Dear TCSD,

Wow! What a great race! And so many people from TCSD both
participating and spectating. I would like to extend my thanks to
all those people that were cheering my wife Leah and I throughout the
course. I felt weak at times but your words and clapping were the
inspiration that I needed to finish.

It was one year ago today that my wife Leah did her first ever
triathlon - Solana Beach. A few months prior to that I attended a
beginner's meeting and High Tech Bikes hosted by Farah Hedwig and
Matt (sorry, I don't know your last name) on Leah's behalf. I got a
lot of information and thought that this was going to be a great
challenge for Leah.

She asked me if I thought that I would like to train to do
triathlons... "No thanks honey! It's too expensive for all that
equipment. You just do your thing and I'll just sit on the
sidelines, take pictures and cheer you on" (which I ended up doing).
You see, I was a runner, could probably bike but would sink if I
tried to swim any distance. I had no interest in hauling that
equipment around, getting all salty and sandy... and those waves!
Eek!

I came to realize of the over next few months that it really wasn't
too much money to get started in this great sport. I took the plunge
and paid for a membership. "Sixty bucks", I thought to myself, "I
could easily eat that much at the pot lucks and club race breakfasts
even if I didn't swim, bike or run".

I started attending some of the club functions and workouts and I
became more at ease trying to swim in the ocean. When I started out
swimming last year at the Friday cove swims, I couldn't make it even
halfway to the quarter mile buoy. Being around all of you great
people is encouraging and inspiring - THANK YOU! I received a lot of
wisdom, guidance and knowledge that helped put my fears at ease.

We have met a lot of great people, made some great new friends and we
look forward to many more races and workouts with you.

We joined the club shortly after the passing of Jim and I'm sorry
that we didn't get a chance to meet such a great guy. I can see how
he has touched the members of this club and his spirit comes out in
all of you.

So we're rookies no more one year later... We celebrated Leah's 42nd
birthday today by participating in this Tri (what a great way to
celebrate!) We've signed up for our first 70.3 ( Oceanside ) and
what was once only a pipe dream YOU all are helping to make a
reality. THANK YOU. Now I'm off to renew our memberships and
encourage other non-TCSDers around me to join THE best club I've ever
belonged to!

Best Regards,

Ty Haeber

(unedited original email)