Inspired
from Rebecca
#BeReady
 I’m not sure about all of you, but I’m extremely tired of Covid-19 and all of its disruptions since mid March. I think that it was a true 90 days in our lock down, and trying to navigate this life in a mask, socially distant, while processing our new normal as others take a stance peacefully protesting and trying to live on the side of right. When we ask someone how they are, most will say "just trying to navigate this crazy world, the world has gone mad." We chuckle a little and smile with our eyes.
We have all seen grocery stores shelves empty or near empty, lines for testing with miles and miles of cars, everyday the news briefs of how many have been tested, how many are sick and how many lost their fight. They say numbers have been inflated, areas have not listened to advice to mask up because they feel their rights are being taken away. New hot spots emerging, states reopening slowly while others are having huge parties.
So much to sort through, who to believe, what to believe. My head is just spinning with it all.
As we were walking today, I saw a T-shirt... #BeReady and I thought to myself that’s exactly what I’m doing #gettingready so I can “#be ready”
This year was going to be my first... and probably only... one and done Ironman 70.3. I signed up for the Waco TX beginner Ironman 70.3 in February knowing I had a lot of time to train. But then COVID-19 hit. Motivation for training was slowed then we did zoom group workouts and bike trainer rides but the motivation again dipped. I fell down the depression rabbit hole and was feeling deflated because we cancelled the Race4Chase triathlon training programs and every fundraiser we had planned for 2020. In January, we had an amazing day while signing 29 programs. That and so much more was now gone.
On a positive note, we had created some really cool and fun Covid-19 memories; our family pub crawl, birthday crowns and painted rocks and birthday drive by parades, and the best friends and family graduation celebration honoring our favorite 6 graduates of 2020! We remembered Chase as he would have graduated 8th grade. We celebrated Veronica for graduating high school and were thrilled for Tori, Kate, John and Brittany all who graduated college.
Through the ashes of Covid-19, the CMAK PHOENIX program was born. I can never express my gratitude to Mark Pooler and Jim O’Rourke for always stepping up and finding a way to honor Chase, even when they are knee deep in holding the reins of the YMCA, navigating through these uncertain times for the Y’s.
Through all of this, I have once again been inspired to get back on my training schedule and #BeReady for my 70.3. It may not happen in TX and it may not be a traditional sanctioned IRONMAN, but come a day in October, I will complete a 70.3 distance and I will do it to honor Chase in my way with an IRONCHASE!
+ photo care of Waterbury Republican American Newspaper
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In this section for our newsletter we are asking our readers and supporters of CMAK and the Race4Chase Program to submit stories of inspiration emanating from Chase and the programs that he has inspired. CMAK encourages everyone to submit their stories to be published in this section to Kevin Grimes at kgrimes@cmakfoundation.org.. This month's story is provided by Jessica Harris, mother of Owen Harris- Race4Chase athlete:
Owen Harris is 9 years old and lives in Wallingford, CT. He participated in the Race4Chase camp at the Wallingford Y and completed his first triathlon at Camp Sloper last year. It sparked such an interest in triathlons for him! Last year, to our surprise and delight, he placed first for the 8 year old boy age group and we were so proud of him!
Owen's 25- year old uncle, David Shannon, shares the same passions for running, biking, swimming and being active as Owen. David completed several marathons and most recently a snow-show half marathon in Vermont this past winter. Uncle D decided to create a triathlon for Owen and him to complete the morning of June 26 in my parents' neighborhood.
 
Their triathlon consisted of swimming 139 yards (15 laps in Grandma's and Grandpa's pool), immediately followed by 4.8 miles on the bike and concluded with a 1.6 mile run.
 
They completed it together, side by side, with an impressive time of 49:05.
 
This summer, Owen will be participating in the Wallingford Race4Chase Phoenix Program July 20- 31.
It is great to see that Owen and David were so inspired to create their own race. Owen certainly has two great Role Models in Chase and Uncle D. We look forward to seeing Owen at the Wallingford Finale and wish him the best of luck! Hopefully, Uncle D will be there to cheer him to the finish line.
2020 Race4Chase Phoenix Program
2020 Race4Chase Phoenix Triathlon Program Attracts 15 Sites
 Fifteen 2020 Race4Chase Kids Triathlon Program sites have adopted the Race4Chase Phoenix Program as an alternative to the program that was cancelled due to the Corona Virus outbreak. The Race4Chase Phoenix program will be an abbreviated version of the traditional six week Race4Chase Kids Triathlon program. Each program will run for two weeks, accepting up to 20 participants, culminating with a Finale triathlon staged by the local site. The program will be held within July and August with the selection of the exact two weeks at the local sites discretion.
CMAK will be providing a grant to each site plus tee shirts, Finale finisher dog tags and bicycles where needed. The program is free to all participants. CMAK hopes that providing this opportunity through our sites will be successful in providing participants with a positive impactful experience similar to our six week program.
See below for the list of Race4Chase Phoenix program locations. You will need to contact these sites directly to obtain further information including timing and registration.
CT
Branford- Soundview Family YMCA
Cheshire- Cheshire Community YMCA
Milford- Woodruff Family YMCA
Newtown - Newtown Community Center
Southington- Southington Community YMCA
Stratford- Stratford YMCA
Trumbull- Lakewood-Trumbull YMCA
Wallingford- Wallingford Family YMCA
Waterbury- Greater Waterbury YMCA
Westbrook - Valley Shore YMCA
RI
Bayside- YMCA Greater Providence Bayside
Kent County- YMCA Greater Providence Kent County
Newport- Newport County YMCA
Pawtucket- YMCA Camp Westwood
Note Change of Address for CMAK
CMAK Sandy Hook Memorial Foundation
2 Washington Square
Newtown, CT 06482
We would like to remind you of the DOT Generation Charity Partnership Program for which CMAK is a member. You can express your support of CMAK through contracting for your printing needs with DOT Generation of Connecticut who will in turn contribute 5% of gross sales to CMAK. For more details about the program and a full list of services, please contact our good friend and long supporter, David Stowe, at david@dotgeneration.com.
Race4Chase News
2020 TCS New York City Marathon - CANCELLED
Race4Chase team vows to return bigger and better for the 2021 addition of the race!
 The 2020 TCS New York City Marathon was officially cancelled by the race organizers this week due to the pandemic. Shaking off their disappointment in hearing of the race's cancellation, our six Race4Chase team members, Suzanne Clemente, Erin Flanagan, Amanda Erickson Jacob, Kelly Agosti, Susie Johnson and Emily Carr, have enthusiastically committed to defer their entry for one year and run on the Race4Chase team at the Marathon in 2021. Each will continue with their fundraising campaign which can be accessed at the following link:
2021 TCS New York City Marathon Race4Chase Team
We wish the team members well as they continue to train and hopefully get back to racing as soon as it is safe to do so. CMAK will be applying for additional bibs for the 2021 race later this year and will let our supporters know if we are successful in expanding the team.
Other Race4Chase Team Events:
Ironman Lake Placid (Full) CANCELLED
Sunday, July 26th , 2020
As Nick Waaler and Liz Sovern received the disappointing news that the Ironman Lake Placid is officially cancelled rather than postponed, Nick Waaler has plans to run the distance on his own in the Sandy Hook area in late summer. We will provide additional details as they become available.
Please support these athletes as they raise funds for CMAK at Race4Chase Team GoFundMe page.
Ironman Waco (Txs) (70.3) (Still scheduled)
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Rebecca Kowalski is considering to amend her attempt to complete her first Half Ironman at Waco, Texas given the tentative nature of all races that have not been cancelled yet, the travel involved and the desire to limit the stress involved in this challenge. We will update her plans next month as she continues to build her training miles to prepare for the distance.
Baton Update
With the spread of the virus and lack of events, updates on our batons are slow in coming. We look forward to better times where our baton holders can be engaged in challenging themselves in Chase's spirit.
A big thanks to RELAYBATONS.com for donating all the Race4Chase batons for this program and also for use in our Race4Chase Kid’s Triathlon program.
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