to be the first athlete with Duchene's muscular dystrophy to compete in a 140.6 mile ultra-distance triathlon.
Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a degenerative disease that affects the muscles. "His condition is terminal," said Mortenson. He and his wife, Carissa, are Shane's legal guardians. "Every muscle slowly deteriorates and life expectancy is to the mid-20's." However, the Mortensons believe that every child should be given the chance to live life to the fullest. A few years ago they found kindred hearts in the volunteer athletes that make up Athletes Serving Athletes, a non-profit organization that provides racing opportunities for competitive athletes with disabilities.
"Shane is a really competitive kid," said Mortenson. Several years ago he and Shane competed in a four-mile race. "With two miles to go, Shane kept saying 'Ben, you need to pick up the speed and pass these people ...I can't move my body, but I can move my mouth!'"
The Board of Directors of Athletes Serving Athletes, chaired by Steve Moritz, Vice-president and General Manager of Unisys Technical Services, in Blue Bell, PA has announced a special fund raising program targeting specific businesses and passionate advocates of the disabled to raise $20,000.00 to underwrite the 2012 competition expenses for Shane and his team of volunteers.
This inspiring team faced a significant financial hurdle in their quest to help Shane make history and cross the finish line. Although ASA and many volunteer athletes have helped hundreds of disabled athletes cross the finish line in other multisport events this year, there were no budgeted dollars available to fund this trip to the ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival. Contributions can be made at http://asa.kintera.org/shane
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 2013 Event Schedule
July 21, 2013 - TriColumbia Kidz Triathlon - Registration will open on Jan. 7, 2013
August 18, 2013 - Athleta Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon - Registration will open on November 12, 2012 at 9 am
Second event in the Iron Girl Triple Crown Event Series
September 8, 2013 - Iron Girl Rocky Gap Triathlon - Registration will open on November 12, 2012 at 9 am
Third event in the Iron Girl Triple Crown Event Series
September 21, 2013 - ChesapeakeMan Endurance Festival benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-Atlantic featuring the Ultra Distance Triathlon, Skipjack 75.2 Triathlon, Aquabike & Bugeye Classic (intermediate distance)
** The ChesapeakeMan Ultra Distance Triathlon has been designated as the 2013 USAT Mid Atlantic Championship and was named by Triathlete Magazine as a "Best 140.6" - Registration will open on January 14, 2013
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FIND US ON THE WEB
Columbia Triathlon Association is now on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Please join us on these site for daily updates, special offers, and race reports.
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Frequently Asked Questions & Resources
If you're not sure about some of the rules & regulations for CTA's races or if you're just looking for answers to commonly asked questions, download the FAQ
Nutrition is a key component to proper training and racing. TriColumbia sponsor, Hammer Nutrition, has an extensive resource page
If you still have questions about specific races, feel free to email us |
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