TEAM TOOT

2008 Tom Skram Memorial Fun Run

2008-02-20T01:18:00.002Z

Well, it's been a busy winter for Team TOOT! We've been planning the inaugural Tom Skram Memorial Fun Run. The 5K run/walk will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2008 in LeMars, Iowa. A big thank you to Angela and the others at the City of LeMars YMCA for all their help in the last few months (and in anticipation for their HUGE help in the coming months).

Advance registration for the run is encouraged, so we can get everyone shirts and other goodies. Registration materials will be posted here shortly.

We've already had a good response from the LeMars Chamber of Commerce and other local business owners. We've also already received some free promotion in the local newspaper. Check out: http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1312467.html

Not to worry, we'll still be running in Okoboji and other races this year. We encourage all to join in and raise some money and awareness in support of the fight against Pancreatic Cancer.

Chicago Marathon

2007-10-09T20:13:00.000Z

Congratulations to TOOT member, Tom Skram, Jr. for completing the 2007 Chicago Marathon on October 7, despite difficult conditions. Tom said he was on a good pace for the first half of the run, but then the heat kicked up and, in true Skram fashion, he slowed his pace so he could enjoy the evening with friends in Chicago! I just wonder where that common sense was last year during the 2006 Okoboji Triathlon!!

Good Job, Tommy! Looking forward to posting a photo here soon!

LeMars TOOT Trot Gets the OK

2007-10-09T20:08:00.001Z

Thanks to the great effort of Angela Loutsch of the LeMars Area YMCA, the LeMars Area Chamber of Commerce gave the OK to include a 5K fun run to the LeMars Ice Cream Days Calendar of events. The Chamber gave the OK this morning in one of their planning meetings. The race will tentatively take place on Saturday, June 14, 2007 before the Ice Cream Days Parade. We will be working closely with the YMCA to plan and promote the event. Check back here for more details!

Photos from the 2007 LeMars Sprint Tri

2007-09-13T03:14:00.001Z

Tommy, Pete, Jamie, and Mike after the race by the Team TOOT banner........

Jamie was the big TOOT winner, despite having to take time to put that brace on..... Oh, and run with it!

Tommy getting going on the run... he ran pretty well... but he's got 23.1 more to go in October!

Pete looked good to start the run..... but he got caught by Tom, Jr.!

Mike looks tired.... but notice this is at the END of the run! Don't I just look swollen?? What the?? I guess I'll try to do a little more constant training next year....

Great Day in LeMars

2007-09-10T14:18:00.000Z

The LeMars YMCA did a great job with this first-year event. They had a great turnout and it sounds like there will be many doing it again next year.

Congratulations to TOOT member Jamie Staver, who took 6th place overall. Not too bad, considering the knee injury. Pete and Tommy did well, too, finising in the top 20, only 30 seconds apart. And I will suggest an * be placed by my (Mike's) time, as I had a flat tire during the bike and had to ride slowly for a bit and walk the last 2 miles in. Then I took my old sweet time during T2, thinking I was not going to continue, and I was walking near the TOOT Tent when mom and Donna gave me some "encouragement" before starting the run. Even taking 25 minutes off my time for those issues, I would still have been 5 minutes slower than Tommy and Pete. At least I should be a shoe-in to beat my PR for that race next year!!

Check out the full results here: http://www.allsportcentral.com/EventInfo.cfm?EventID=17678

TOOT photos will be coming soon!

Let us know if you'll be doing any other runs this year!!

LeMars Triathlon is fast approaching

2007-08-30T02:10:00.000Z

Here's a link to the run portion of the LeMars Sprint Triathlon:

http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=156303

Also, check out this updated article from the LeMars Sentinel:

http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1248882.html

At least four members of TeamTOOT will be running. Odds on favorite for highest place is Pete Skram... merely because he's the only one training for a triathlon all summer. Tom, Jr. is preparing for the Chicago Marathon later this fall, so he should do well on the run, but his swim and bike will be suspect. Jamie Staver and Mike Skram are returning from the IR. Jamie is recovering from a knee injury - something about a bike, skateboard, and beer.... not sure in which order.... but it shelved him from competitve racing this summer. The reports from Omaha are that he's recently been OK'd to run... His limited run will probably still beat the time of the other recovering member. Mike Skram is also planning to particiate (However, Lori said if it's too hot, I can't do it). In addition to recovering from the heat stroke from the 2006 Okoboji Triathlon, Mike has developed pain in the right knee and foot while stepping up the training in the last few weeks. Nothing a little Ibuprofen can't handle, though. There are aproximately 60 individuals entered in the race. Team TOOT'rs are just hoping to end up in the top 50!

TOOT ON!

2007 Okoboji TOOT Pictures

2007-08-10T04:45:00.001Z

Congratulations to all of our TOOTers from the 2007 Okoboji Marathon. Here's a picture of all those who ran the 10K, Half Marathon, or the Triathlon. Front Row (L-R): Christine (Skram) Sahn, Molly Demmer, Christin Tomy, Megan Staver, Erin Demmer, and Cindy (Skram) Staver. Top Row (L-R): Jon Pitts, Julie (Skram) Peters, Lisa Skram, Tom Skram, Jr., Michael Peters, Steve Schuster, Brett Gathman, Leo Langel, Pete Skram, and Luke Sauer. We look forward to an even greater turnout next year!

Here is a picture of all the TOOT runners and supporters that were at the race site in Okoboji on July 20, 2007. We had a tent there with flyers about Dad, Pancreatic Cancer, and PanCAN. Thanks to Steve Skram, Tom's brother, for donating the great banner used at the tent and for future events. We had a great day and have raised over $3500 in Tom's name for PanCAN.
A big thank you to all involved.

LeMars Triathlon

2007-07-24T03:25:00.000Z

Team TOOT received word that on September 8, 2007 the LeMars YMCA and Wells Blue Bunny will be hosting the first annual LeMars Sprint Triathlon. Check out the article here: http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1222521.html or registration information here: http://www.allsportcentral.com/EventInfo.cfm?EventID=17678

Team TOOT members are planning to participate in purple and promote the team and our cause. Hope to see you there!!!

A GREAT TIME IN OKOBOJI!!!!

2007-07-24T03:09:00.001Z

Hey everybody: Thanks for the great time in Okoboji. The weather was perfect and all the TOOTers did very well. check out the results here: http://results.allsportcentral.com/results/results.cfm?EventID=15633

We'll post more pictures here and on www.teamtoot.org soon!

Thanks to all the runners and those of you who donated and created awareness. We raised over $3000 for our group and PanCAN. We answered a lot of questions about Team TOOT and Pancreatic Cancer. Hopefully, we'll have more participants next year and everyone will be wearing purple!

2007-07-07T04:32:00.001Z

Toot Gear is coming.....

Due to typical user error (i.e., we're a little slow on the uptake), TOOT gear is on the way. Official TeamTOOT wrist bands have arrived, as has the official t-shirts. We've finally found a provider for quality running shirts, and are in the process of getting those. If you want a shirt, let us know, and we'll take care of you.

Thanks again, and hope to see you in Okoboji in two weeks!

Okoboji Event

2007-07-04T02:25:00.000Z

Sorry it's been a bit of time since we've posted here...

We've ordered new T-shirts, which should be arriving shortly; we've ordered TeamTOOT wristbands, which have arrived (we'll be sending them out to those of you who have donated); running shirts, however, have hit a bit of a snag (they should be ordered soon).

Regardless, we still get donations coming in honoring Tom Skram. It is truly appreciated. There are still a couple weeks until the Okoboji event, and we can always yse more money... any amount will be appreciated. cehck out: http://www.firstgiving.com/TeamTOOT to donate on-line.

Thanks for your support. check back here or www.teamtoot.org for more information on the donations and the Okoboji event!!

Donations are rolling in.....

2007-06-15T01:11:00.000Z

Thank you to everyone who has donated to TeamTOOT and/or PanCAN in Tom Skram's honor. We especially thank those corporate donations that are helping with setting up our event. Also, a big thank you to the East Coast Representatives Kerri and Dan Mikeska. You are really taking to this cause. It's greatly appreciated!

We are a bit slow on the shirt order. Sorry about that. We're trying to get logos finalized, etc. Once we order, which should be in the next couple days (right Tommy?) they will arrive in about 14 days....We'll keep you posted.

www.teamtoot.org

2007-06-06T03:00:00.000Z

We are underway in 2007. We've started www.teamtoot.org so visit at your pleasure.

Donations this year will be going to PanCAN - Pancreating Cancer Action Network, the largest advocacy group fighting Pancreatic Cancer. check out the on-line donation page at http://www.firstgiving.com/TeamTOOT Anything you can donate will be greatly appreciated.

Info on team shirts are available on www.teamtoot.org. If you'e like us to order one for you (we anticipate grouping orders to get some quantity discounts) please contact us at info@teamtoot.org

Don't forget to join us on July 21 in Okoboji for this year's event. We'll have a thank you tent near the end of the race for all you TOOTers.... Don't forget to prepare and drink lots of fluids- if history tells us anything, it's always hot in Okoboji on race weekend!!!

Also, send us an email at info@teamtoot.org to let us know if you are participating in any other events around the country! Wear your purple, and get out the word to fight Pancreatic Cancer!

Okoboji Tri'd

2006-07-19T13:32:00.000Z

Wow... I must say, I'm still recovering from that whole ordeal. Just a rough weekend. It was hot and I put a real scare into everyone in Okoboji... sorry about that! For those of you who don't know the whole story, here goes.... photos to come later.....

The race weekend was July 15, it was hot. Temps were to be approaching 100. But the triathlon started early (7:00 am) so I was not too worried. I had been hydrating well all week and loading up on the pasta. I felt good heading into the race. I had not been able to train all that much because of that pesky calf deal, but I was feeling pretty good. We took the traditional pre-race photo after dinner the night before... and I must say I did not look much better despite being 15-20 pounds lighter than the year before. the purple swim caps were a nice touch, though. (See the traditional Night-before race photo above.)

On race morning, we got up early and had breakfast. I drank a bottle of water and was feeling good. We got to the transition site and got everything set up. At 7:00 207 racers entered the water. (I still do not understand why they think it is safe to let 200 racers enter the water at the same time...) Tom and I swam fairly close together the entire swim....with Tommy drafting off me and overtaking me in the last few meters. We were out of the water in just over 18 minutes (only 30 seconds or so behind Jamie).

Tom, Jamie and I were all at the first transition together. This is where things started to go a bit off track. Jamie took off down the road with no problems. Tommy crossed the mat, hopped on his bike... and boom... flat tire. I saw him fall to the ground like he got shot. He said he was OK, and had to go back and get it fixed. I kept going. By that time, Pete was out of the water and in the transition area. tom tried to fix the flat, but could not find help. he ended up sitting there for an hour until we got back.

Just after Tommy turned around, about .25 mi into the 18 mi ride, I reached for a drink of water out of my bottle. It was already hot and the bottle had cold water. As I tried to put it back in the holder, it slipped out of my hands and fell to the ground. i saw it roll off the side of the road into the weeds. I decided to continue on without it. I figured there were stops along the race where I could get water. Plus, I'd gone on long rides and runs with limited water during training, so I thought I'd be OK. Looking back, however, it was never that hot and humid... and I never ran that long.

I completed the bike in less than 50 minutes. I was very happy with that time. I was a good 4 to five minutes ahead of where I hoped and was looking good to beat my personal best on that course. All I had to do was run the 5.5 miles in under an hour. I'm a 10 minute/mile pace guy, so I felt confident. As I started the run, Tommy joined me. He had to sit there the whole bike ride because of the flat. Luckily for me, he was there. I was able to get some water on the run, but I have a history of throwing up when I take a bunch of fluids while running, so I did not drink as much as I probably should have, considering I was unable to get any fluids during the bike.

As we ran, I felt pretty good for the first half of the race. I was tired and hot, but who wasn't? Also, my calf was plenty warm, but the run course is much more hilly than any tranining or other races I had done. My calf was straining on those hills. I was starting to cramp up in my quads as well. But, I was going to complete the race.

Anyway, to make a long story longer, as Tom and I crossed the bridge into Arnold's Park, I started losing it. I don't remember much after running through those back roads there. Evidentially, I fell down on the road (and maybe passed out) less than a quarter mile from the finnish line. The last thing I remember now is telling Tom we were going the wrong way and sort of swaying...and tripping on a curb or something. The next thing I remember is waking up in the Spirit Lake ER with ice bags all over my body and and IV in. (Again... see another embarrassing photo on the left). Evidentially they took me by ambulance and freaked Lori out. I also allegedly turned into the Incredible Hulk when they were trying to put my IV's in. Lori said it took them 5 people to hold me down and I was as mad as she'd ever seen me. I was in the ER for a couple hours and sent hom. They said my temp was at 102+ and I was severely dehydrated. Technically a heat stroke (again, that freaked Lori out). We can laugh about it now, I guess. I went to the doctor on Monday and everything checked out well. I'm just to take it easy in the heat for a long while. Looks like my times doing the Okoboji Triathlon are over... way too hot on that weekend anyway.

On a much happier note... congratulations to Pete and Jamie for completing the triathlon in great times. Also, Pam Wickham and Nicole Madigan completed the 10K despite the heat. Well done. Thanks also to all the other family and neighbors who walked, supported, or cheered at the event. Finally, THANK YOU to all who donated to the American Cancer Society in dad's honor. We were able to gather up over $1,300. Thanks to everyone.

TEAM TOOT is not done with this event. Tom, Pete, and Jamie are looking at other events this summer, and I'm sure we'll be doing Okoboji next year (well, some of us). Also, the Skram kids are going to work to have our own official TEAM TOOT fundraising event next year. Don't know if it's going to be a tri, walk or run, or what, we're working on it. But we are targeting LeMars as the location. We'll keep you all posted.