2017 Tri to Beat Cancer Newsletter

EIGHTH ANNUAL

TRI TO BEAT CANCER SPRINT TRIATHLON DUATHLON AQUA BIKE

About Tri to Beat Cancer The eighth annual Tri to Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon, and aqua bike will take place on Sunday, August 20th at Sandy Creek Park.

Expecting 600 – 650 participants and 200 volunteers, USA Triathlon, the governing body of the triathlon sport, sanctions this event, heightening the participation of more serious and competitive athletes. Tri to Beat Cancer is presented by PPI Way, University Cancer & Blood Center, Synovus and Hodgson & Hodgson, LLC.

Tri to Beat Cancer Packet Pick-Up: Endurance House: Wednesday, August 16th, 11:00 am-5:00 pm, 11800 Haynes Bridge Rd, Suite 1, Alpharetta, GA 30009 Georgia Cycle Sport: Thursday, August 17th, 3:30-6:30 pm, 1029 Baxter St, Athens, GA 30606 Sandy Creek Park: Saturday, August 19th, 1:00-5:00 pm, 400 Bob Holman Road, Athens, GA 30607

Parking

All race participants, volunteers, and spectators MUST be in Sandy Creek Park by 6:30 AM on Sunday, August 20. The park's entrance/exit gate will be closed for the duration of the race. Do NOT park along Bob Holman Road--it is private property! If you need to leave the park early, tell the front gate parking attendants and they will direct you to park in the early departure parking lot.

All event proceeds benefit local, northeast Georgia cancer patients.

2017 TRI HERO

CJ O'MARA My favorite part of the race is seeing my family as I come out of the water, and the energy wall as you enter the park for the run finish. The adrenaline rush is incredible.

2014. "It all started in 2014. I did a couple 5Ks in Athens and was looking to do more. I was talking to Seth Waltman, whom I have known for 13 yrs and is a TriCoachGeorgia athlete, and asked him what I needed to do training-wise. Mind you this is about July 2014 and the race was only a month away. The ironic part of this is, about a month later I found I had kidney cancer. I did the race not even knowing I had cancer. I had surgery in December of 2014 and my first tri after the surgery was in April of 2015. Tri To Beat Cancer 2015 was circled on the calendar, and has been ever since."

2017 will be my fourth year doing Tri To Beat Cancer. It is a race I look forward to and race in memory of my mother, Lynne R. O’Mara, and my aunt, Carol R. Dill; they both had breast cancer. My experiences at Tri to Beat Cancer have been nothing but fantastic. Each year has brought a different set of challenges for me. It’s amazing to see all the participants as well as volunteers come out and support cancer patients.

My tips for competing in TTBC: Do Your Job. Gotta have fun. Everyone has certain goals they may want to attain. It may be to podium in age group, or improve from last years race. Be ready for anything…

In 2016 I learned to be ready for anything. As I left the park, there was a downhill and then climb to 441. While leaving the park I was in high gear, when I shifted I heard a pop. I tried again and nothing happened. I was slowing down quite a bit because I was no longer going downhill. I got off my bike and realized I was stuck in high gear in the rear. I could change chain ring gears…I am now a two speed. I thought to myself, "'well that sucks, what do I do now? I do my job and finish the race.'" Well, I finished the race with two gears. The run sucked needless to say. I ended up placing 3rd in my age group. That was my goal since 2014-- to get a podium spot. In the end, don’t quit, do your job, and be ready for anything--you never know how it will turn out.

SBC Percentage Night Friday, August 19th Southern Brewing Company offering a percentage night to TCF supporters!

Join us at Southern Brewing Company on Friday, August 18th for a percentage night to benefit The Cancer Foundation! Tickets are only $10 and TCF will receive 25% of the event proceeds.

This is a great chance to try great local beers and support local cancer patients!

Packet Pick-Up See you at Sandy Creek Park from 1:00-5:00 for local packet pick-up and last-minute registration.

On Saturday, August 19th, The Cancer Foundation will host Packet Pick-Up from 1:00-5:00 PM at Sandy Creek Park.This is also where last minute registrations can be made. Packet Pick-Up is free to attend. You are also able to shop local stores Fleet Feet Athens and Georgia Cycle Sport for any equipment needs. Tri Coach Georgia will also be on-hand to answer any triathlon questions!

THANK YOU

SPONSORS

Hodgson & Hodgson, LLC