The OMC Board
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Nathan Allen, President
Although I have biked since I was a kid, and picked up running as just an additional form of exercise in 2006, I've only been involved in multi-sport since 2009. I did my first sprint triathlon at the Republic Tiger Tri in August 09, and worked my way up to Ironman Wisconsin (140.6) in September of 2010. Along with triathlon I have started trail running and ran my first ultra-marathon at the Grand Canyon running from Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in April of 2011. I tend to focus on the longer endurance races over the shorter, higher intensity stuff, but have come to appreciate all of it.
Multi-sport has been great as another way for my wife and I to stay active, and we have met a lot of our closest friends through it. I look forward to helping build the club, and getting members connected to share this activity together.
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Roger Meadows, Vice President
My first multisport event was with my wife Keena and another couple in the 2007 Ozark Greenways Adventure Race. I had done some running previously, but nothing serious. We both fell in love with the sport and looked to continue it in some form. I later entered my first triathlon, an XTERRA off road in Eureka Springs, AR. Again, I absolutely loved it, and I've been hooked ever since. I gave up the mountain bike due to my limited skills and many spills and took to the pavement. I've competed in various tri's including IM Kansas and Branson 70.3, Concrete Man, Memphis in May, and Ironman Coeur d'Alene to name a few. Also in 2011, I became a USAT certified level 1 coach. My whole family is involved in triathlon. Both of my children enjoy the sport and enjoy competing in the annual Nixa youth Tri and in IronKids. Both went to IronKids nationals in 2010 and 2011. To me triathlon really is a lifestyle. It teaches me that the only limits I have are the ones I place on myself. We have a great multisport community here in the Ozarks. I feel lucky to live in such a great place to train and race.
-- What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Brittany Allen, Treasurer
I started out riding my bike with my father around 1998 and was convinced cycling would be my sport for years to come. Then, after packing on a number of pounds while attending school, I started running in 2006 to support my battle against the bulge. When I moved to Columbia, Missouri, in 2008, I started hanging out with a group of triathletes because I was convinced that joining them on bikes and runs would help keep me focused and active. Silly me. After about a year of hanging out with these yahoos, I did my first sprint triathlon and completed my first Ironman race in Madison, Wisconsin in 2010. I'm not the fastest competitor out there, but I'm told I have a smile on my face the whole way and I believe it because I have so much fun! I'm looking forward to new challenges in years to come (adventure racing? rock climbing?) and I'm so glad to be a part of the Ozarks Multisport Club!
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Pinky Smith, Secretary
I started doing Sprint Tri’s in 2007 while working on becoming a healthier person. Eric Schroeder was a person who came into my life who believed in me and encouraged me to train and compete for my 1st Tri in 2007. He gave me the confidence, self esteem and the drive to succeed. OMC and the people that I’ve met over the past few years have helped me continue to try new things and to show others that anyone can do it…even me.
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Keena Meadows, Board Member
I have been involved with multi-sport for five years. My only previous experience before beginning adventure races and triathlons was some running. Five years ago I was also diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Although greatly devastated by the news, I was determined to be strong for my kids and stay active. The same year as my diagnosis (and with no prior experience) my husband, Roger, and I entered the Ozark Greenways Adventure race. It was scary, challenging and such a blast that we did it again the following year. Then my husband did the Xterra Tri and I was jealous, so I signed myself up for the Tiger Tri. I have done sprint, Olympic and half-iron distance and my husband and I will do our first 140.6 this year. Multi-sport racing is definitely addicting. We are a family that spends time bonding through training, racing and supporting each other. My kids are great triathletes and we are all competitive with each other. I am a USAT Level 1 Coach this year and I want to inspire and support anyone who wants to change their life.
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
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Sam Pate, Board Member
Traditionally a marathoner but turned to triathlons later in my racing, I laugh and call it coming to my senses.
Had a friend who invited me on some fun runs and soon after the ideas for racing started brewing. A few years later I looked up and I had ran 18 marathons.
What the racing community means to me is family. A family who experiences all of the emotions of day to day life and chooses to experience them again through workouts and races. A family who shares in your highs and lows as well as your successes and accomplishments. A family that will get up and run in the rain, bike in the wind, and swim at crazy early hours of the morning. That's exactly what it means to me.
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Chad Brinkley, Board Member
I began running in high school mostly as a means of losing weight. In college I was mostly a casual runner who rarely did more than three miles at a time and never entered a race. In 2007, I got a wild hare and decided to do a marathon. It was a life changing event that peaked my interest in endurance racing. I signed up for a second marathon, but got injured while training. I started biking and swimming as a way to keep healthy when I couldn't run. Someone mentioned triathlons to me and they sounded like fun. In 2010 I signed up for Ironman Branson 70.3 and figured I should probably do a few practice races first. When I first joined OMC, it was primarily because it offered me a discount on new equipment, clothing, and shoes. Since I first joined, however, I have meet many remarkable people and learned to appreciate the community that the club offers. I have a desire to foster the growth and development of that community and that is part of the reason I agreed to serve on the OMC board. I look forward to socializing, training, and racing with many of you in the years to come.
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Jason Bettis, Board Member
My focus is mainly off-road; adventure racing, mountain biking, trail running and paddling. I have hit adventure racing steadily the past 2 years and up until that time, had found it hard to find local off-road events. I look forward to working with OMC members to bring a greater awareness off-road runs, rides and races.
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Ken Sharlin, Board Member
Board Member, Past President Valerie, my wife, and I have been doing triathlons for the past three years. We've competed in several races, both locally and as far away as Maine and Colorado. Triathlon is a lifestyle for us. We are inspired by fellow athletes, both pro, like Chrissie Wellington, and age groupers in their 70's and 80's. We hope to grow old heathfully, and staying active through multisport will help us achieve our goal.
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Eric Johnson, Membership Director
Oh yes, Eric is the man. Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/ericj076
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