Youth Athletes Take the Stage at IronKids Madison
As the date for the New Balance 3rd Annual Girls on the Run 5K in Dane County approaches, set to run in Waunakee, WI on Saturday Nov. 12, Focal Flame Photography turns our thoughts to another youth athletic event earlier this season: the IronKids triathlon, presented in Madison for the first time in 2011. After profiling young athletes at the race on behalf of the Greater Madison Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Madison Area Sports Commission, Focal Flame Photographer Clint Thayer remarked, "There's just nothing like the energy of young, fired-up kids giving it their all on the race course. It's so much fun seeing them have a blast."
[Writer's note: a version of this article appeared in the Off the Couch blog of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sept. 10, 2011. - Robyn M. Perrin]
Saturday, Sept. 10 – Middleton, WI - On the eve of the 2011 Ford IronMan Wisconsin for adult triathletes, 318 youth ages 6 to 15 years participated in the first-ever IronKids Madison race.
Triathletes participated in one of three age divisions, with distances ranging from 50 yd swim/2 mi bike/500 yd run for the Juniors up to a 300 yd swim/8 mi bike/2 mi run for the Seniors.
“The majority of IronKids athletes are first-timers,” said Christine Hanlon, Athlete Services and Marketing Coordinator for IronKids at World Triathlon Corporation.
The chutes and transition area were lined with parents and fans, many carrying homemade signs to encourage their athletes. The bike racks in the transition area carried a high proportion of mountain bikes.
Smiles were abundant on both novice and experienced youth triathletes. Many traveled to Madison from Green Bay, Milwaukee, the Twin Cities, areas in Illinois, and even beyond.
Dan Marrello of Riverside, IL cheered on his daughter Chloe Marrello, 12, as she finished her race. “We had [a triathlon] in Riverside a couple of weeks ago, and her bike tires weren’t exactly inflated quite right. As soon as it was over we went back home and she begged me, ‘Dad, look up another race, try to find me another one.’ So this is number two for her.”
Although the IronKids race series has been run since 1985, the World Triathlon Corporation assumed ownership of the series from former owner Sara Lee Corp., and is now offering 24 IronKids races nationwide.
“Many of the athletes participating in IronKids today have parents who are participating in the IronMan tomorrow,” said Hanlon.
Such was the case with Alexandra Lorenz, age 13, of Dundee, IL. Lorenz won the female division for the Senior category and was third across the finish line overall. “My dad’s doing the IronMan tomorrow,” said Lorenz. When asked if she had any thoughts for him, she said, “I just want to wish him good luck, and I’ll be out there to cheer him on all day.”
Although Lorenz attends a small school, a triathlon club in her town helps youth train for events like the IronKids. The boy’s winner of the Senior division, Maxx Hall, is one of Lorenz’s teammates.
The growing popularity of youth triathlon is no surprise to Cindi Bannink, Owner of Madison Multisport, which fielded a Juniors triathlon team for 2011 – the first in the Madison area. “Hunter Kemper, a 3-time Olympian representing the United States, started in IronKids and he’s in his 30s now,” said Bannink. “So [IronKids] has been around for a while, but it’s building momentum.”
One consideration for high school triathletes who also compete on fall team sports is that they are ineligible for races such as IronKids Madison if they occur during the academic year. Bannink said, “Once the fall high school season sports start, athletes are restricted by the high school Athletic Association rules. So they actually can’t participate today if they are on a sport that involves the same thing,” preventing high school swimmers or cross country runners from competing in September triathlons.
But as a group of football players practiced on a field across from the start/finish area, the juxtaposition of classical team sports and endurance sports that are increasingly popular was notable.
“This is just fun, the kids getting out here and being active and doing something different and new,” said Bannink. “Triathlon [is] growing in the U.S., it’s the fastest-growing sport, I believe…this is where it starts. This is the grassroots.”
Focal Flame Photography is honored to share the stories of youth athletes at IronKids Madison and other events througout the Midwest. We've included several of our favorite images from the race. Look for upcoming event photography for the 3rd Annual New Balance Girls on the Run 5K and visit focalflamestore.com to purchase prints, digitals, T-shirts and more!
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2011 Madison Mud Run Fall Challenge: Overcoming Obstacles
On Saturday, October 29, 2011, a bizarre sight unfolded at Festival Park and Badger Prairie Park in Verona, Wisconsin. A slew of runners - about 1,064 runners to be exact - descended upon the park, many dressed in costume. All of the costumes were assembled with care and creativity. All would be splattered with mud, shredded, and and for the most part ruined on the obstacles of the 5-mile course, which included a wall climb, monkey bars, a balance beam, and a giant mud pit.
One costume was worn by Maria Parker of Janesville, WI. Parker had entered the 5-mile obstacle race as a team member along with her office co-workers. While the experience was inspired by a simple desire to have a shared experience that would generate good water cooler conversation for years to come, for Parker, it ended up becoming a metaphor for life. Here, she shares her thoughts with Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn Perrin.
Focal Flame Photography: Why did you decide to participate in the Fall Challenge Mud Run?
Maria Parker: I was looking for a physical challenge to commemorate my 40th birthday. I'd considered a couple of other events but it wasn't until [some] co-workers decided to recruit a company team that I finally committed to the Mud Run. Several friends have run similar events in the past and I always thought it would be fun to participate in a Mud Run so I figured, 'Why not,' especially if I'd have co-workers along side me.
FFP: What was the story behind the costumes chosen by your team?
MP: The organizers of our group decided it would be fun to have a costume theme, but we needed something that would work for 15-20 people. The Wizard of Oz was selected. There are so many characters to pick from that it allowed each of us to find something that matched our personalities. I choose to be Auntie Em.
FFP: How did the race unfold?
MP: I had expected to be completing the event with a couple of co-workers by my side to assist with obstacles but they had all left me behind even before the first one. This turned out to be a really nice, actually - it allowed me to reflective on the event and the reason why I had signed up to begin with: to celebrate my 40th.
In some ways the Mud Run was like the journey of life. At the beginning, I was all gung ho but yet had some apprehension. But when I arrived at the first obstacle, all I could think was, 'What am I getting myself into?!' That thought was followed by, 'You can't back down now, just jump in and plunge ahead!'
Not being as fit as most participants, I knew I'd be walking most of the course and that there would be be obstacles I would have to forego and walk around. So each one became a decision as to whether I should even attempt it. Just like taking risks in life, you weigh each obstacle based on a number of factors, make a decision, and go with it. 'Plan Bs' are optional, often developed on the fly, and your fears may not be realized until mid-stream. But the best part of all was crossing the finish line. I completed the course and crawled through mud, ready to take on whatever came before me.
FFP: So what's next?
MP: What lies before me is another journey. As I turn 40, I'm embarking on a new path. My life partner and I are forming a women's tackle football team based in Rockford, IL. The Rockford Riveters will provide women in Northwestern Illinois the opportunity to play a sport that has traditionally been off-limits to them. As with any business venture, I expect many ups and downs to come along with this path. Some challenges will be easy, some will bring hesitation, some will bring fear - but the goal is to meet them all and to stand strong in the end.
All of these points were brought home while I completed the Mud Run, and all of them were points that we hope to see fulfilled on the gridiron for the women who play for the Rockford Riveters and for the fans in the stands.
Focal Flame Photography is honored to share the stories of Maria Parker and other participants in the Madison Mud Run. We've included several of our favorite images from the race. To see more, visit the 2011 Mud Run Galleries on the Focal Flame Photography online store. All images are available for purchase as prints, digitals, T-shirts, or more.
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Photograph by Clint Thayer Selected for Exhibition at the National Art Museum of Sport
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
WORK BY WISCONSIN ARTIST SELECTED BY THE NATIONAL ART MUSEUM OF SPORT
Madison, WI – October 24, 2011 – A fine art photograph entitled “Driving Rain” (2010) by Madison, WI artist Clint Thayer has been selected for exhibition placement in the 2nd Annual International Fine Arts Competition: Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport. The juried competition was conducted by the National Art Museum of Sport (NAMOS) in Indianapolis, IN. The exhibit will run at NAMOS from October 27, 2011-February 29, 2012.
Over 300 entries were submitted by artists from 44 states and 9 countries. Thayer is the only artist in the state of Wisconsin whose work was selected.
“Driving Rain” depicts Arrietta Walker Clauss of Madison, WI during the Mid-America Time Trial Series Finale in September 2010. Clauss holds the 2010 and 2011 USA Cycling National Time Trial championship titles for her age division. “To me, ‘Driving Rain’ represents complete and utter determination,” said Thayer. “In seeking to bridge the worlds of art and sport I focus on composition and on finding the emotional element where sport and the human experience overlap, and both were aligned within this image,” said Thayer.
Founded in 1959, NAMOS maintains one of the largest collections of fine art depicting sport in the United States. The museum is dedicated to encouraging artists engaged in the genre, and also to collect, preserve, and share the best examples of sport art NAMOS can acquire. “The founder of NAMOS, Germain G. Glidden, was a portrait artist and champion squash player,” said NAMOS Executive Director Elizabeth C. Varner. “Glidden believed that sport art is like the Olympics: it has the power to bring together people from all over the world in peace,” said Varner.
Over 40 sports are represented in the over 900 paintings, sculptures, and photographs at NAMOS. Artists whose works are included in the permanent collection include George Bellows, Ogden Pliessner, Winslow Homer, Ray Ellis, James Fiorentino, Joe Brown, and Alfred Boucher.
The museum’s first home was in Madison Square Garden in New York. It has been in Indianapolis since 1990, and will present events related to Indianapolis’ hosting of Superbowl XLVI on February 12, 2012.
The National Art Museum of Sport at 850 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN is open free to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For group tours and weekend hours call 317.274.3627 or e-mail ecvarner@iupui.edu; for more information see http://www.namos.iupui.edu. A free opening reception for the 2nd Annual International Fine Arts Competition will be held from 5-7 pm on Thursday, October 27, 2011.
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Madison Police Department Service Team: IronMan Wisconsin Athletes Honor 9/11
For Lori Anderson, known to her friends as Lori Lu, the decision to train for the 2011 Ford IronMan Wisconsin rested on one simple fact: race day would occur on 9/11/2011, the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. "I have the privilege of being part of a team of athletes that will honor this day and the lives lost," wrote Anderson. As a Detective with 11.5 years of service for the Madison Police Department, Anderson decided to participate in the service team. A seasoned triathlete, she had completed other half-IronMan distance events, but this would be her first attempt at the full IronMan.
For several other members of the Madison Police Department, 9/11/2011 was an occasion to mark as well. "There are 13 Madison Police Department officers (Patrol, Detectives, Investigators, Lieutenants, and Captain) on the service team," said Anderson. As colleagues juggling demanding schedules, some trained for the race together, but most trained independently. Although preparing for such an intense race throughout the season requires countless hours spent in solitude and sweat, Police Officer Linda Baehmann felt deeply positive about her training regime. Baehmann wrote, "My favorite things about training for an Ironman are being outside and enjoying our beautiful state, appreciating the opportunity to be physically active, meeting new athletes, and adhering to a motto I try to throughout my life is being better today than yesterday."
The World Triathlon Corporation reserved 150 registration slots for police, fire, and EMS athletes who will be participating in the 2011 Ford IronMan Wisconsin. Athletes in this category were offered priority during registration, low bib numbers (45-199), a specially designated transition area located next to the pro triathlete transition, and will wear specially designated royal blue bib numbers.
On a deeply emotionally significant anniversary of 9/11, Anderson summed up her thoughts: "I will be thinking of ALL of the families who lost loved ones, that day. They are still suffering, still coping, still surviving!"
For Baehmann, the dedication to fellow police officers serves as inspiration through the most difficult moments in training and competition. "The thing that keeps me going during an event, especially when things aren't going as planned, is the thought of my fellow police officers that I am responsible for training," wrote Baehmann. "I try to lead by example. I tell them to never quit, especially when we are talking about fighting for their lives, so how can I possibly quit something so 'easy' as a triathlon. They are my motivation."
On the Thursday prior to the race, the 13 members of the Madison Police Department IronMan Service Team gathered for group photos. Focal Flame Photographer Clint Thayer photographed them as the early evening sun reflected off the the Wisconsin State Capitol building. "It was such a pleasure and an honor to work with these athletes," said Thayer. "My stepfather was a police officer, so I have a lot of memories of the camaraderie and fellowship that develops among fellow cops."
An impromptu humorous moment developed during the photo session when a police officer on patrol who was not part of the team or the photo shoot happened to drive by the group. "I asked the Service Team athletes if there was any way we could ask the officer to bring the cruiser up so it could be included in the photo," said Thayer. The officers laughed, quickly motioned to their colleague, and explained the situation. "I saw her smile, nod, and then the next thing I knew she put the car into gear and popped the curb. Having the cruiser as a backdrop was utterly perfect. There were also a few laughs and Blues Brother movie references to 'cop shocks,'" said Thayer.
Anderson has kept a blog describing her IronMan Wisconsin training and is raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of her husband, a cancer survivor. In the last days before the race, her mind is filled with the encouragement of friends and family, many of whom have written testimonials on her blog. "I’m not terribly confident that I will finish, but I’m proud of what I have accomplished already and I’m looking forward to the event," wrote Anderson.
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Cyclocross Mag and Focal Flame Profile Cyclocross Champion Logan Owen
Some days start out in an ordinary fashion. And some days, the ordinary moment changes in an instant when an email or phone call comes through. Which is why a photographer always needs to have gear ready and batteries charged, right?
Right.
And that’s exactly what happened on a summer day in July when Clint Thayer of Focal Flame Photography was contacted by Josh Liberles, editor of Cyclocross Magazine, with an assignment to cover junior cycling phenom Logan Owen, 16 years old, from Bremertown, WA.
Winner of an unprecedented six national cyclocross titles, Owen was in Wisconsin for the Tour of America’s Dairyland road cycling series, racing in the pro/1/2 category with the Hagens Berman cycling team from Washington State.
“Logan Owen made a splash early on - he took second place in the first National Championship he ever competed in. That was also the first 'cross RACE he'd ever done, so pretty impressive stuff,” wrote Liberles. “So I became aware of him, as well as some of the other really talented Junior and Masters racer just over the past few years, I'd say.”
It would be impossible not to take notice of Owen, considering that he started racing BMX…at age 4. A multi-talented athlete, he holds multiple National Championship titles in not just cyclocross, but also BMX and outdoor and indoor inline skating. He's been invited to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for both road cycling and inline skating.
Thayer had a chance to catch up with Owen at the Greenbush Road Race to shoot some off-bike portraits as well as pre-race coverage. “We had arranged the shoot in advance, and as I pulled up to the team I said, ‘Coach, how long do I have with him?’ The coach barked out, ‘Fifteen minutes, tops.’”
With a shy smile and red hair styled into a slight spike, Owen warmed to the camera. “It was so much fun to work with him,” said Thayer. “He’s just beginning to grab the attention of the press, and it was a real honor to be among the first photographers to profile him.”
Liberles, author of the article, echoed Thayer’s sentiments. When asked what drew him to Owen’s story, Liberles wrote, “…his self awareness and his approach. He's also just a cool kid, and he has tons of potential; it was a treat to get to know him and his family.”
With cyclocross season just around the corner and the sport becoming seriously big in the Midwest, the locals in Madison are looking forward to welcoming Owen back for Nationals, which will be hosted in Madison, WI on January 4-8, 2012.
Cyclocross Magazine can’t wait, either. “Nationals is always a big focus for our publication,” wrote Liberles. “We combine online coverage before, during and after [the races] with really cool comprehensive looks at the event in our print magazine. We've celebrated each and every winner, from the 9 to 10-year-old Juniors, to Elites, to 70+ year-old Masters, with a profile for the past 4 editions of Nationals. This year we may shake things up a bit, but you can count on our Nats coverage being something you won't want to miss!”
Interested in Cyclocross Magazine Issue 13, dubbed by CX fans as ‘Lucky 13’? Subscribe or order online, or visit your local bookstore or cyclocross-friendly bike shops nationwide.
And be sure to follow Focal Flame Photography for some sweet coverage of the local races this season. But bring your cowbell. And prepare to get muddy.
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- Post authored by Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn M. Perrin
Madison Nonprofit Day Photography Exhibition: Porchlight Products Creates Opportunities
What does empowerment look like?
For photographers, photo essays and documentary photographs are formats through which to evoke emotion, often while portraying the essential truth of an idea. Perhaps that idea may be an abstract concept, such as empowerment of those who refuse to be marginalized. Perhaps the concept breathes itself into living form through action, texture, light and shadows.
For the photographer, the ability to bear witness to such truths is the heart of a journey. And often, it is a journey that leaves its mark on both the viewers of the final photographs - and the artist himself or herself.
Photographer Clint Thayer was honored to participate in a photography exhibit titled Stories - How Nonprofits Shape Madison. Eight photographers created photo essays during the months of July and August, 2011 to portray the work of over 30 nonprofit organizations in the Madison, Wisconsin area. Thayer concentrated on the subjects of Hunger and Homelessness, working with Porchlight Products and the Briarpatch Runaway & Homeless Youth Program.
All of the photo essays will be displayed at Absolutely Art, 2322 Atwood Ave., from August 3-30. An opening reception will be held on Friday, August 5 from 5-9 pm.
The first organization, Porchlight Products, focuses on creating gourmet jams, jellies, and sauces from locally-grown produce in a commercial kitchen. The hands that make these products belong to individuals who were formerly homeless, and who often face physical or mental challenges. The products are sold to cafes, restaurants, and specialty shops and provide revenue to support the broader mission of Porchlight, Inc., which provides emergency shelter, food, counseling, and employment services to over 8,000 people in Dane County each year.
To describe the work of Porchlight Products in more detail, Kitchen Programs Manager Todd Dennis responded to questions by Focal Flame Photography writer Robyn Perrin.
Focal Flame Photography: In your own words, could you tell a little about Porchlight Products and its mission?
Todd Dennis: Porchlight Products takes local produce items and makes high quality canned and preserved items from them. To make these items we employ formerly homeless disabled adults using the kitchen at our main Porchlight facility. The mission of Porchlight Products is to empower local producers, who supply us with ingredients, and our employees. who produce the artisan products while gaining job skills and a sense of purpose.
FFP: What do you find to be most challenging about the work at Porchlight Products? Most satisfying? Most surprising?
TD: The most challenging thing at Porchlight is keeping things moving forward when the weather doesn’t always help our farmers and the inevitable delays that are caused from this. The most satisfying aspect of working at Porchlight Products is seeing the improvement in people’s lives and the joy that their work brings to them. I have found that tasting some of the items that we make to be most surprising. When I first tasted the Curtido, I couldn’t believe how good it was.
FFP: If there was one thing you wish the public understood better about homelessness in Madison, what would it be?
TD: I would want the public to understand how easy it is to end up homeless but how hard it is to get out of that situation. Just think about something as simple as applying for a job. You need to provide a mailing address, a phone number, and references; in addition to work experience. For someone who ends up homeless, they probably have at least one gap where they were not employed. Most employers would question them on this and I would definitely say that there is a stigma associated with the answer that would be given; embarrassment from the person who was homeless, and discrimination from the potential employer. Porchlight seeks to empower individuals to conquer these and other barriers that could prevent them from escaping homelessness.
Focal Flame Photography is honored to document the work of Porchlight Products and its staff, volunteers, and members. Please support all the photographers who took part in the Madison Nonprofit Day photography exhibit, and participate in the many offerings of Madison Nonprofit Day - an informative, inspiring series of presentations designed to help nonprofits and their supporters make the world a better place.
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Tri-ing for Children: Dual Triathlons with Heart
You’re never too young to be a triathlete. That was the message at the 2011 Tri-ing for Children Kid’s Triathlon on July 23, when children as young as 3 – not far removed from toddlerhood – swam, biked, and ran a beautiful triathlon course in Southern Kettle Moraine State Park in Wisconsin.
The next day, 422 adult triathletes joined in the fun, competing as individuals or teams on sprint and Olympic-distance triathlon courses.
“The race began six years ago in Menominee Park,” said Ryan Griessmeyer, Race Director and owner of Race Day Events, LLC. “There was a one-year hiatus and the RDE took it over and moved it to Ottawa Lake,” said Griessmeyer.
The spring-fed lake provided a beautiful venue for the event, and the swim route for the youngest athletes featured water levels deep enough to accommodate swim strokes but shallow enough for the kids to touch the bottom of the lake if needed. “Because of the lake swim, we wanted to make sure the kids were kept very safe,” said Greissmeyer. “Allowing parents in the water with them helped. We also have a very experienced open water safety team.” Greissmeyer and the Race Day Events staff chose the location based on its accessibility to both Madison and Milwaukee, as well as the close proximity of excellent roads for the bike course. Another unique aspect? “The support of the local DNR, Police, Fire and EMS,” said Greissmeyer.
Support from volunteers was key as well. Highly experienced triathlete Brenda Knighton-Slatter of Janesville, WI decided to support the kids’ race through a gift of her time and energy. “I need to start giving back to the sport I enjoy so much, and the best way for me to do that is to volunteer when I am not racing,” said Knighton-Slatter. “It is very rewarding, especially when one of the racers you cheered for came back with a big grin on his face and showed me his medal with excitement!”
But the kids on the triathlon course weren’t the only winners. A portion of the race proceeds plus additional funds raised by the event were donated to American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. “The Children’s Hospitals were very excited to receive our donation,” said Greissmeyer.
As it turns out, some healthy outdoor competition for kids and adults of all ages has the power to lift spirits…while also supporting the healing work of hospitals serving pediatric patients. Knighton-Slatter summed it up: “The smiles on the faces of the kids racing in the triathlon really made my day and made me think about my own races – and the importance of smiling and having a good time!”
To view more photos from the 2011 Tri-ing for Children’s Triathlon, see the Kids’ Race Gallery or the Adult Race Gallery on the Focal Flame online store. Prints, digitals, and more are available for purchase.
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Focal Flame Shoots Ad Campaign for Bike Fed: Reasons to Commute by Bike
Some of the best days in photography happen when the phone rings, and after the call ends, you think, "Wow, we HAVE to be a part of that."
That was the situation when the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin asked Focal Flame Photography to be part of their ad campaign to help promote cycling in the Madison, Wisconsin area. A series of advertisements rolled out in newspapers, magazines, and billboards around the region to help spread a simple idea: bikes are a great form of transportation.
All of the ads featured photographs taken by Madison photographer Clint Thayer, and all will feature local Madisonians - often in iconic locations. The campaign was produced in partnership with 20BY2020, a Bikes Belong advocacy effort that envisions 20% of all transportation occurring in the Madison region by bicycle by the year 2020.
To learn more about the message of the campaign, writer Robyn Perrin interviewed Amanda White, Associate Director of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.
Focal Flame Photography: What inspired the ad campaign?
Amanda White/Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin: We are so fortunate to live in Madison - one of the best cities in the country for biking. We have incredible bike paths, over 50 miles of bike lanes, and new bike boulevards that will prioritize bicyclists.
However, when we compare Madison to the world's best bicycling cities, we are far behind. Currently, in Madison about 4% of all the commute trips are made by bike. While in cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, over 50% of trips are made by bike. There are cities in Germany that support 20% of trips made by bike. Not only are these amazing bicycling cities, but they are also healthy, vibrant communities that have very strong economies.
By trying to achieve 20% of the commute trips made by bike by 2020, we are not only improving our bicycling, we are also improving our community. By biking and walking more, we save money on expensive gas, we provide exercise opportunities needed by both children and adults, and we support healthier air quality.
We are using the ad campaign to promote the benefits of bicycling, in addition to promoting our 20by2020 goal. Bicycling is good for individuals, it's good for families, and it's good for Madison. We hope our light-hearted, fun ad campaign will generate buzz around the joy of bicycling.
FFP: The sites for the images were carefully chosen. How did BFW and 20 by 2020 pick these particular locations?
AW: We had a brainstorming session with two excellent marketing volunteers. The message concepts came from these ideas. I then picked the locations based on the messages we were trying to portray.
FFP: Why did you decide to use commissioned photographic imagery in the campaign rather than stock photography or graphics-only?
AW: Using a skilled, professional photographer to shoot local, Madison sites was vital to the campaign. The images are central to the campaign and the most powerful aspect of the ads. We wanted folks to connect with the people in the images and imagine how they themselves may bike. In order to achieve this important connection, it was vital we use real Madisonians and images of popular Madison locations that people would recognize.
We were so fortunate that we had an amazing photographer! The images are exactly what I had envisioned!
Focal Flame Photography is honored to have been part of this important effort to spread awareness about cycling in Wisconsin. Give bike commuting a try! It's simple, fun, and a great way to get around!
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Ride the Drive in Madison, WI: Bikers take to the streets
On Sunday, June 5, 2011, tens of thousands of cyclists are expected to take over the streets of downtown Madison, WI.
It’s not a conspiracy, or a Critical Mass ride, or a competitive event. It is simply a Sunday on which major thoroughfares are traveled by many, many vehicles…all of them having two wheels, and powered by lungs and legs.
The Madison Ride the Drive event has been held since 2009 and is modeled after similar rides held in cities around the world, from the Ciclova in Bogota, Columbia to Bike the Drive in Chicago.
In each case, municipalities coordinate closing streets to motorized traffic and invite cyclists to pedal with gusto.
And pedal they do.
On new bikes, old bikes, fast bikes, rusty bikes, tandems, unicycles, in costumes, and carrying boom boxes. The allure of being able to ride in large groups on roads that are free of car exhaust beckons to many bikers on a nice Sunday in June. The atmosphere is festive, with traffic noises amounting only to the click of gears, kids giggling, and the occasional spontaneous melody from street musicians.
Last year, Focal Flame Photography captured memories for one family participating in a City of Madison Ride the Drive event in August 2010. Parents Jo Ann and Doug rode with their young son, Cooper, who enjoyed a front-row seat of the Ride the Drive in a Burley trailer. Over 20,000 riders participated, many hoping to catch a glimpse of celebrity guest Lance Armstrong.
Cooper, however, was simply enjoying the ride. “Our goal was to get to the kid's bike decorating area,” said Jo Ann, describing one of the community activity areas. “I thought we'd avoid the Lance Armstrong crowd. Funny part was that 10 minutes after we got there, we find out that he's headed there to lead the kid's bike parade,” she laughed. “Everyone was looking for him - we all thought he'd be in yellow - he ends up being this guy in red in front of me who just got off his bike and started writing his name in chalk on ‘the drive.’”
Cooper was enchanted all the while. “The best part was riding the streets and having the whole road to cruise on and not be worried about traffic,” said Jo Ann. “It was a little crazy at times because of so many riders. But a good crazy.”
Cooper and his parents visited the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, made arts and crafts at booths staffed by Madison Sports and Recreation (MSCR) members, and adorned their bikes with streamers.
When asked about the highlights of the day, Jo Ann responded, “How cool it was to see SO many people on bikes and hanging out with friends on the Square. Plus the big grin on Cooper’s face while he was watching his pinwheel fly with him in his bike trailer. And thanks to Clint we have shots of it!!!”
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Thunderbird Bolt: Thoreau Elementary Students Take Wing and Fly
Any adult who has ever been around elementary school-aged children for more than 5 minutes (or who is within spitting distance of their own childhood) can attest to the amazing capacity that kids have for movement – jumping, fidgeting, playing, and chasing each other on the playground.
And anyone who has been involved with public schools in recent years is aware that the need for financial support is great due to declines in funding and increases in student enrollment, as well as increases in demand for student services of all kinds.
So pairing together a 5K race and 1-mile run/walk event to benefit a neighborhood elementary school seemed like a natural fit to Audra Smanski, Kindergarten Teacher at Thoreau Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin.
“My inspiration for the run came from my personal love of running as well as my involvement over the years in a 5k fundraiser for my husband's old elementary,” said Smanksi. And with the help of dedicated volunteers, parents, staff, and students, the dream became a reality on Saturday, May 14, 2011 – the Inaugural Thunderbird Bolt.
Despite overcast skies, sporadic rain, and low temperatures in the upper 40 degrees F, about 100 families or individuals participated in the event. “It is super neat to see so many families out running together, enjoying each other's company as well as participating in a healthy activity- all while helping their neighborhood school,” said Smanski.
In some cases siblings ran together; in others, teachers encouraged students and vice versa. The Thunderbird Bolt served as a neighborhood-wide accompaniment to the longstanding tradition of the Thoreau Fun Run, a school-wide run for students that has been held on a Friday in May for the last 21 years.
The confidence that the students gained from participating was apparent in their enthusiasm, and for the Thunderbird Bolt, the fact that parents and children could join together during the race made for some wonderful memories. “The best part for me was to see families walking and running together!,” said Smanski. “It is super neat to see so many families out together, enjoying each other's company as well as participating in a healthy activity- all while helping their neighborhood school.”
Funds raised from the event will be spent to buy portable playground equipment for each classroom such as balls, jump ropes, and hula hoops. “Our [Thunderbird Bolt] committee really wants to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among our students through movement,” said Smanksi.
And of course, to continue making the Thunderbird Bolt a neighborhood tradition, help will be needed in the future. Smanksi suggests contacting the school to let them know about your interest in volunteering and donating a gift of time on the day of the event. “We really could have utilized many more volunteers on the race route, directing runners/walkers, biking ahead and behind runners/walkers, and keeping time,” she said.
Photos from the 2011 Thunderbird Bolt are available for purchase. All proceeds from the sales will benefit Thoreau Elementary School.
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