“I have doing this since 83’ and been to 7 du World Champus. This is by far the most professional race material I have ever seen.” - Ed Wright ............................................................... You're doing a great job. Our first time doing Steelman and if the race is as good as your professionalism it is going to be one heck of a race. - Mitchell Wolff ............................................................... Just like last year, you are doing a GREAT job keeping everyone informed of changes and last minute reminders. Thanks so much for all of your attention to detail. I’m very much looking forward to Sunday. (Can you throw some ice cubes in the lake for me?) - Derek ............................................................... read more >>	Dale, Thanks for allowing me to race side-by-side with my son Ian as he competed in his first triathlon. We had a blast and it was definitely a defining moment is his athletic endeavors and a memory that we will share forever, with many more to come. Congratulations on a well executed event that we intend on participating in next year. Regards, Jim ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I wanted to send you a quick email expressing thanks for all your hard work in putting on a well organized event yesterday! So often we email to complain about something we were not happy with, but seldom take time to express ourselves when things go well. I had a great time yesterday and I will definitely plan to do the race again next year. Do you have involvement in the race to be held on Sept. 8th with Genesis Adventures? I saw on Genesis webpage yesterday’s race listed as an event partner? Thanks, Kyle Stewart ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Great race yesterday. Well done! Enjoyable venue all around. Nothing seemed crowded (except the port o johns). You seem to have the logistics very well thought out. Being from NJ, its everything I think of when I go to PA. Less crowded, nice people, pretty scenery. See you next year. Joe McMahon ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale: Just want to give you some feedback on the race. In general, I thought it was a great race and very well organized. The cold towels at the finish line were AMAZING! I do have some suggestions. I would have liked some announcements over the loud speaker at the start. It was not clear who was getting in the water when. I also didn't think it was necessary to have such a long gap between the Olympic and the sprint starts. It was kind of a buzz kill to wait so long. There were lots of volunteers and they were great. The people at the finish line were very concerned that all the finishers were okay and that everybody got cooled off and hydrated. In general, an excellent effort by all involved. Thanks, Doug Esberg ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Congratulations for putting on an AWESOME event. My group of 13 family and friends had nothing but praise for you. Eight of us were newbies, and had an excellent experience. You do such a great job and the volunteers were wonderful. I loved every bit of the day! Thanks for all your hard work!!!!!! Kim Burd ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale, Awesome event! Once again (this was my second event @ Lake Nockamixon, but 9th tri), it was a well planned, and executed event. Barring tendonitis again next year, I’ll be back. The swim was managed very well, and I like the long run out of the water better than last year’s muddy slope. Having the ‘greeters’ to keep you from slipping on the boat launch ramp was an excellent idea and kudos to them, as they did a great job. The bike course was well manned, very clear instructions, and the EMT’s were quick getting to the woman who was injured in her fall. The run was great, very cool in the shade, and plenty of hydration stations. The single thought for improvement came from my wife, who had these observations as a spectator: - swim exit was much better than last year: she was thrilled to see everyone coming out of the water, and could follow them into transition area more easily, and cheer them along the run to transition - the bike exit and re-entry was also good from a spectator standpoint, as she was able to follow us though the transitions, exit and entry on the bike, and saw athletes exit for the run, then follow them along the peninsula - The finish line didn’t allow for enough spectators to see what was going on, and it got too crowded. Her suggestion was make that area more spectator friendly by enlarging it somehow (on that, she didn’t know what the limitations were, but was wondering about moving the vendor stations to provide more room for spectators). She is used to other events with longer approaches to the finish line (i.e. Lums Pond / Evergreen pond) to cheer on athletes as they finish. End of Race: - The food/fluid after the event was more than ample with great variety - People handing out cold towels at the finish were well thought out - The music was awesome - The goody-bag was well stocked and I actually used the Gu this time - The T-shirt was the best I’ve received to date - Everyone really catered to the athletes Thank you for putting on such a top notch event, and I look forward to seeing you again next year! Best regards, Scott F. Peterson Straub Metal International, Inc. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi, Dale. What a fine job you and all the volunteers did yesterday! People had only positive comments about how well-organized the race was. From the volunteer who told the non-participant to leave the transition area (quite necessary with all the expensive bikes), to the help on the water (a friend of mine had a bit of trouble and had to rest on one of the kayaks), to the half dozen people who kindly assisted the swimmers out of the water, to the give-away's and excellent food, to the volunteer who didn't see me cut through the woods on my bike and rode only two miles (only kidding!), you should be pleased with how it went. A minor suggestion would be to raise the 5K turn-around sign to eye level or have a volunteer shout it out, for a few people ran past it. Great job! Tom Kushinka (old-geezer category) (thanks for the heart monitor; it will come in handy in the retirement home) PS I'll try to remember next year to contact you for anyone who wants to stay with us and save a few dollars on a hotel. Tom Kushinka ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale, Just wanted to say THANK YOU for a great race! This was my second year doing the Steelman and it is my favorite. I plan to continue participating in the following years. Mostly thank you for the changes to the swim course this year. I was one of the many who got off course last year. And this year I had my best swim ever. I really enjoyed the swim and I do this for enjoyment not to compete. It was very well marked and easy to follow and at a much better angle to the sun. Thank you very much! Looking forward to next year! Wendy Yambor ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale: Thank you for a wonderful event yesterday! It was the first ever triathalon for me! I did the sprint relay event with my husband and friend! Just wanted to let you know we thought the event was great and very well organized! It seemed that everything went off as planned! My only suggestion would be to add more porta-potties if possible next year....the lines seemed to be really long at the bathrooms at the last minute....nerves I guess! I did the swim event of the relay....I had no problems with the sun!! :) (heard that was a concern last year!) Hope you got a lot of positive feedback!! Thanks again for a wonderful event! Hope to be back next year!! Linda Linda Bollinger, CTRS ....................................................................................................................................................................................... I Just got home from Lake Nockamixon and wanted to tell you how great the Triatholon was!!!!!!! It was my first one and it was fantastic. Your team did an excellent job- from check in yesterday, to driving out of the park today. It could not have run smoother. What a blast. I'ff be back next year and I am having my husband do it too! Anne Geis ....................................................................................................................................................................................... First of all let me say what a great day you gave us today. The course was terrific, well marked, and full of amazing volunteers. Your effort to put on a top-notch race was definitely evident. Well done. Secondly, I wanted to give you feedback on the awards ceremony. My wife and I have been working really hard to improve and compete with the "big boys." In this race, my wife Carey finished 3rd overall (female) and I finished 2nd overall. We were ecstatic about our accomplishment and were looking forward to hearing our names announced. Unfortunately, when the age-groups were announced, our names were not called. Since you only announced the top (1st place) male and female finishers, we were a bit confused. Needless to say, we were disappointed. We understand that errors occur and we are not the type of people to dwell on such things. That is why we would like to thank you for saying you would get our address to send us the awards/heart-rate monitor for our finish (since the first place age-grouper, which finished after us, received this award). Thanks again for a wonderful race and getting the top finishers in your race their proper awards. William Lever ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I just got home from the event and had to email you to congratulate you and all the volunteers that made this possible. Everyone was extremely helpful and kind. This was my first triathlon and after having such a great experience, it will certainly not be my last. I look forward to Steelman 2008. Thanks again, Bill ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, At the beginning of the summer, my friend, Taylor, told me about this triathlon he was training for. I was very interested, because I have always dreamed of doing something like that, but never thought I could. Later that night, I registered for the Steelman Sprint Triathlon, and later found out that Taylor did not. But, I was not going to back out of it. Finishing the race today was one of the best feelings. Crossing the finish line, I felt excited that I had finished, more confident in myself, and nearly in tears hardly believing what I just did. All the volunteers, workers, and tri-athletes were friendly and encouraging throughout the whole race. I know you put a lot of time and hard work into making this a successful race. Thank you for your dedication. I hope you'll be back next year. Thanks again, Emily Rudick ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hey, I enjoyed the triathlon a lot! It was at a beautiful spot, and it was a gorgeous day. I did wll (5th in my age group) and I wanted to state an opinion for what may make it a little bit better next year (I am biased)...I got a 2:00 penalty for riding on the shoulder or passing on the right. I admit that I did that-but I didn't realize that I was not supposed to until I got home and checked that you wrote that you suggested where to ride. It may have been on the homepage, but I don't recall seeing it. I was bummed, but I guess you need to be consistent. Anyway. Here is my input. Maybe next year you should strongly suggest that the weaker and slower riders stay on the shoulder and leave the roadway for the stronger riders. I consider myself to be a stronger rider, and with the roadway jammed with both olympic people and sprint people-it got a little hairy. I only passed on the right and stayed on the right, cause that was where the room was. Everybody was on the left, and it made it difficult to pass. I felt that I did the safe thing...and to be honest, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong until I saw the cycle riding with me for about 20 seconds as something was written in the pad. Then I got nervous that I did something wrong-but didn't know what. I hope you see my point. I figure since the road is closed, why not use all of it? Also, how is the girl who got hit? It looked bad-I saw her motionless on the ground with the dudes back all torn up. Just curious. I hope you don't think I am being a jerk about this. I did love the race. I just figure it would make things smoother, easier, and safer for the stronger and weaker riders. Thanks, See you next year brad buzby #584 Sprint ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Just wanted to drop you a short note to say thank you for putting on a great race. Great venue (really great), volunteers were awsome and the troopers were really getting on some of the car drivers who were trying to get onto the course. They wouldn't take any crap from them (saw it firsthand). Music, food, all tremendous. The volunteers handing out the water were all yelling at us (in a good way) and your helpers at the finish with the cold towels were a godsend. Wish the lake was a tad cooler so that it would have been wetsuit legal, but I wore one anyway due to doctor's orders (had a massive heart attack 3 years ago and am just coming back and your tri was part of my recovery!) thanks again, Mitchell Wolff ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dear Dale. This was my first triathlon ( I did an Olympic team one several years ago) and I wanted to thank you and all the volunteers who helped out today. I was EXTREMELY Impressed at how everything was run. The course was great, the volunteers were so knowledgeable and coordinated! I am going to brag to everyone how great you guys were! The awards and give aways session was humorous and fun! I'm glad I chose this one to be my first Tri. Agroup of us from the Boyertown YMCA Du Tri Run came and we also adopted a woman who had no one to hang with and cheer her on. Great great fun, Sincerely, Silvie Nichols ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thank you for organizing such a great event! This was my first official tri and I was really impressed by the detailed instructions, gracious volunteers, and overall fun of the event! I do have one small request, my swim cap was one of the pink cap's that did not have the steelman logo. After swimming next to steelman '06 caps all winter, I was really hoping for a steelman swim cap to show off. If you have any leftovers of any other color with the logo could I please purchase one. I can send you a self addressed envelope if that makes it easier for you. Thank you again for all your hard work. Maggie Bova (bib #903) ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Mr. Winterohoff: Congratulations on organizing what was, for me, an outstanding first triathlon experience. Not really knowing what to expect, or how I performed relative to the field, I left after enjoying the food and freebies - before seeing or hearing the results. This evening, I pulled up the results and realized I finished 2nd among Males 25 - 29 in the Sprint. It says there are "3 Winners". Is there any award associated with this finish? Please let me know; and again, thank you for a a great experience! Regards, Nathan ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dear Dale, Thank you so much for producing such a wonderful event. I have participated in over 90 triathlons and completed Ironman races in the USA and Europe, and I think that you have presented a great race. The whole day was wonderful, and the organization was superb. I am looking forward to coming back , and bringing with me a whole bunch of triathletes. Congratulations, Gerry Goldberger. PS: Thank you for the give aways, the R&A shorts and singlet will come in handy for next year. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Fabulous event!!! Tyler wants his dad to do it with him next year. We'll see... Do you have any lost and found items? Tyler was attempting to drink from his water bottle during the cycling part and hit the bottle with his knee and lost it on the ground. (He was near Cappie's.) He went back for it afterwards, but someone had picked it up. It's an LWA insulated bottle. If you have it, let me know, I'll come and get it. Thanks for all your hard work. Jen Malay ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Congratulations!! Great Race! You did an awesome job!!! Few people understand the energy, effort, coordination, and leadership required to pull off an event of that magnitude!!! Kudos!!! And Thank you!!! Tom Meade MD ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale - GREAT JOB! This was my first experience and I had a blast and now have the bug!!! Will be doing Skylands...I have a few questions and comments: How can I find out how many guys were in my age group (30-34) as well as the amount of guys overall in the 30-39 bracket(s)..I was ranked 25, out of how many? And I'd like to know how I did vs the overall pack in my swim. Comments - again awesome job and thanks for your help....I think it would have helped if mile markers wer posted along the run. That's it! Thanks again, David Johnston ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hey Dale: Just wanted to thank you for a GREAT RACE. It was my first TRI. I am planning on the " Mini" on 9-8-07 as my next step up and challenge. What is the status of the hurt riders ? Just one suggestion would be mile markers on the run. It didn't make much of a difference for the sprint since I knew the turnaround was at @1.66 miles, but for the Olympic, it would be helpful. Thanks again Dale Wayne Dubov ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Here is some of my feedback on the Steelman Triathlon today, Overall, great job once again (other the the not getting a T-shirt, more on that below). It was very well run, here is a list of things I thought were good/bad: - Swim - I did the swim clinic a month ago, it was deifnately helpful (I didn't stray off course). The only thing I can think of that could be improved is if the swim started about 30 feet further in the Water so we could treat water instead of standing on those rocks. - Bike - The course was well marked, I was suprised to see Gatorade being given out, and wonder if any accidents happened because of people swerving to get it. It seemed like the course was more congested then last year; I'm not sure if that's because the heats were closer together, or because of more bikers, or some other factor. - Run - I liked the new course this year, much bettert then going in the opposite direction. The only thing I can think of that could be improved is if there was some way for this to be a circuit instead of up and back, the trail was tight, and passing was very hard (running is my best of the three sports, and there really wasn't any good way to pass). - Transition Area - Well run, no complaints. If there was a way to label the slots on the pavement also, that would be helpful, perhaps a big number next to each so you just have to remember I turn at the number 3 to find my bike (on the pavement would be much better then on the sides, those signs were hard to read).. - Post Race - I love the towels, definately a great feature I'd like to see in other races, the food was good too, plenty of fruit and stuff, and the tent seemed big enough. You may want to consider picking the raffle prizes by number while the triathlon's going on, I've seen that done in other events, so when you get done, there is a table with prizes and you just look to see if your number was picked. This would be fairer (and give me some hope of getting something) then the method you used (although I will admit it is fun seeing the people try to get the prizes). Also, If you could print the results in a larger font (perhaps landscape instead of portrait) and separate the sprint and olympic results, it would alleviate the crowd around the results. - T-Shirt - As I mentioned on the top, I did not get a T-shirt. The Lin-mark representitive claims I didn't enter in a size, but I'm fairly certain I did, I may have enterred in Youth Medium (I'm 43), I was planning on giving the shirt to my wife who is about 5'2" and 100 pounds. So thus, I think there are two issues; (1) Lin Mark's computer system has a bug in it. It should have warned me I didn't enter a shirt size and flagged this as an issue, or at least someone should have looked at the database and realized that there were people who didn't have T-shirts and sent Emails (I know you have my email because I've gotten plenty of them). I think what really happened is I enterred a youth size, it decided I was an adult, and nollified my entry without warning me. Whichever it is, it is VERY DISAPPOINTING not to get a T Shirt. (2) Is there some way I can get a shirt? I was told to wait until after awards and everything were over, but at 10:30 they still weren't done, and I had a suprise anniversary party I had to get to in NJ. Let me know how to get the shirt. Thanks. - Joe Manzella ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale, I just want to thank you and your family for putting on a great race. It was so much fun, I can't wait to do it again. The volunteers were wonderful, helpful, and very encouraging. Everything was so organized.....wow. Congratulations and thanks for helping me get through my 1st tri. The kids also loved it. I've already got at least 6 people lined up for next year!!!!!! What an awesome experience. Can't thank you enough. See you soon at AAU. Kathy Kline ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thank you for holding such an upstanding event. It was my first sprint since 2000 and it was really enjoyable. Your dedication, attention to detail and general concern for all of our well being was top notch. The T-shirts included with our race packet were outstanding, very comfortable. Thank you too for the extra goodies at the end. Sincerely, Iron Girl ; ) Julie ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dear Dale Thank you for all your help and encouragement. Just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with the volunteers. I was one of the first people to arrive (very early!) and it was amazing how many volunteers were already working in the middle of the night! Thanks again, Shirley ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, First off, GREAT JOB on running this race. Both before and during the race. It was not even a remote comparison to the race last year. You asked me to give you some feedback, so here you go: Packet Pick-up: + Very well organized with the numbers list before walking up and getting your packet. + The contents of the packet were good to go. Needless to say, the shirt was a vast improvement from last year. I'm still trying to figure out how you got Gu & Hammer Gel. Amazing. Pre-race: + Even though traffic was a bit snarled, it flowed well. I think it was a good idea to park the early people farther away and "back-fill" the parking lot. It allowed the volunteers to know how many parking spots were left. - The way the body markers were set up, they were kind of blocking the entrance to transition. I couldn't get body marked unless I had my bike with me and then I could go into transition. Perhaps separate body marking and verifying you're an athlete going into transition + Lots of room on the racks and I like the separation into waves vice numbers. You could gauge were you were during the race according to your wave - Porta potties near the far side of the parking lot would have been useful. There is only one stall in the brick and mortar bathroom out there Swim: + reversing the course from last year was a GREAT move! + tons more buoys and the sail boats at the turns were so great for sighting - the boat ramp was slippery. Perhaps add some carpet next year. There were tons of helpers there so they managed just fine when I came out of the water Bike: + having a closed course I know is very hard to do but vital and you pulled it off beautifully + gatorade on the back side of the loop was at a great spot and the volunteers were vey enthusiastic and learned to be on both sides of the road after the first lap + saw the SAG wagon a lot on course so if I had a mechanical, it would not have been long for some help + plenty of officials observing the bike course and did not see a single draft pack (now that is saying something!!) - no one or a chalk mark to tell "inexperienced" riders to go up left the first hill out of transition. There were people there when I was coming back, but none when I was heading out. + mount and dismount line was marked very well as well as the course in general. Signs were everywhere. Run: + Reversing the course and going straight to the cul-du-sac made it so much better. - They did it eventually, but no cones forcing people to go left coming out of T2. If I hadn't known the course, I would have instinctively gone right. I guess that could have put me in first overall...hummm :P + water stops were well timed and stocked well + having the mat at the 10K turn around was very appreciated by me. Keeps people honest. - no mile markers. It's hard to front run without a pacing gauge. But that is the name of the game. Post Race: + TONS of food and cold towels. + Results were timely and accurate + Good lord there were tons of giveaways. I think that is what makes a local race so great when you pull in big sponsors like you did. It keeps people happy and they keep coming back. But I don't have to tell you that. - Perhaps announcing their times along with the winners name. Some times you did, some times you didn't. I've seen at some races where they try and get a picture of the winners "podium style" and it gives them their 30 seconds of fame. Vice a random person walking up getting their prize. Just a suggestion. Personal whine: You might want to get some cheese with this whine. I was really excited when you announced that you were giving HRM's as prizes. But then you gave them to the Overall winner and the Age Group winners. That means that technically the person I beat in the 30-34 Age Group (since I got pulled out for being 2nd Overall) got a HRM and I did not. Perhaps the top three overall should of gotten one too? Like I said, it was just something I realized and it kinda irked me. BUT, the coffee mug is awesome. I now have a new coffee mug that I will be using every day this coming year until I can earn next years prize. Overall: Like I said, the race was so much better than last year. If my Brother in Law hadn't of wanted to do this race again this year, I don't know if I would have come back. I'm so glad that I did and I'm glad that I ran into you at the Marriott that day. You did a superb job and I see Steelman becoming a staple race for many years to come. It's situated at a great time where it's both a nice speed tune up for the 70.3 championship crowd as well as for a late season "I'm going to do an Olympic Distance and need time to train" crowd. The negatives noted above are minor, but knowing how much of a perfectionist you are, I am sure they are apprecaited. Daniel C. Arnett ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale - Just wanted to send you a big "thank you!" for a fantastic race this morning! I came up from Philadelphia with a friend, and neither of us had any idea that such a gorgeous place existed so close to us. Another friend, a veteran to tri's but who has taken several years off from racing, also re-ignited her interest today. Thank you again! Kat Lin ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale: Today was my first tri. It was awesome. You really put on a good event. Thanks so much to all the sponsors too! A few of the nice touches included: Nice race shirt and goodie bag Advanced packet pickup Excellent course, well supported and marked Great for spectators Great finish area with great food for finishers Money raised was for a good cause Lin-mark timing Only suggestions I would have would be: The age old "Add more porta-johns" The give aways were chaotic and if you were standing to your left like me, you didn't get anything! I'll be back again next year! Thanks for all of your effort, it certainly didn't go un noticed. Thanks again: Chris Garges ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, thank you for a wonderful race today!! i know you put lots of hard work and time into planning such an event and i wanted to be sure to drop you a line of gratitude. my boyfriend and i both had an excellent morning, it was his first race and i'm sure he will be attending many more with me. this was my first year with the steelman and it was my personal best olympic race, and such a wonderful course. the only recommendation i have for next year is that on the run, it was a bit misleading where to go for the olympic race. the chalk on the sidewalk was clear, but hard to read. a sign would be awesome, or even some loud volenteers to explain that olympic had to turn for their second loop, sprint would finish up there... not a biggie, i figured it out, but it's the only part where i was a slight bit confused. thanks again!!! i look forward to racing next year with you guys again. fondly, lacey kleckner (and shawn classen) ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Great job yesterday,Please contact me next year for Kayak assistance. Don Hutchinson ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Thanks for a great race and wonderful weather. Our team of 14 looks forward to next year Scott Burd #990 And Thanks for letting me in late. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Great job with the race yesterday. My wife and I are baffled by our swim times. What was the actual distance of the sprint swim this year and what was last years? Tom ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thank you…. to you and all the volunteers for putting on a great race…..I am looking forward to doing the race next year. Best regards, Scott Martin ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Great job with the Steelman race on Sunday! This was my first Olympic distance race and the event ran beautifully. The entire event was very well organized and the courses were well marked. Thanks for all your work to put this together and we will see you next year! Pat Doyle ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, First, I wanted to express my congratulations on a very well run and organized Steelman Triathlon. I thought the courses were great and there were plenty of volunteers to help out. The grab-bag prize give away at the end was a nice touch, as well. Here is my dilemma. I competed in the Olympic Distance Event (Bib No. 31; Larry Grybosky, Sinking Spring, PA, Age 31). I was DQ'd because I turned in to transition before completing the second loop of the bike portion of the race. Chalk it up to nerves of my first Triathlon, or just simply having a "blond moment." I racked my bike, ran over the timing mat, out around the pier, and then realized I needed to ride another loop. So I went back to transition, and went back out on my bike. I know this really messed up my times. But, is there any way LinMark has any of my splits? The swim would be legitimate, and possibly the run. But I don't know how they keep their records. If I was DQ'd, are my times just deleted from the system? I am not asking you to perform an exhaustive investigation to find my spits. But if you are able to get any of them, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, and we'll see you next year!! If you have any questions, or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Regards. Larry Grybosky ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, just wanted to thank you for an absolutley awesome time yesterday. I thought everything was great and incredibly well organized. This was my first ever true triathlon (I've done the Balance Bar adventure sprints) and it was great. I will definitely be looking forward to next years event. Thank you for all of your hard work you put into it. Best Regards, Aaron Bealer ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I competed (Okay...participated is probably more accurate) in the Steelman this weekend; it was my first race ever of any kind (I've walked a couple charity 5Ks but never run). I set a goal of participating in a Sprint Triathalon after being at a physical therapist for a back problem, that he told me was the result of "years of neglect". While there, a colleage of mine came in who was about to participate in an ironman. I felt that if a fellow 8-5 office worker could train for an ironman, I could do a "mini one". I spent about 6-8 months just trying to get to the point that I could run a 5K, and then added cycling about 2 months ago. My goal upon entry was to finish running (not walking). My goal after the meeting was to finish before you started handing out awards. I am 49, so I was in the last group; I figured I had to finish in less than 2 hours. Well, I met both goals. My run certainly wasn't fast, but I never walked. And I finished in 1 hour 55 minutes, and change. Although I have nothing to compare it to from a race perspective, I've certainly attended all kinds of events in my life, and this was incredibly well run. The pre-information was great. The volunteers were very helpful and particularly friendly, and organization for race day was well done, from body marking to directions during the race, to the post race party. I can't tell you how good I feel right now, and I can't wait to do it again. See you next year, Nancy ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dear Sir Thanks for putting on a fun, well organized event. We enjoyed the race. About the awards - Hannah got bumped out of the junior elite category into the overall, for which she was told there was no prize? I was surprised that she was moved into the overall because of the junior class? Also - somehow we ended paying twice. Please let me know what you think. Thanks Bob Vernon ....................................................................................................................................................................................... This was only my second tri. What a great race. Thanks, Bill Hardy ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale, I competed in the Steelman Sprint triathlon this past weekend. Just wanted to write to let you know how much I appreciated all of the volunteers - they went above and beyond to be helpful and were extremely friendly. The cold towels at the end of the race were a nice touch too. I do have one question. Was the sprint swim distance the same as last year? I was surprised that my time was quite a bit slower this year despite increased training. I compared the fastest splits this year to last year, and it appears times were slower across the board - by about 2 minutes or so. So, it would seem the course was longer this year. Thanks, Gretchen ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale Yesterday was awesome! Thanks for putting on such a great race. My only comment is I want to look better in my photos...Lindsay looks great in all of hers and I look look like.....well you get the idea! thanks for everything, Kathleen I rocked my swim! ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Great job running the event! I have raced all over the country and your event has been one of the best organized to include "door prizes" for everyone! I loved the atmosphere after the event and the fact that you got to the awards quickly after the race! Keep up the good work and I will see you again next year! VR, Brian Szydlik ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I would like to thank you and all of the sponsors for the wonderful event that you put on yesterday. I can only imagine the amount of time that you have put in and want to make sure that you know it was appreciated. It was my first ever tri, in fact my first ever competition of the sort. Everything was well organized and the day turned out to be perfect. I felt like a 'pro' and set my PR. I look forward to competing next year for a top spot in my age group. Thanks again. John J. Zuk ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I don’t know if you do other events or not, but we’re trying to get a triathlon (Olympic & Sprint) back in Lake Harmony. If that has any interest for you let me know, and I’ll put you in touch with some people who can give you details on what / where / and how, and if it’s feasible. Thanks again! Best regards, Scott F. Peterson ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale— Just wanted to say thank you for hosting a great race yesterday. I traveled from Morgantown, WV, to do the race with my sister-in-law who lives in Hellertown. I've done several races in my local area and wanted to acknowledge you for doing an outstanding job with the Steelman race. I especially appreciated the: —comprehensive athlete note you sent prior to the race (very helpful for those of us coming from out of town) —closed bike course (I am a novice road rider so this was a wonderful opportunity to ride in a safe environment) —iced towels at the finish line (a very nice touch!) —the great race shirts —excellent food and prizes I had a wonderful time and enjoyed it all! Thank you for everything! Jill A. Ross ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Yes, I did donate the Spenco wraps. I'm also the girl who almost lost the end of my finger in a bike rack accident and had to participate in the open water clinic with a gloved hand! I would definately be willing to do something next year too. Let me know what you have in mind. We will bring an even larger group next time. I enjoyed Ginnys signs for the Du, Tri, Run club. My husband, son and I joined the group late, but loved it. You really should be so proud of the job you did. I've done a lot of running events over the years, and yours takes the cake! Thanks again! Kim ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Mr. Winterhoff, I just wanted to take some time out to thank you for letting me participate in the triathlon. The event was very fun, safe, organized and competitive. You and your volunteers did a great job with this years event as with the previous year's tri. Next year i will make sure that i sign up nice and early to ensure a spot in the race. Thanks again for your time and effort. Greg Fischer ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thanks for hosting a really fun event! Sincerely, Grace Glowka (Philadelphia Triathlon Club member) ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I competed in the Steelman Olympic distance race yesterday for the first time and I had a great time. You put on a great race. I especially liked the run course. I just have one question. I must have forgotten to specify my t-shirt size on my application, so I was given an X-large. Is there any way I could send it back and get a small if you have any? If not, I understand, but it's a really nice shirt and I would like to be able to wear it. Thanks for your time and I plan on doing the race next year and so do my 4 friends who came with me. Linda Mirabella ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Thanks, Dale. Thanks for a great race and for letting me in! Also, thanks for making it not too hot until after I finished. It was lots of fun...I am looking forward to next year! Elizabeth ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thanks for organizing a great event! It was the first triathlon my wife & I had done, we were in the co-ed relays. Very well run, very organized, and plenty of food for afterwards. I attached a picture my wife got on the way in, we thought it was a neat shot. Ben Pickarski ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hey Dale, I participated in the Steelman for the first time this past Sunday and had a blast. Great course, very well organized and lots of fun. You were great post-race and I got some excellent swag from your sponsors. Thanks for the can of drink mix and the gels. That was a wonderful added surprise post-race. Again, congratulations on running one of the best triathlons in the area. I appreciate all your hard work and the work of the volunteers. See you next year! Lenny Grossman P.S. I know it's a small thing, but the cold towel on the head at the end of the race was WONDERFUL. It's the little touches like that that make the race an even better experience. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale I just wanted to thank you for planning, organizing & directing the tri on Sun. It was my favorite one yet! I can't imagine how much work went into it-lots & lots of coordination between the park service, the police, EMT's, USAT, Lin-Mark, sponsors & everyone else. You did an absolutely terrific job! My husband wanted to let you know how great the cool, wet towel was after his Olympic tri-he said it was a perfect end! I particularly liked all the "give-aways"! Thank-you for making it a safe & fun day! Happy(Lilianne) & Mike Watko ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Just a quick note to thank you again for comp'ing me in as your trademark attorney. You allowed me to complete my first Olympic distance without stopping once, ahead of many in my age group, and in under 3 hours, so my personal goals were met. The quality and caliber of the race you organized exceeded my expectations. A real class act. I heard your comment about the possible web address confusion during the web address, so I hope you're still OK with the current situation. Perhaps the success and great organization of this past week-end's events should help dispel any confusion going forward? P.S. I referred my work colleague Tom Halkowski and his son Nick Halkowski to your event, and was pleased to see that at least Nick H. won his division! ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale: Just wanted to thank you and congratulate you on a successful event on Sunday. My son, husband and I had a great time competing. Everything was well-organized and timed perfectly. See you next year! Karen Miller ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale— How long was the sprint swim for Steelman? I thought it was supposed to be 750 yards, but the race results say 800 yards. Which is correct? If it was longer that would help explain why my time was so much slower than I expected it to be. Thanks again for putting on such a great event. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hello, Thanks for another great race at Steelman this year! I did the sprint race for the second time. Thought you might enjoy some feedback – I work on the side for a race production company myself (www.richmondmultisports.com) and we always appreciate ways to make our races better: The good: - Volunteers were great and enthusiastic - Race was well organized, course well-marked, water stops plentiful - Food was great! Pizza and a good mix of fruit was appreciated - Announcer was easy to hear (music was maybe a bit loud in the morning during set-up) - You mange to pull a good non-racing crowd to cheer for the race - I won my age group – the heart rate monitor was a sweet gift! The less good: - I thought the swim last year actually was better with the sun. Although the first 150 meters were into the sun, after that, it was always at your back. This year, although you started with the sun at your back, after the first turn (sprint) you still swam straight into it, and then again all along the long backstretch, and the buoys were very hard to see the whole time. I think there was less overall glare the old way. - Not sure if this was a function of the swim start sequence, but the run course seemed much more crowded than last year. I finished in the same general location as last year (8th) and noticed a very crowded course on my return leg, whereas last year the run course at that point was nearly empty. I know there was a much longer delay to start the Sprint race this year – necessitated to allow the Olympic swimmers to pass – and maybe this created a bigger overlap in runners than last year. - I thought the awards area was a bit too cramped, and as it was in the secured athlete’s area, no spectators could really get photos, clap, etc. Maybe move it to a more open area so more people can see, it was a madhouse in there. Overall, great race, I look forward to it again next year! (I’m from Doylestown which is why I drive 300 miles to do the race) -Adam Adam D. Switzer, P.E. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thanks again for another great race. I included a link for some comments posted on the beginner triathlete web site from several members who did your race. Follow the link and click at the bottom to read the comments. Thanks Again, See you next year, Steve Gillen ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Thank you so much for allowing Julianna to register late. The event was very nice, location was so beautiful and it gave me piece of mind knowing she did not have to worry about traffic. She really enjoyed herself and was happy that the athlete area was off limits after the race, so she didn't have her parents hovering all over her asking her "dumb questions". On the spectator end it seemed to go off without a hitch, which proves you and your staff/volunteers did a great job. She's looking forward to next year. Since we registered late we were told she may not get a shirt but to ask if there were extra shirts on race day, which she did and someone, I think you, told her to send you an email, so here's the email for that also. If you do not have any we understand and we'll just get one next year. Again great job. Thank you, Dixie and Julianna Fritzinger ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Just a quick note to thank you for a good race. I have only done a few tris, but this went smoothly and I liked the course overall. Thanks again. See you next year Rob Peterson ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to participate in the Steelman Triathlon this year. I thought the race was extremely well organized and the venue was terrific. I look forward to competing in the Steelman for many years to come. Best, Mike ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale, I participated in the Steelman Triathlon this past Sunday, and I was a charity entry. There were no more medium shirts when I picked up my packet, and you said that if I emailed you, you'd send me one. This was my first tri, after about 10 years of supporting my husband in doing tri's. It was fun to be on the other side! I very much enjoyed the day, and was impressed with the organization of the event. I look forward to coming back next year. You can mail the shirt to the following address- 71 West Valley Brook Rd Long Valley NJ 07853 If you have any questions, my phone numbers are listed below. Thanks ever so much! Sam ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, What a wonderful event!!!! I'm still talking about the triathlon to everyone! What a great experience. You and Maryann and all of your volunteers did a fantastic job! We were so amazed how will organized you ran this event! Well done! Alan Moyer took some great aerial photos from his plane. I took a few from my sailboat and another club member also took a few from our committee boat. There was only one minor detail, I didn't realize that I should of let George Calaba know that one of our club member might be flying over to take pictures of the event. Not to worry we will take care of working out the details with George, besides once he see the great aerial photos of his park, he will be asking Alan to take him up to fly over his park! Enjoy the pictures! Take care, Diane Paxton Vice Commodore Nockamixon Sail Club Just a note to say that we really enjoyed participating in the Steel Man Olympic Distance Triathlon this past Sunday. The race was well organized and Lake Nochimixon, Route 563 and the trail run is a great venue for the event. We enjoyed the challenge of the race, I wouldn't say the bike course was flat & fast but I actually enjoyed the rolling hills. We hope do be back next year, hopefully you can keep the same 2nd weekend in August for the 2008 event. Sincerely, Bob & Linda Richey Jr & Bob Richey III ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hello Dale, I just wanted to drop you a line and thank you and all the volunteers for a great race. This was my first triathlon and I really enjoyed the experience. The organization of this race is top notch. I appreciate all the information that was available prior to the race which helped me to put together solid race plan including nutrition and pacing. I also had chance to do few practice rides and runs on the actual course which made it much easier on the race day. The course description with pictures made it easy to see which way we will be going. All this made a huge difference during the race - so much so that I finished full 10 minutes faster than what I had expected. On the race day everything was so well organized and start was on time which is not very usual in any event. What was the best was the finish line services, food and prices drawing. It was very nice day and I had much fun. I'm sure I'll come back next year to improve my time and enjoy the day out with like minded group of people. I have one request though - would it be possible to find a way to transport spectators from the rt563 to the Marina. I have wife and 2 years old son that did not make it through before the road was closed and they were unable to see me race. It would be great if there was a possibility to get them from the bridge to the park. It is a long walk with little boy. Thanks again for a great race and I look forward to next year. Now I feel I'm ready for the Half-Ironman in September in the same park. Jan ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you for putting on such an excellent race. I didn't have a great race in terms of performance, however that had more to do with extraneous circumstances and not with the actual event. I was really impressed by the organization and support. It was awesome. The course was great (swim seemed a little long....I'm not a great swimmer, however it still seemed long), but the bike and run were great. The bike course was much harder than I had anticipated. The shade on the run was great. I don't care what anybody says....it was darn humid on Sunday. You guys may not realize it because you are use to having some, but my outfit was as wet at the end of the race as it was coming out of the water. The food and festivities at the end were really fabulous. I would have liked to thank you personally; however you were busy giving away things. I was glad I brought my bike and decided to do the race. Unfortunately I was not able to focus on the race as my grandfather became very ill and was in ICU while I was back visiting. It was rather stressful. The race provided a really nice diversion for the day. Thanks again for a great race! Tracy Mulvaney Casa Grande, AZ ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale, I just wanted to thank you for putting together such a well organized event. This was my first triathlon and I was a bit nervous about not knowing what exactly to do. I had no problems figuring things out as everything was so well marked and the volunteers were well organized and really let you know what to do. I had a lot of fun and intend to do many more in the future. Thanks for a great first experience. Molly ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale, Great race the other day, I've run in about 10 Tri's and this was one of the better ones, great time, I'll definitely be back. Was nice not to have to compete with cars for once and everyone was so nice. Had a quick question. Were there race photographers at this race, I didn't notice any? If so, do you know when they'll be up or have a link where we can view them? Thanks again for a great race ( beat my own personal swim time, pretty exciting )! Regards, Kevin Scelfo ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hey Dale! I am sure that you have been inundated with kudos for the excellent job you and your many wonderful volunteers did on Sunday. I waited a couple of days to contact you so that I could keep the good karma going! ;o) I have raced in some big events over the years and I can tell you that you rate as high or higher than any of them. The magnitude of putting on an event like you did is overwhelming... Thank you! On another note, I want to express my concern for the cyclists who crashed. Such a sad and unfortunate experience! I hope they are all (3?) recovering well... Accidents happen no matter how carefully we plan... Thanks again... I am talking your race up to all of my athlete friends! Joyce Stevens ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale - Just wanted to send along my congrats on putting on a great race last weekend. It was lots of fun, a beautiful course and well-executed. I can't even count the amount of races I have participated in and this one ranked high up there. I will look forward to coming back next year. Will there be official race photos posted? I tried clicking on the link through Lin-Mark but it said it wasn't open to the public. Can't wait to see the pictures! Thanks, Lindsey Webster ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thanks for a great race. You and everyone associated with the Steelman Triathlon continue to put on a first class event. Your hard work and dedication to this race is highly appreciated. Thanks again. Jack Wittenberger Bethlehem, Pa. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Hi Dale. Just wanted to say thanks for inviting me and my services to the Steelman. I had a great time working with the athletes. I was at the LVRR clubhouse on Wed night and learned that you are a familiar name and face around there. I didn't realize that. There were quite a few LVRR people in the race, everyone seemed to have a great experience and I heard all complimentary remarks about your production. Thanks again and best wishes. Laurie ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thanks for a great event. The fantastic weather was only outdone by your exceptional team. The generosity of the sponsors and the hard work put in by you and the volunteers made for a very enjoyable experience. I look forward to participating next year. Regards, Kevin ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thanks for putting together the event. I had a great time and look foward to doing it again (faster) next year. Best regards, Scott Martin ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Thank you…. to you and all the volunteers for putting on a great race…..I am looking forward to doing the race next year. - Nate ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I've been doing Olympic triathlons for 9 years and want to congratulate you on one of the most well prepared and run (and fun!!!) triathlons I have ever been to. Following are (some of) the reasons. - Pre race communication via internet was frequent and detailed - You allowed packet pick up race morning. Many organizers are forcing participant to pick up packets the day before which is a waste of time and gasoline and bad for the environment - The volunteers were NUMEROUS and WELL TRAINED. - The swim course was very well marked, including SAILBOATS at the first 2 corners! - The bike course was CLOSED TO TRAFFIC, had excellent road conditions and well marked. I ride fairly fast (had the 3rd fastest bike split) and have stopped doing races I consider "unsafe" due to traffic and narrow racing lanes. I was brushed by a truck this year at the NJ State Triathlon while passing. - The music was great - The food was fantastic with choice of fresh fruit, carbs and pizza - The "high tech" fabric T-shirts were the highest quality I've ever gotten (without paying more) The are so many triathlons now in the NY/NJ/PA area to choose from and this race now stands out as a "must do" for us along with New York City and Philadelphia. We will see you next year! Dave and Jackie Misiak (aka "Dynamic Duo") ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, Just a quick note, I was an observer at your Tri, what a great job. You should be very proud of the job. I certainly appreciate the effort that goes into putting on an event of that magnitude. Neal Novak, Lehigh Valley Road Runners ....................................................................................................................................................................................... Dale, I wanted to congratulate you on a fantastic event! I participated in the Lake Nockamixon Steelman Olympic and was thrilled with the whole event! While I have plenty of room to improve my tri performance, you have set the standard in race organization. My few parts: - I arrived really early and there were already folks providing direction in the parking lot. - Lots and lots of buoys on the swim course. - Folks helping me get out of the water. - Gatorade on the bike course (I accidentally dropped my water bottle so that was a life-saver) - Fantastic run course, nice and shady. - Amazing support at the end of the race. A cold towel and cool place to sit. - I was at the back of the pack, and there was still lots of food and cold drink left. Those are just the things I appreciated most. There were many other things I could list as well. I did another tri this past weekend and (literally) spent all day saying "Steelman was better". Again, congrats on a great day! I look forward to next year! - Alana Lambert