The 1984 Chicago Marathon, Honolulu Marathon, Austria Ironman, New Zealand Ironman . . . just a sampling of Neil's long list of race accomplishments.  Excited to have someone with Neil's background sign up for one of JackRabbit's beginning swim programs, we couldn't help but ask ourselves one question . . . why?

Neil moved to NYC from Hawaii in 2004. Wanting to meet like minded race enthusiasts he decided that joining a group training program was the best way to get started.  Unfortunately, shoulder surgery in 2005 delayed his action plan for most of that season. During his long period of convalescence he decided that the 2006 NYC Triathlon would be his return to competition.  Neil immediately went looking for a program to help with his training and meet local triathletes and landed in JackRabbit's Olympic Distance Tri program. It was a great experience for him but what he remembers most fondly are the folks he met and friends he made while training. Not one to rest on his laurels, Neil immediately signed up for our Marathon training program and went on to complete NYC's most famous race and his 11^th marathon!

Having been in New York two years and with his first full NYC race season under his belt, Neil feels good about his recovery from surgery, all the friends he's made and is already signed up for 2007 Lake Placid Ironman. He's recently joined the New York Flyers to help with his training and as might be expected is most looking forward to meeting and making new friends with the Flyers.

Even though he's accumulated quite a race resume Neil insists he's not at all competitive. "I really just love meeting and connecting with other athletes. There's a unique bond that develops when you train with someone and work toward the same goal and training programs are one of the best ways to find that, for me at least". Does he miss training in tropical Hawaii?  He sorely misses the weather of his home state but does give credit where credit is due and really appreciates the diversity of biking options New York offers. When asked about his favorite part of training and competing, Neil says without hesitation "The wonderful people in the community, friendships made and the shared commeradery".  When asked what keeps him coming back for more after all these years, his reply is the same. 

It sounds to us like Neil is one lucky guy!

Nicole is a graduating senior from Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Connecticut who just began interning with us here at JackRabbit. As part of her school's curriculum, Nicole had the option to spend the last 4 weeks of her senior year on an internship of her choice. As triathlons have come of interest to the ex-cross-country runner, Jack Rabbit seemed like the perfect place for her to come.

Nicole found out about Jack Rabbit from a website link while she was researching different triathlon training groups in her area. She clicked on the rabbit logo, and quickly decided that JackRabbit would be a great opportunity to do her senior internship. After several conversations and a game of phone tag with Doug Oldiges, Jack Rabbit's training program coordinator, Nicole was on her way.

Although the commute is somewhat lengthy, Nicole loves being in the city. She says that the city is her "connection to the rest of the world", coming from a small, suburban town in Connecticut.   

As Nicole will begin college in the fall, she is looking to learn more about the triathlon sport so that she can hopefully integrate it into her college and post-college lifestyle. The last two very stressful and work-focused years of high school have made Nicole realize the importance of maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle, between work, academics, athletics, fun, etc., in order to perform her best.

Nicole has always loved being active and has played on several different sports teams, including softball, basketball, volleyball, and cross country. After joining the cross country team in the fall of her sophomore year, Nicole won 10^th place in the junior varsity state race for Connecticut; she hopes that her internship can help her get back into running shape! Nicole also loves the outdoors and has been horseback riding for about 13 years.

From her internship with Jack Rabbit, Nicole hopes she can learn everything she needs to know about the triathlon sport, including training methods, nutrition, and the overall industry. She's extremely excited to meet triathletes and other like-minded people at Jack Rabbit, and she looks forward to using the information she gains here in the long-run!

At 5'8" and weighing in at 227 lbs, Dave struck a figure more akin to a Midwest couch potato than anything else.  In his efforts to lose some of that extra weight he was rollerblading.  Fun as he found that, it didn't really have an impact on the extra weight he was carrying around.  Then in December of 2005 his brother Stephen brought him to JackRabbit and bought him his first pair of running shoes as a Chanukah gift.  Little did he know the impact that visit would have on his waistline, or his life.

Having never run before Dave admits it was really, really hard going at first, and not a lot of fun either.  Starting off slow, at 14 minute mile pace he never got the sense that he was actually going anywhere or accomplishing anything.  But yet he was.  With his lack of conditioning, even going at that speed (or lack thereof) took a lot of effort and hard work.  While he couldn't see a lot of initial improvement in speed or distance he was able to cover, he was getting encouraging feedback every time he stepped on the scale.  After all, his goal wasn't to actually become a 'runner', it was to lose weight, so in that respect it was working.  With the weight loss as the driving force and the running as simply the means to an end he was OK being slow after 6 months into it and never for moment considered himself a runner.

That all changed for Dave in June of 2006 when, on the encouragement of his friends Greg and Dan he entered his first road race, the Chief Ray Downey 5K in Deer Park, Long Island.  He finished in 32:30 and felt great afterwards.  So great in fact that he did the same 5K race the following year and cut 5 minutes off his time in 27:30. He was no longer just running to lose weight but because he was actually enjoying it. Was he calling himself a runner at this point though, no he couldn't quite go there . . . just yet.  All that changed in May '08 when he toed the line for his first half marathon, the Long Island Half.  Says Dave, "When I lined up for the half marathon that May I finally felt like I belonged there and for the first time could say to myself and others that yes, I am a runner"!

The last 18 months have been an amazing journey of discovery for Dave.  He's lost a total of 50 lbs, has gone on to do numerous road races and is excited and proud to finally be able to call himself a runner. Dave admits it wasn't running alone but the coordinating improvements to his diet that not only helped him drop the 50 lbs but contributes to his improved performance and the resulting sense of confidence and strength that he now feels every day.  When asked about his least favorite part of his new lifestyle, he's quick to answer "The cold air, I hate running in the cold"!  When asked about the Chanukah gift that started him on this journey, he's still running in the same model (though not the same pair) of running shoes his brother first gave him as a gift – the Asics Cumulus.