How It Went

(Team Hartz for the win!)

How did it go? Here's how it went, quantitatively speaking:

5,452 = dollars U.S. raised (and counting!)

1,500 = meters swum

40 = kilometers cycled

10 = kilometers run

2 = Hartzes in the Nautica NYC Triathlon

1 = OneFamily Fund!

0 = sweat

Qualitatively, however, it was AMAZING. Two goals were shattered this year. The first was our fundraising goal, which we set at $3,600, thinking that it would be a challenge to surpass last year's total of around $3,000. We ended up raising nearly $2,000 more than our goal this year! For that we owe a huge thank you and yashar koach to all the wonderful people who donated on our behalf, and who made a huge difference in the lives of people who really need your help.

The second shattered goal was my own personal goal to walk less of the run portion of the event. Last year, I ended up walking about 2.5 miles of the 6.2 mile course. I was determined that this year, I would walk one mile at most. Turns out, I ran the entire course! This may seem lame to many of you (and indeed it sort of is, comparatively speaking) but it was a big challenge to a non-runner like me, and when I thought about all the people who would laugh at me if I slowed down, it really kept me going. So thank you.

I am majorly thankful for my family who came into New York over the weekend to watch and cheer as my dad and I raced our way to the finish line. I am majorly proud of my dad for doing the swim course in the midst of windy rainfall, and for even passing swimmers who took off before him! Go dad!! Finally, I am majorly thankful for my wife Tamima who has kept me focused and well-nourished this entire summer, and who motivates me to do good things.

Here's to a fantastic second annual triathlon, and looking forward to an even better third!!

(And it's still not too late to donate!)