The payoff of a bet that was placed at the  ”Run 4 Hope 5K” on Saturday, January 7, happened yesterday on the shores of Lake Meridian.  Raise the Bar’s triathlon team was challenged by the team managers to raise $2500 for the Hope Heart Institute – the team’s primary sponsor & benefactor – at an almost – 5K held a week ago.

RTB's Scott Harris Runs 4 Hope

The run was chip-timed and included an oatmeal buffet for all participants.   Almost 100 athletes and a few pets crossed the finish line and if you could use this uncomplicated event to predict the future – the 2012 season looks bright for RTB.  Not only was there generous, unbridled enthusiasm throughout the team fueled by a very good cause – but there were some fast times too.  25-year old Nick Johnson crossed the finish line in 17:03 and headed straight for the oatmeal.   Cliff Richards – Pacific Northwest Masters Running Phenom and twice Nick’s age (sorry Cliff) came across a mere 35 seconds later.

But the team’s winning of the challenge was the big story of the day. The $3400+ dollars raised by the team meant RTB’s  Brad Williams, Kathy Morrisson, and Patty Swedberg would be swimming in the lake with their wetsuits – and the $600 more raised in the following week would mean they would  swim sans wetsuits – which is exactly what happened.

Kathy, Brad, & Patty

Raise the Bar continues to grow and welcome triathletes of every level  to our community.  We’ll keep looking for fun ways to help our athletes reach their racing goals, and will keep fighting heart disease with our friends at the Hope Heart Institute.  They set the gold standard for organizations working to keep hearts strongly beating and inspire us to set a gold standard of our own.

Our athletes raised $4000 dollars and kicked off 2012 by sending us in the freezing water of Lake Meridian.  Good for you!   Next year, we promise you’ll have the opportunity to join FULLY into the fun.

And if you missed the big dip, here it is in video.