What a fantastic day for a triathlon. The air temp was a brisk 68 degrees with the water temp right around 63. We arrived at the venue about 5:30am to a rising sun and rock music on the loudspeakers. After setting up transition, it was time to relax for awhile and cheer on the waves that started before me.

8am rolled around and after a brief warm-up, it was my turn to start. After the initial commotion that always happens at a swim start, I settled into a rhythm and finished the 1500 meter swim in 29 minutes.

The bike course was a different story. I have been up to Lehighton before to ride part of the course but not the whole thing. This was a hilly course. Very hilly. I managed to hit speeds of 40+ mph on the downhills which I hope compensated for the 5 mph I was averaging on some of the uphills. After a heart pounding 1:30 and 23 miles later, I came back to transition.

The run course for the Olympic distance is a two loop jeep road out to the Beltzville dam and back, all on dirt or crushed gravel. I felt really good the first loop and started picking it up the last 3 miles. I finished strong up the chute with a final time of 2:47.37. Good enough for 5th place in my division.

I again want to thank everyone for their donations and well wishes. The combined fundraising totals for all Black Bear participants exceeded $45,000!!!! We will eventually put all LLS staff out of a job when we beat blood cancers. See you in the fall for the Nations Tri on 9/11/11.

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This weekend is the big race! Thanks again for everyone's generous donations. I will be sure to update my page with my race times after this weekend.

Also, due to some sizable donations being made on my behalf, I decided to enter another Team in Training triathlon this September in Washington, DC. To view my fundraising page for this event, click here.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO DONATE!!!! If you would to make a contribution, please go to my Nation's Tri web page to make your donation.

Thanks again for the unbelievable support that I have received!

I have exceeded my Fundraising Minimum (the amount set by Team in Training to participate in my event) and have decided to set a Personal Goal of $5,000. Thanks again for your support in helping blood cancer patients live longer, better lives.

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

- Margaret Mead”

This year I am training to participate in another Olympic length triathlon as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. The event I am participating in is the Black Bear Triathlon in Beltville, PA on Sunday, June 5. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of Emily Leyland (my wife Emily’s brother Josh’s girlfriend) who was diagnosed with leukemia on January 18, 2011 and is currently undergoing treatment. Please keep your thoughts and prayers with Emily and our families. Emily is the real hero on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

I am personally committed to raising $1,800 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the generosity of my family, friends, and coworkers. I am asking you to join me in this commitment. Please contribute as generously as you can. For those of you thinking, "I can't give very much, it wouldn't make a difference", I want to tell you it does make a difference, it makes a difference to those suffering and to those recovered from these cancers. More than 75% of every dollar raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society goes directly back to patient services and cancer research. Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,

Jason

EVENT INFORMATION

Black Bear Olympic Triathlon

Beltzville State Park, Lehighton, PA

Sunday, June 5, 2011

0.9 mile swim, 24 mile bike ride, 6.2 mile run