I grew up in New Joisey and did nothing too competitively while growing up except play soccer and repeatedly smack my back trying to learn how to do a flip off the diving board. I never swam on a team but was a lifeguard for several different local pools in the area. I played soccer and ran track in high school and was only able to get my mile PR down to a 5 minute mile.
I went off to college at Bucknell University, in PA, and walked on to the Kappa Sig intramural squad. I was a dominant force in many activities and still hold several records. The two I am most proud of are the 9.9 second sprint record for “carrying” a full keg down a full flight of stairs and the 24 man relay that killed a keg in a mere 25 minutes.
I did my first triathlon in 1997 when my wife and I moved to the area and then took several years off until 2004 when I started back at it. Since then I have done several races each year and this year will be more of the same. Last was a year of firsts for me in that I moved up to Masters and competed in my first full distance race. It was an interesting experience but not sure if I will tackle one again this year. I also enjoyed traveling to San Francisco to participate in the Escape from Alcatraz. I expect to do mostly in state races this year and plan on challenging for the Masters Open NCTS crown even though it appears to get more competative each year.
My family is very supportive, or so they tell me, and enjoy participating in some triathlon events themselves. My wife Jolie did her first swim, bike, run triathlon last year although she claims to have done the Sarah, Michael, and Katie triathlon for close to 5 years straight. My oldest daughter Sarah has participated in 4 of the kid’s triathlon and wants to participate in a regular one as soon as she is old enough. I do have three kids; Sarah 9, Michael 7 and Katie 4 and work to fit in training around their activities and other “chores” I have at home. I am excited for this year’s team and hope I get to know everyone a little better throughout the season.
Returning team member Rob comes back experiencing his second year racing as a Master. Teammates have yet to figure out how this handsome fast man with not a single gray hair has reached this milemark, but we pity the other NCTS Masters athletes in the nicest way possible.
Rob is a runner by trade who can bike and swim like he means it. He never misses a chance to show his stuff at the Uwharrie Mountain 20 mile race every year, clocking finish times that show his prowess for trail running. He's a great member of the team, always finding ways to help run our team while working full-time at SAS and raising three adorable kids.
