To jump to a specific article click on the list below.‘We will finish what you started’ April 11, 2008 Teaming up for a cause March 17, 2008 Team Psycho partners with the Cohasset Triathlon Jan 17, 2008 Cohasset Triathlon with return Oct 25, 2007 ‘We will finish what you started’ Cohasset - Strength. Courage. Love. On the day of the Cohasset Triathlon, Karen Lyons will turn to those powers within herself to complete the race. With her blond hair tucked under a swimming cap, she will wait on the sands of Sandy Beach for the starting signal to begin the race her husband, Joe Lyons, wasn’t able to complete. In last year’s inaugural triathlon, Joe suffered a fatal heart attack during the swim portion of the race. He was 38. A year later, Karen, has set herself on a path to do what no one — but herself — would have ever asked her to do: to finish what he started. For Joe Lyons, the Cohasset Triathlon was more than just an athletic event; it was a way to raise money for a cause very important to him — the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). All the net proceeds from the Cohasset Triathlon are donated to the cause. Joe and Karen’s son, Sam, has lived with Type 1 juvenile diabetes since he was two years old. Karen, a Newton resident, says Joe was a champion for the cause and believed in the possibility of finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. Although it didn’t happen in his lifetime, Joe firmly believed a cure was achievable in his son’s lifetime. More than just finishing the triathlon, Karen wants to continue what Joe started in a much broader view. She wants to raise money and awareness for JDRF, the cause her husband was so passionate about. The decision to do the triathlon wasn’t one that came easy, but once decided it felt right to her. “Even on the first day I heard the news about Joe, it struck me he didn’t finish the race,” says Karen, and the thought stayed with her during the next few months. Part of the reason was the kind of guy Joe was, Karen says. She called Joe an “end to end” guy: once he set out to do something, he finished it. When Joe wasn’t able to complete the race he had trained so hard for and prepared for so thoroughly, it bothered her. “Everyone who knew him was fired up about him doing the triathlon,” says Karen. “We were convinced he was not only going to finish the race, but he was going to do well.” As time went on, she began to have more thoughts that maybe she could do the race. An avid runner and occasional cyclist, she knew her body could endure the physical challenges of the race. During a spinning class, she began to envision herself riding her bike through the winding, picturesque roads of Cohasset even though she had never seen them. “It was an overwhelming feeling. But, it felt good, it felt right,” says Karen. “It hit me, I need to finish the race for him. It just had to be done.” Team LyonsLate last year, she confesses she began secretly looking at the Cohasset Triathlon website, still hesitant to tell anyone of her plan. But, she set up a meeting with Race Director Bill Burnett who embraced her idea of running the race and forming a team in tribute to Joe. From there, she asked family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to ask for their support in her endeavor and to see if they would be willing to compete with her. The response she got was overwhelming — over 50 people responded that they were ready to join her team and the triathlon. It’s a response that speaks to the kind of man her husband was and the many lives he touched. It was then “Team Lyons” was formed. Joe’s brother and sister, close friends from around the country and neighbors from Newton are all members of the team. “Team Lyons pulls Joe’s life together,” says Karen. Many of the members’ only connection to each other is Joe. “The team is an opportunity to touch all the aspects of his life.” Together, Team Lyons is hoping to raise as much money as possible for JDRF and its efforts to find a cure for the disease. “Joe was a giver in everything he did. He was looking to have an impact on the world,” says Karen, from fundraising to being involved in Newton schools, to foremost being a loving father, husband and friend. She says he always thought big and went head first into everything he did. “I know Joe would be very proud of me. This will be the greatest tribute to him,” says Karen. Karen’s son, Sam, will be an integral part of the Cohasset Triathlon; in fact, the race won’t be able to start without him. On race day, he’ll be the official race starter for the first wave of competitors, which includes Olympic triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker and 30 other elite racers. “Sam is incredibly excited he gets to be the official race starter,” says Karen, with pride in her voice. After giving the “on your mark, get set, go,” he’ll join the spectators to cheer on his mom (who a friend says he is very proud of) and the rest of Team Lyons to the finish line. The actions of the members of Team Lyons say more about the man Joe was than words ever could. Karen says she was thinking 10 or 15 would join her on the starting line at Cohasset’s Sandy Beach, but embraced the support she received. Some team members will compete in all three legs of the competition, while others have joined together to compete as relay teams. A website (www.teamlyons.org) will highlight the dozens of members of the team and their mission in doing the triathlon. A donation page, linked off the Cohasset Triathlon homepage (www.cohassettri.com), allows supporters to contribute directly to their team. The team motto, “we will finish what you started,” in one sentence encompasses what they are striving to achieve and has meaning well beyond a race. Being a part of the race and ultimately crossing the finish line will be a victory for Karen, for Sam, for JDRF, for the triathlon and an inspiration to all who witness it. “It’s going to be an amazing feeling,” Karen says.Commitment to JDRF With strength and courage, Karen and her son, Sam, are writing the next chapters of their lives — chapters they never thought they would have to write — all while dealing with the daily challenges of living with juvenile diabetes. “(Juvenile diabetes) is a tough thing to deal with day-to-day,” says Karen. While she says many think the management of the disease involves simply checking insulin and getting a shot every day, it’s much more than that. Sam and Karen must be constantly vigilant about everything that goes into his body. “In our house, before he can eat anything he has to check his blood sugar,” says Karen, sometimes pricking his finger multiple times a day. “It’s doable, but it’s hard.” For Karen — and parents like her — dealing with juvenile diabetes is a balancing act. Having a child with Type 1 diabetes means constant monitoring and a constant struggle to balance food and insulin, a hormone that the body uses to change glucose in the blood into energy. A person with Type 1 doesn’t produce any insulin and without it, glucose builds up in the blood, causing high blood sugar. If left untreated, there can be serious complications. Other factors like exercise, stress, and illness can affect blood sugar as well, making it very difficult to control, according to the JDRF website. “Everything is individualized,” says Karen — what may work for another child, might not work for Sam and what works one day might not work the next. Type 1 diabetes affects millions of kids and adults in the United States. The condition is diagnosed most often in childhood or adolescence, but it can strike adults as well. Research and the funds to support it are the only ways science can better understand the disease and develop a cure. According to their website, JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. With Joe as their guide and inspiration, Karen, Sam and Team Lyons hope to achieve something big for themselves and for JDRF. Karen says Joe always wanted to do something big, change the world, and leave it a better place. If the 55 people on Team Lyons are any indication, he will have succeeded. Teaming up for a cause Cohasset - It was purely by chance — or perhaps destiny — that Jenifer Hoffman and Bill Burnett crossed paths. Hoffman was just a name on the Cohasset Triathlon waiting list and Burnett, the founder and race director. But, when Burnett called Hoffman to tell her she made it off the waiting list, there was an immediate connection between them and a collaboration was born. Hoffman and Burnett both share in a common mission: to do things they are passionate about and, in the process, raise money for causes they feel similarly passionate about. Hoffman founded and owns Emotional Armor, a company that creates products meant to inspire and motivate. The Cohasset Triathlon, Burnett says, does the same thing with an event. Once common ground was established, it didn’t take long for the two energetic people to decide to work together. The two melded their ideas into concrete action — a collection of limited edition t-shirts emblazoned with triathlon specific and inspirational messages (see sidebar). All the proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts will be donated to charity. The t-shirts are an extension of what each does as an individual. Emotional Armor donates all its profits to two causes Hoffman believes in. Burnett donates its net proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The funds raised from the triathlon t-shirts will be donated to charities both Hoffman and Burnett feel affirm what they do. “I love that there is no agenda for either of us. We’re just trying to do something good and to be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” says Hoffman. When Burnett called Hoffman to tell her she was off the waiting list for the triathlon, they talked about their separate fundraising efforts. “I was blown away by Jen’s energy and positive outlook in life. We have very similar interests in giving back to our community and specific charities,” says Burnett. Hoffman’s positive outlook on life didn’t come without significant personal struggle — struggle that ultimately led to the creation of Emotional Armor. Hoffman moved to Cohasset last summer from Newburyport. Although t-shirts are currently the primary canvas for her inspirational messages, Hoffman says her company is more than a t-shirt company. Calling it a “lifestyle messaging company” Hoffman says her goal and vision is bigger than a t-shirt — it’s about promoting a state of mind through positive thought. She’s in the process of expanding her messages to other wearable mediums — sneakers, belt buckles, jewelry. To show her commitment to doing good, she donates her business’s net profits — yes, all of it — to two charities close to her heart. The funds go toward a cultural enrichment program for children to help develop self-esteem and self-confidence as well as the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center for its work in family violence prevention. “My dream is to have every child, in addition to science, math, English, social studies, be taught to be self-confident and that every person can make a huge difference in the world,” says Hoffman. “I tend to dream big, that’s just how I am.” Her messages are simple, yet empowering. She has 38 different designs on colorful and comfortable t-shirts, each with tailored messages for gender and age. For women, there’s “princess. not in need of rescue” and “never underestimate me;” for men, “good will always prevail,” and “when life knocks you down…get up.” The shirts are also available for kids. Phrases like “natural born hero” and “life is an experiment…wear goggles” appear on boys’ shirts, while girls’ shirt have “let the world hear your voice” and “small body big dreams.” Even babies can be inspired with messages like “destined for greatness” and “worthy of wings.” For Hoffman, Emotional Armor was born after a series of life-changing events that occurred in a short three-month period. She was involved in a serious bicycling accident during a triathlon. Then, during her recovery, she was assaulted by an inebriated 25-year-old man who lived in her small neighborhood in Newburyport while taking a walk. Instead of dwelling on the negativity of these events, she drew strength from them. The District Attorney pressed for two-year jail sentence for her assaulter, but Hoffman stood up at court to petition her attacker be given a chance to change. “Going to jail for two years was not the answer. He wouldn’t be getting what he needed. He needed a job, he needed to be in treatment and have parameters,” says Hoffman. The court listened and the man began treatment, worked a part-time job and wore a GPS-monitoring device. “I really believe that was the right thing,” says Hoffman — and it changed her life for the better. Shortly after she started her company on the “unshakeable belief in the goodness of people.” Both Burnett and Hoffman are enthusiastic about the collaboration — a project that complements what each does individually. The Cohasset Triathlon will be a personal milestone for Hoffman, it will be her first since her bike wreck in 2006. But, she says her story is only one of many triathlon participants. “Everybody has a story and each one is more inspiring than the next,” Hoffman says. She’s inspired by the mother of three who gets up at 5a.m. to train for the triathlon so she doesn’t disrupt her kids’ schedules and the guy who’s out there competing with a mountain bike. “It’s the only sport where everybody — elite triathletes to first-time competitors — can compete on the same course doing something they love,” says Hoffman. The limited edition t-shirts will be on sale on the Cohasset Triathlon website (www.cohassettri.com). In addition to the inspirational messages on the front of the shirt, the back will have “Cohasset Triathlon” on it, with the first ‘o’ being replaced with a peace sign and the second ‘o’ with a heart, just like the Emotional Armor logo. Emotional Armor product is available in Cohasset Village. The adult line can be found at Ports & Company and the kids line is at Twist. More information on both efforts can be found on the web, visit www.emotionalarmor.com and www.cohassettri.com Limited edition Cohasset Triathlon/Emotional Armor messages “born to tri” Team Psycho partners with the Cohasset Triathlon Cohasset - The Cohasset Triathlon Association announces a partnership with Team Psycho Triathlete, an elite Greater Boston based triathlon team. Under the newly formed partnership, Team Psycho will sponsor an elite prize purse out of its Elite Development Program. Prizes of $250, $150, and $100 will be handed out to each of the top three Elite finishers in both male and female waves. Four Team Psycho Elite Development Program athletes will compete in the Cohasset Triathlon including Jarrod Shoemaker, 2005 U23 National Champion and U.S. team member at the 2008 Beijing Olympics; Dede Griesbauer, Top American Woman and seventh overall at the 2007 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii; Karen Smyers, 1995 Ironman World Champion and six time U.S. Pro National Champion; and 2007 U23 National Champion Ethan Brown. Founder and Race Director of the Cohasset Triathlon, Bill Burnett, said of the partnership, “We are thrilled to have Team Psycho and its high caliber athletes participate in our event.” The intent of the Team Psycho Elite Development Program is to provide financial and mentoring support for younger athletes dedicated to reaching the highest goals with the sport: namely the ITU World Championships and the Olympics. Team Psycho regularly sponsors a few select local races that will create buzz within the local community and encourage the best athletes to attend these races and potentially serve as candidates for the Team Psycho Elite Development Program. Scott Shaunessy, Team Psycho board member, said “We want to give back to the sport and assist local race directors who have served the triathlon community by helping to promote first-rate events with elite fields. We feel that the Cohasset Triathlon is a great match for our team.” According to Burnett, the race field is completely sold out as of this past Saturday with 700 athletes registered. “The overwhelming response to our race is a fantastic tribute the success of our race,” says Burnett, “we have plans to make the race experience even better this year.” Over one-quarter of the participants, 182 athletes, hail from Cohasset, said Burnett. The Cohasset Triathlon consists of a .25-mile ocean swim, followed by a 12.5-mile bike course and a 3.2-mile run. The date of the race is Sunday, June 29. Start time is 8 a.m. For more information about the race, visit www.cohassettri.com. Online race registration is available through Active.com. Cohasset Triathlon with return Cohasset - The Cohasset Triathlon is returning to the shores and streets of town next summer. A date for the second annual event has been set for Sunday, June 29. Although still months away, athletes could begin registering for the event as of today (Oct. 26). Race Director Bill Burnett has been thinking about next year’s event almost since the moment the first one was over. No longer a rookie at putting together the run-bike-swim event, Burnett has analyzed last year’s event for ways on how to improve and enhance it for all involved. “My goal is to continue looking for ways to make the Cohasset Triathlon the best triathlon,” said Burnett. His passion for the event is contagious and he has been able to recruit a larger team to help him on the effort, “I have a whole group of people who are excited to help me.” Simple items like renting additional port-a-potties, easing traffic hot spots and parking will be targeted in the months ahead. More complex issues, like safety in the water, are being looked at closely. Safety in the open ocean water is at the forefront of concern after the first triathlon. Four swimmers in distress were pulled from this year’s swim leg. The race participants and community mourned after one of those swimmers died. To ease congestion at the start of the race, athletes and spectators can expect more waves, or heats. The heats, each with less than 100 athletes, will leave the beach in the five-minute intervals. “We want to spread them out a bit more,” said Burnett. Athletes will come off the beach and into the water in smaller groups to give each athlete more breathing room at the start and around the quarter-mile water course. In addition, on all registrations the athlete will be asked whether this is their first triathlon and/or their first open water ocean swim triathlon. The first-timers will be given a different color swimming cap to alert safety officials on the water to keep a close eye on them. Burnett says the race will not be bigger than last year, with registrations capped at 700 individual athletes and 25 relay teams. He expects the race to sell out by early 2008, so encourages Cohasset residents especially to sign up early. A few weeks ago, Burnett came before the Board of Selectmen and proposed a July 13th date for the triathlon. But, when he spoke with members of the Sandy Beach Association they were concerned the July date when Sandy Beach is most heavily used wasn’t ideal, says Burnett. “We wanted to have the least effect on beach goers,” said Sandy Beach Association President Robin Lawrence and the event shuts down the beach parking lot for the morning. The stars seemed to align for the new date June 29, according to Burnett. A morning high tide, availability of the race timing company and rental equipment and no other competing triathlon in the area made the switch easy. “We’re 100 percent in favor” of the triathlon returning, said Lawrence, “it’s a great event, managed very well and we expect it to be similarly well run this year.” Along with Sandy Beach Association, the Board of Selectmen, the Harbormaster and the police and fire departments are on board with the new date, says Burnett. The inaugural triathlon donated all net proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a total of $50,219. Burnett would like to raise even more money in this year’s triathlon. In addition to the net proceeds, racers are encouraged to get sponsors for the race. “The race was one of the most successful start up third party events in the country for JDRF this year,” said Burnett. On a local level, Burnett and the Cohasset Triathlon Association have joined the town’s Adopt-a-street program pledging to keep parts of the racecourse free of litter. He also is seeking local businesses to become sponsors of the race. The second annual Cohasset Triathlon will consist of a quarter-mile ocean swim, followed by a 12.5-mile bike course and a 3.2 mile run. This event is sanctioned by the USA Triathlon and is expected to draw both first-time triathlon participants as well as ranked elite athletes. “The triathlon showcases the best parts of Cohasset,” says Burnett, who believes the annual triathlon will bring more people to town to visit and patron local businesses. Online race registration is available through Active.com. Visit the re-vamped Cohasset Tri website at www.cohassettri.com for more information. Hats and triathlon jewelry are on sale on the website. |
