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Bay Area Multisport
2010 Executive Committee & Board of Advisors

President	Chris Hamblin
Treasurer	Cathy Modaro
Secretary/Membership	Donna Toler
Beginner Training	Steve Lowe
Intermediate Training	Jessica Roeschel
Race Team	Jake Fox
Media/Communications	Sarah Ruiz
Apparel	Kathleen Scharchberg
Sponsorship	John Galey
Events & Volunteers	Cleve Meacham
Clinics	Jeff Feldman
Past President	Todd O'Neal
Social	VACANT

Chris Hamblin President	I started doing triathlons a few years ago to just because I needed a new challenge. I never imagined that I would become addicted to it. There’s something special about this sport. It seems to offer something different to everybody, but a common theme among triathletes is that this sport changes people’s lives. More so than most. I’ve never heard one of my friends say “Man, softball changed my life”. Without a doubt triathlon has changed my life, physically for sure, but it has also improved my family and my professional life as well. My wife is a runner so it gives us something else in common and being physically active has a positive influence on my two young daughters who have developed a love of sports and recognize the importance of an active lifestyle. Professionally, I’ve learned to carry the lessons of hard work, dedication, and persistence into all aspects of my life. BAM helped me get started, the club made triathlon more fun and gave me resources and a community that helped me train and learn. Being a member of the board allows me meet other triathletes, hear their stories and the chance to give back to something that has improved the quality of my life. Triathlon is a microcosm for life, work hard and you will be rewarded.
Donna Toler Secretary & Membership	As Membership Advisor, I look forward to serving the triathletes of BAM by answering questions with regard to membership enrollment and benefits. As Board Secretary, I will also work to keep things moving forward so we can continually meet the membership needs. I am always open to suggestions and will gladly answer any questions – and if I can’t answer them, it is my job to get you to someone who can! Friends and I started using triathlon as a fun way to focus on fitness. We opted to do our first tri as a relay team. Well, we finished that tri and I will always remember the inscription on the finishers’ medal: “The woman that starts the race is not the same woman who finishes the race” After that I never ever thought about myself the same way again. That very day we promised one another we would go back and do the tri as individuals. After collectively losing more than 335 lbs, we returned to Danskin in 2009 and finished what we started. Sometimes people seem quite surprised at what I do in my free-time, but I am always quick to tell them, “You can do it too!” “You just have to make the time!” I’m a 42 year old, full-time working Mom, Wife and 2nd year triathlete with a dozen triathlons, 2 MS150’s and countless other rides under my belt. If I can find the time, anyone can. You just have to have the desire to see yourself do more than you ever thought you could, because “whether you believe you can, or you can't, you are right."
Cathy Modaro Treasurer	This is my third year as a board member with BAM. As treasurer I plan to keep the check book as up to date as possible. I’ll be collecting money for events during the year. Please contact me if you ever want to see the financial statements. I started triathlons with “My First Tri” in Galveston in March 2004 and was hooked. Since then I have done many sprint and Olympic distances, 2 half’s and one full IM. My favorite part is the swim. I enjoy the bike and continue to work on my running (run/walk). I am looking forward to the next year with the club and hope you enjoy your triathlon experience with BAM.
Jake Fox Race Team Manager	I grew up swimming in Pensacola, FL. I ran some road races and did tris and a couple of road races for fun in high school. I swam for a semester in college, but switched to water polo, which i've been playing for almost 20 years now. After graduate school, I moved to Houston fin 1997 or a job. I decided to get back into triathlons, mostly for fitness and because I met my future wife who wanted to start as well. I became more serious about training and racing throughout the next few years and have been doing it ever since. I've completed several marathons including Boston, several 1/2-IMs, IM Canada in 2002 and DNF'd at IM Florida in 2004. I pick only a few races a year to do, because I enjoy training so much. I'm now married and have 2 young kids, so I'm sticking to the short stuff until I turn 40 when I'll start really training hard and train for IMs again. I joined the BAM! Racing team to help support the large tri community in the Clear Lake area and to inspire some old-fashioned competition with fellow Houstonians! Just remember, we all have to go to work on Monday; so have fun first! Cheers.
Kathleen Scharchburg Apparel	As Apparel advisor I will coordinate the purchase and distribution of BAM! apparel. I grew up dancing ballet, was a cheerleader in high school, played tennis and ran track (believe it or not) in college. I did my first triathlon in 1981, which was a joke. We biked first, went into locker room, changed clothes, counted our own laps in a little pool with no lines or ropes, changed clothes in the locker room again, then ran cross country and I got lost. Oh well, I was still hooked and have been ever since....couldn't count how many I have done. When I saw Julie Moss crawl across the finish line in the 1982 Hawaii Ironman on NBC Sports, I wrote my Ironman goal on my mirror and finally reached it at the '09 Florida Ironman. I could not have done it without the training partners I met through BAM! Everyone is so supportive and nice, and I am proud to be a member of this special triathlon community.
Jessica Roeschel Intermediate Advisor	I’ve been running short distance since I was 14 yrs old and started running long distance with a local running club shortly after I moved to Houston in 2005. I started out running half marathons and enjoyed the experience each race brought and all the new friends I made. So, I decided to go one step further and attempt a marathon. My first marathon experience didn’t go according to plan since I was having really bad ITB issues and was taken off running for 6 months while I recovered with therapy. Since then, I have run several marathons and have learned to love the distance. I attempted my first sprint tri in 2006 without any training and got through it. I trained in 2007 but never attempted a single tri since I was not comfortable in the water and didn’t really know how to swim but I could breaststroke. After watching so my Ironmans on tv, I was tempted to try half the distance if I could finally learn how to swim. I did my first half Ironman in 2008 but still had not gotten the swimming fully down. In 2009, I signed up for my first Ironman and told myself I would have to learn how to swim better to get through the 2.4 miles and became an Ironman in Sept. 2009. After I crossed that finish line, I knew I wanted to do another one. I’m still working on my swimming and am looking forward to my next Ironman in 2010. I’m looking forward to working with you this year! I’m ready to help you cross that finish line whether it’s a sprint tri or an Ironman!
Cleve Meacham Volunteer Advisor	I am a 50 year old triathlete. Five years ago, I was 250 pounds, had a lot of bad habits, and my idea of exercise was occasionally jumping to conclusions. I went to see the Dr. and he read me the riot act, I was over weight, my blood pressure was through the roof, and my blood sugar was so high, that I was as close to being a diabetic as is possible, without actually being one; time for a change, or to quote the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Got to take it on the other side". I decided to start jogging, and built up to the point where I could do first a 5k, and then a 10k. I bought a bicycle to start riding, and I joined the YMCA. At the Y, I made friends with one of the personal trainers and he talked me into signing up for the Silverlake triathlon in 2007. Believe me, it took some talking. That first race, I dog paddled the swim (during which I got ran over by several succeeding wave groups), rode my hybrid bike, barely finished the run, and was not only last in my age group, but only able to beat one other person in the entire field!. Somehow, I was still instantly and hopelessly addicted to multisport lifestyle. Since then I have done quite a few races and next year I plan to do the Half Ironman at Lonestar. It is hard for me to explain why I enjoy the sport so much. For me, triathlon is about personal achievement, and like virtue, the act of doing it, is its own reward. I feel blessed to have both the ability and the desire to participate. I do it today, so I can do it tomorrow. BAM is a wonderful collection of individuals, and I can assure you that no matter what your athletic background or ability, there is a place for you here. So come on out, and lets go for a run, or a ride, or a swim.
Steve Lowe Beginners Advisor	I got "hooked" on triathlons in the summer of 2005 while watching a family friend competing in a sprint race in San Antonio, TX. At that time I had done the Houston marathon, Sunmart and numerous other runs but I always had trouble training through out the long Houston summers. I thought training for tri's in the summer would keep me in better shape and I'd enjoy my training more but I had no idea what it took to do a triathlon. So after borrowing a road bike and swimming a few laps at the local gym, I did my 1st tri in the spring of 2006. I had a blast: it was over before I knew it. Since then I've averaged 3-4 sprint races and 1-2 relays a summer. I still don't like training in the heat, but I do find it more enjoyable with the biking and swimming mixed in. My goal race this year will to do the Lonestar Half Ironman (70.3) in Galveston, my longest effort. Tri training is a balance of 3 disciplines that each individual must find what works best for them. Most beginners/sprint triathletes can race with 3-5 hours training a week but as with any race, the longer the event, the more preparation is needed. BAM has a number of experienced triathletes, who are more than willing to share their knowledge of triathlons and how to train for them. I know you'll find BAM members as much fun and as helpful as I have over the past several years. Train, compete and most of all, have fun with it.
Sarah Ruiz Communications & Media	My first triathlon was the Danskin Women's Sprint Tri in Austin in 2003. I had no idea what to wear or how to get through transition, and my brand new road bike was barely broken in. (The chain fell off twice during my 12-mile ride!) Since then I've done many more sprint distance races, and even a Half Ironman. It was incredible and I'm excited to do it again! I race in the Athena category and have captured 1st place at some of the area races, but it's probably mostly due to the fact that few women enter the category! :) Each tri I do makes me love the sport even more, and the variety in activities means I never get too bored in training. Hopefully you will discover you feel the same way and get hooked on triathlons!
John Galey Sponsorship Advisor	As sponsorship advisor John will develop and manage partnerships with companies, groups and other organizations that bring value added benefits to our Club members. John will solicit feedback from the Club members regarding past, present and future sponsorship needs and opportunities. Hopefully John will make time in his busy schedule to actually write his own bio and tell us what he enjoys living and supporting the multisport lifestyle.
Todd O'Neal Past President	At the end of the 2005-2006 running season, after missing my marathon goal,…again, this time by more than 41 minutes and suffering yet another disappointment as a result of my chronic IT band syndrome, I decided to lose weight and keep in shape ahead of the next marathon training season. Hopefully this would improve my chances of success in the marathon. I decided I would cross-train with swimming and keep my running up by competing in the spring and summer running events. No riding yet as I didn’t have a bike. The training was going OK, but I lacked the focus and motivation of an event to train for. That all changed on a trip to On The Run in March of that year. They had an advertisement for the Battle of San Jacinto Olympic Triathlon in the window. When I saw that ad I knew I had found my new challenge. I signed up, trained as best I knew how for the following month, and just barely finished. I borrowed a steel road bike from Martin Rios. (That bike is still getting passed around) I was completely exhausted after this race. Even though I had already completed two marathons and several half-marathons, I was not prepared for the challenge of triathlon. The difficulty I experienced in attempting to complete this event challenged me to add more cross-training and sparked a fire within me to improve in all three triathlon disciplines. By the end of the summer I had taken, 5 minutes off my 5K time, 8 minutes off my 10K, 24 minutes off my half-marathon, my Olympic Tri PR had dropped by 14 minutes and I had completed my first half-iron distance. I am also proud to say I finally achieved my sub-4 marathon the next year at Houston. And by the way, I broke my marathon PR by 48 minutes. Ahead 4 years, I am completely addicted to this sport. I now have a dozen or so half-irons on my resume and I’m proud to say I am a two time Ironman finisher. Triathlon and the tri community have been a great influence on my life. The sport will improve your overall fitness. I promise to do my best in sharing my experiences with all of you. Lastly, if you fall in love with the sport as I have, please consider serving in a leadership position in the club. This is, by far, the best way to pay your love for the sport forward. TNTS! My Friends!

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