I was honored to serve as this year’s Race Director and to be perfectly honest, this was one of the most rewarding and satisfying events I have ever been involved with. And that includes a personal racing career that spans decades and countless other events that I have been involved with on the production and volunteer sides.

Before anyone takes issue with the idea of involving such young children in a competitive multisport event, I need to explain a little about the purpose of this “race”. For starters, this event was not timed. So there was no concept of anyone “beating” anyone else or whose time was good, better, best, first or last.

Additionally, it was a mandatory requirement that each child be partnered with a parent for the entire duration of the race. The race format included a one width “swim” (using any flotation device and parental assistance necessary) of the pool. Following the swim was a lap of the closed parking lot area on their bikes and finishing up with a single loop run around the grass field behind the Y.

The goals were simple. We wanted to promote family togetherness and involvement. We wanted to promote the community aspect of the event. And we wanted the kids and parents alike to feel the exhilaration of participation and accomplishment in a safe, accepting, and “everyone wins” atmosphere.  We also wanted to open their eyes to what this sport can do for the character and confidence of athletes of all ages. Most importantly, we wanted everyone to have fun.

The design of the course was perfect because you could easily see everything that was happening along the bike and run portion simply by walking a few feet in either direction. So after doing some race start logistics and organization, I took in the energy and excitement of the cyclists and runners before manning my spot at the finish line so I could personally place the medals around the necks of every finisher.  In a word – emotional.

The expressions on the faces of the kids and parents as they crossed the finish line together were priceless.  I will repeat what I said earlier, this was one of the most rewarding and satisfying events I have ever been involved with.

I wish I had been able to record a number of the comments that I overheard as people crossed the finish line. I do recall a few of the more meaningful quotes. One dad summed it up best as he held hands with his son and simply yelled “This is AWESOME”!!! I overhead another parent to say “this was like his own personal ironman”. And perhaps my favorite came towards the very end when a woman approached me and thanked me for helping out but then said “My daughter wants to know if she can come back and do this again TOMORROW”!

I think we made a very positive impact on many fronts today and I am looking forward to this being the beginning of something much bigger – than all of us.

And as I think about it, I would love to go back tomorrow and do it again as well.

Train safe, race smart, and thank the volunteers.

Matt Miller, then a standout student and athlete at the University of Virginia and member of his college triathlon club, and two classmates had just pedaled up a mountain pass. He was on top of the world in so many ways – Matt was in love with his high-school sweetheart, Emily, and had dreams of attending medical school. He was so fit his resting pulse was 42! But as he cycled along Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway, he suddenly fell into an oncoming car and his life forever changed. Matt broke every bone in his face and suffered a massive brain injury. The real story though is not just about what took place on that terrible day, but what happened after. Today, Matt, 24, attends the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and is engaged to Emily, who has stood by his side throughout his entire ordeal and is in medical school with him at Penn. Remarkably, Matt has completed a dozen triathlons and the Cozumel Ironman since the accident. In “;The Road Back,” Michael compellingly shares with readers the humbling and miraculous journey of Matt’s survival and recovery and the people who rode along with him, rescued him and helped him heal. It is truly a story of grace and grit, one that is as gripping as it is inspiring.

After writing about Matt for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Michael continued to watch him recover in the most astonishing ways. He was so taken with Matt’s courage and commitment, that Michael decided to take a leave from his job to more fully immerse himself in Matt’s life and write this book. The award-winning writer and author of the popular “Rocky Stories” (about the famed Philadelphia steps and all those who have come to run them) is one of the latest examples of the red-hot trend of established authors choosing to take control of their publishing “journey” and opting to self-publish their work. Though his new book centers on one young man from the Philadelphia area,  Matt’s amazing story and the book’s messages are universal. “The Road Back” is available in paperback on Amazon.com and as an e-book on Kindle, Nook and Ipad.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Vitez has been a staff writer at The Philadelphia Inquirer for 27 years. He won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism for a series of stories about five people approaching the end of life. Vitez has taught classes in narrative non-fiction at the University of Pennsylvania and was a visiting Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton. He is also a former Michigan Journalism Fellow. He is the author of Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope and Happiness at America’s Most Famous Steps. (2006, Paul Dry Books) He graduated from the University of Virginia, where he was editor-in-chief of The Cavalier Daily. He is married to Maureen Fitzgerald, food editor at the Inquirer, and they have three children. For the last 12 years, he has organized the annual triathlon at the Erlton Swim Club in Cherry Hill, NJ.  www.michaelvitez.com 215-313-3518 michael.vitez@gmail.com @michaelvitez on Twitter.

Looks Really Do Count! (…sort of)

Complete story can be found HERE

Philly Health Watch – Go Ahead, TRI it.

I just want to take a few minutes and mention a few quick updates that have unfolded within the last few weeks. Things have been busy, but good busy.  There is a show on Comcast Sportsnet called “Net Impact” that has expressed an interest in telling my story. The show features human interest stories about people and their journey above and beyond sport. I met with show host Gregg Murphy and his camera guy Brian  last week and we shot interviews as well as some training in the pool. The cool thing was that I got to wear a head mounted underwater mini camera. I can’t wait to see how that footage turns out. We will film one or two more sessions over the next couple of weeks and the show should air in March on Comcast Sportsnet. Gregg is a great guy and I am looking forward to our next session. I will keep people posted.

We shot those Net Impact interviews and swim footage at the YMCA in Delaware County PA where I am a longtime member and board member. As it turns out, Gregg Murphy is also on the board of his local YMCA in Gloucester County New Jersey. A couple of days after we filmed, Gregg approached me about being their keynote speaker for the 100 year anniversary celebration of their YMCA. It took me about 6 seconds to think about my answer, after which I responded with an enthusiastic, “I would love to do it. Count me in. And THANKS”. That will be in March and details are still pending. It should be a nice night. And I always welcome the opportunity to connect and network when it comes to the YMCA and all of the good that organization does.

Registration is now OPEN for the Brad Schoener Memorial 5K and Music Marathon which will be held on May 19th. I am directing this race again and hope to treat you all to some new surprises this year – as soon as I figure out what they will be.

I am also working with the legendary and renown band Chico’s Vibe in helping them “orchestrate” a new 5K which will benefit hunger relief. This is still a work in progress and nothing is definitive yet but November 17th, 2012 in Havertown PA is looking very probable. Complete details will be announced once they are confirmed. Expect a FUN event, with registration and timing handled by Tim Krueger’s Run the Day. The band’s front man Dennis Chiccino, and I go back to the mid 1980’s and if the first planning meeting is any indication, this is going to be one heck of a fun trip.

Other than that, not too much is “new”. Training is going well. I feel good. Team in Training is in full swing. Our St. Anthony’s triathlon team is just starting to hit their stride and we started recruitment for the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon this week. Summer will be here before you know it.

Also, to help get you over the winter hump, please don’t forget to visit this year’s Endurance Sports Expo. The Philly area local event will again be held at the Oaks (Pennsylvania) Convention Center the weekend of February 25th and 26th.  Other locations have also been booked in the region. Be sure to visit www.endurancesportsexpo.com for complete details.

I once again can walk above the clouds with clarity and confidence . On January 23rd I had my semi-annual routine blood work with my oncologist. The weeks leading into these appointments are always filled with angst and anxiety for me. I always find myself asking all of the wrong “what if” questions. But I am happy to report that the results were spot on perfect once again. I had a great appointment and chat with my oncologist.

Also, I have just signed on to work with Philly Health Watch and am very much looking forward to this partnership. My regular monthly contribution will probably be centered around multisport racing and training. BUT I will also have the platform to be able to interview and feature some of the amazing individuals and organizations that I am connected to. And will be able to do so via a couple of different media channels. More very soon on this!

My partnership with Philly Health Watch will take on a few different flavors. My regular monthly article will speak to triathlon and multisport racing and training. But I will also have the platform to do a number of different interviews and video spots and will be able to showcase through a number of media channels some of the individuals and organizations that are meaningful to me and who are making a difference in our community and in this world.

I know plate is usually pretty full but sometimes, something grabs you and screams your name to the point you have to grab hold. This partnership is going to be a great one.

Much more detail will follow but be sure to bookmark www.phillyhealthwatch.com and sign up for their newsletter.

Read MORE.

Read the full article by visiting The Baltimore Sun.