TeamBecker

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teambecker — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:35:39 +0000

Obviously this isn’t working…I gave it a try but I just cannot keep up with it. I have enough things I HAVE to do…I thought I might WANT to do this…but I guess not.

CANCER SUCKS!

teambecker — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:29:14 +0000

Been a tough week. That’s all I have to say about that.

Lake Erie Pirates (10′s) @ Jefferson Tourney

teambecker — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:06:14 +0000

Held on for the win in game one…9-6. Lost a tough one to the hard hitting Huskies in game two…10-7. Levi played a pretty good first base and right field. He made a nice scoop and caught two line drives at first and made two good throws from right field. He went 2 for 5 at the plate. His last at bat was a ROPE to left center…made it to the fence for a double and RBI. Back tomorrow morning for two more.

Susan G Komen and Ironman Wisconsin

teambecker — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:11:13 +0000

Here is my fundraising letter for anyone who did not receive it via email.

Dear Friends and Family,

On September 13, 2009 I will be participating in Ironman Wisconsin (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run). Many hours have already been logged training for this event and many more will be added this summer. When I step up to the starting line I won’t be competing just for myself. I will also be raising funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

My wife, Deana was diagnosed with breast cancer on August 18th, 2008. Besides my wife, her mother, relatives, friends, neighbors and colleagues have dealt with this awful disease. It is amazing how many women breast cancer affects. I have learned more about breast cancer than I ever wanted to know, but the most alarming thing I learned is that 1 in 8 women will get some form of breast cancer. Deana has endured a lot and will continue to undergo more procedures, but she is very strong and I am very proud of her.

I completed Ironman Louisville in 2007 and knew that I wanted to do another Ironman someday. I also thought it would be a good idea to do a little something more with my training…I wanted to raise money for a charity. I didn’t have anything specific in mind at the time…I had some thoughts but nothing concrete. When Deana was diagnosed with breast cancer I had a cause that I was passionate about and connected to.

I will be raising money through the Janus Charity Challenge, an innovative program designed and sponsored by the investment management firm, Janus. Janus will make additional contributions to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation if I am one of the top fundraisers at my Ironman race.

I am asking for your help raising money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the fight against breast cancer. You can visit my personal fundraising website, http://januscharitychallenge.kintera.org/wi09/teambecker and make your donation online, or you can send a personal check to me at 3426 W 43^rd Street, Erie, PA 16506. Please be sure to make the check payable to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (not me). I am asking that all donations be made by September 4, 2009 so that I can accurately report my fundraising totals to Janus officials before my race.

Thank you for supporting me, my family and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. You can track my progress on race day at www.ironmanlive.com.

Sincerely,

Mark Becker

Training getting on track

teambecker — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:58:19 +0000

Even with all the baseball I have finally been able to get some good training in. Now that school is out for summer I should really be able to amp up the hours. I need to get some hours on the bike. I am really looking forward to it. My running is pretty strong…not fast…strong. That marathon training all winter has paid off I believe. I want to keep the running strong not only for my Ironman in Sept but also the 50K Oil Creek Trail run in Oct. The school pool is closing for about 3 weeks so I need to make some alternate plans…maybe open water swimming or maybe try to make a deal at the Pennbriar.

Summer means baseball!

teambecker — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:50:29 +0000

Baseball has been going strong for about a month now but now that school is out we can really enjoy it. This weekend will be busy. Tomorrow Levi has Pirate (travel team) practice in the morning and then 10 yr old All-Star tryouts in the afternoon…if the rain holds off. Good luck Levi!

Friday we are going to Pittsburgh to see the Tigers in town to play the big boy Pirates. It will be our first time at PNC Park and the boys first MLB game.

Saturday Levi has a Pirate tournament in Jefferson OH. He will miss his MYAA (Rec League) game but Cole will be there for that. Then Saturday night Cole has his Pirate team practice.

Then Sunday Levi will still have the Jefferson Tournament. Cole will have his 9 yr old All-Star tryouts…Good luck Cole! And then Cole’s Pirate team is playing the General McLane team.

I’m not sure how I’ll be dividing my time but it will be a blast. The weather is supposed to be perfect…hope it holds.

Both boys have been doing great in their practices and games but just want to make a special note of last MYAA game. Levi came in to pitch in the second inning…bases loaded and nobody out. He struck out 3 in a row…nobody scored. He pitched a total of 4 innings…12 outs…and had a total of 10 strikeouts! Cole made some great plays at shortstop and both did well at the plate.

Gotta love baseball!

One year done at McDowell

teambecker — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:26:10 +0000

…and a good year it was! My ninth year teaching and first year at McDowell was a good year. I was talking to Levi and Cole about time the other day and how it seems like this year went so fast but yet it seems so long ago that I was teaching in Titusville…weird. I’m looking forward to next year and having a year of teaching my new classes under my belt and taking over Sports and Entertainment Marketing (a class I taught at Titusville).

I liked having the opportunity to help out Mr. Beck with the Girls’ and Boys’ Tennis teams and coach basketball at Westlake.

The boys both got great report cards and are doing great in school. Very proud of them both.

Now…BRING ON SUMMER!

Trail Running

teambecker — Sun, 10 May 2009 23:40:25 +0000

I’m planning to sign up for a 50K trail race in Titusville scheduled for October. It looks like a really cool race. I thought it would be cool to do it because it is its first year for the race plus I trained for and ran a marathon this spring and I’ll be training all summer for Ironman Wisconsin so I should be pretty well trained to do it.

I went for a training run with Jim Roeder yesterday. We planned about 7 miles…ended up going about 13.25. We’ll know the map and trail better next time. It was a great day to be out there and we had a good time.

Protected: Deana’s second surgery

teambecker — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:37:05 +0000

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Opening Day!

teambecker — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:18:35 +0000

I love opening day for baseball…even if we are having a winter storm watch here in Erie, PA. The Orioles won today…beat the evil Yankees! First place for at least one day! Our Double A team…The SeaWolves home opener is Wed…calling for snow that morning…we’ll see.

We had MYAA (Recreation) baseball for Levi and Cole Sunday…first practice of the year…not bad. Their cousin Matty is on that team as well. Its hard to get practices in with this weather.

Besides that, Levi’s Pirate 10 yr old team is looking good after a winter of indoor practices. Can’t wait to get outside some more. First tourney is the first weekend in May. Hopefully Cole’s Pirate 9 yr old team gets put together here soon.

Gotta love baseball!