2001 to 2012

2001
In 2001, the eyes of HFP were focused on Jennifer’s expanding belly. Shannon and Jennifer’s first son was due in July, right in the middle of race season!! The challenge was how to continue managing the races every weekend without Jennifer once the baby arrived. Jennifer continued to work the races up until mid‐July when Jennifer’s mom, Donna stepped in as her replacement. While Shannon, Donna and HFP crew worked at a mountain bike race in Cincinnati, Shannon got the call from Jennifer that she was in labor! Needing Donna to stay at the mountain bike race to keep things moving, Shannon quickly decided to sneak out of the park without Donna knowing and took the only available car which was Donna’s! He knew if she was aware that Jennifer was in labor she’d be gone in a heartbeat. With the HFP staff providing some good cover and distractions, Shannon snuck out and headed to Columbus where Jennifer was getting close to giving birth to their first child, a son. Upon Shannon arriving to the hospital, Henry Jacob Kurek appeared just 41 minutes later. Eventually Donna was given the “OK” by the staff to leave for Columbus and arrived at the hospital just after the delivery. Just 3 weeks later, Henry Jacob, visited his first triathlon at Buckeye Lake State Park. Atwood Lake Park – July 2001 Jennifer (at 37 weeks pregnant), the last race she worked before the birth of a son. Aunt Sandi & Mom Carol just completed the event as “newbie duathletes”. Henry Jacob Kurek Born July 29, 2001 Saturn Duathlon – May 2001 2000 Uber volunteer Kris Henthorn joined the HFP Racing as an official staff member in 2001. 2002
In 2002, HFP rolled the dice and announced their first out‐of‐state event, American’s Dairyland Triathlon in Racine, WI offering a $25,000 prize purse. The race was received very well and sold out in less than 4 months with 1000 total participants which would later reach 1700 total participants in 3 years. Racine is just under 90 minutes from downtown Chicago and really filled a void for the half ironman distance events. The inaugural race was won by Luke Mackenzie and Heather Gollnick. The following year, the City of Racine was in the process of a major overhaul to their image and wanted HFP to rebrand the race to be called, Spirit of Racine Triathlon. Over the 9 years of producing this event, the race attracted Ironman World Champions, Craig Alexander and Mirinda Carfrae along with many others. Mirinda posted the fastest time in the world ever in a 70.3 race (4:16) in 2007. Later that season, Mirinda bettered her time at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships (4:07) in Florida. In 2009, with Ironman in major expansion mode, HFP sold the Spirit of Racine Triathlon to the World Triathlon Corporation and Ironman 70.3 Racine debuted in 2010 to a sold out field of 2000 participants. Wisconsin’s Dairyland Triathlon – July 2002 Shannon with race announcer Jerry MacNeil. Spirit of Racine Triathlon – July 2002 Heather Gollnick was our official spokesperson for the event the first three years. After several years of continued growth with the Ohio Challenge Series, Shannon wanted to take the level of the series championship up a few notches and in 2002 secured “SUMMA Health System” as the presenting sponsor for the Portage Lakes event. Along with adding a kids and womens only triathlon, the event featured the first ever (in the U.S.) elite amateur qualifying only race called the SUMMA Formula One Championship. The event featured three super sprint distance duathlons and triathlons with one of top fields of amateur elites ever assembled in an Ohio race. A “Who’s Who” of triathlon and duathlon racing in Ohio was represented by: Jon Hastings, Joshua Ritchie, Kyle Poland, Matt Combs, Rudy Sroka, Sally Price, Tom Lebuhn, Darryl Kollai, Paul Day, Randy Lehrer, Rick Kuttoff, Michelle Kitze, Kris Henthorn, Lisa Duncan, Alan Boos and many more. SUMMA F1 Championship Weekend – September 2002 SUMMA F1 PAIN– Sept 2002 The best elite amateurs get themselves ready for some serious pain. Shannon Kurek feels the burn on the run. SUMMA F1 Championship Weekend – September 2002 The HFP Racing family strikes a pose at the awards tent. Walking behind is operations staff Nate Tharp and Ben Groe. Nate is still providing IT consulting services to this date. SUMMA F1 START – Sept 2002 Lined up in the front was Kyle Poland, Alan Boos, Shannon Kurek, Randy Lehrer and Tom Lebuhn
2004
In the spring of 2004, one of our long time customers gave a ring to discuss a business venture that would require HFP to think outside the box. Shannon drove to Cincinnati to meet with several Cincinnati business men to discuss producing an event in South Asia. After spending most of the fall putting together plans for the event and getting the needed government support, Shannon and his right hand man at the time, Scott Erdman booked flights to Sri Lanka, the second week of January 2005. On December 26, 2004 everything changed when Sri Lanka was hit with the most devastating tsunami ever recorded in South Asia killing over 100,000. At the time, the Cincinnati partners had no idea if their Sri Lankan contacts were still alive. It took nearly 3 months before any communication was made. Though they were going through incredible hardships, the Sri Lankan contacts wanted them to know that someday HFP will be welcome to produce a triathlon in Sri Lanka. Shannon figured that to be very unlikely and put that idea behind him. Scott Erdman – October 2004 Scott Erdman at OARS event at The Wilds in Zanesville. Scott gave HFP 6 years of service. Galle Face Green – Colombo, Sri Lanka The eventual race site of the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka. Alan Boos 1974 ‐ 2004 Sadly, the 2004 season ended on a very sad note with one of Team HFP’s most talented athletes, Alan Boos. Alan passed away suddenly the week before he was scheduled to defend his title at the Portage Lakes Elite Triathlon. For someone with such an amazing gift of multisport talent, you’d never know it if you’d met him. Alan was by far the most humble athlete to don a Team HFP uniform. Alan had won the Ohio Triathlon Series Championship five times!! Alan was the 1989 Ohio State Cross Country Champion, an All‐American Cross Country Runner at Malone College, was the State Runner‐up in Track at Columbian High School twice, and he was inducted into the Columbian High School Hall of Fame on September 25, 2004. Alan also had won the Portage Lakes Elite Triathlon all three years of its existence. HFP honors Alan each year with the running of Alan’s Elite Triathlon (formerly the Portage Lakes Elite Triathlon). Team HFP members Shannon Kurek and Brian Barker had the privilege of racing with Alan in May of 2003 at the American Triple‐T. Alan Boos – 1974‐2004 Sadly just days before the season’s final event of 2004 Team HFP lost one of its own.
Alan Boos and HIS Team Team HFP Racing meant so much to Alan and HE meant so much to Team HFP. Upon his passing, Alan was buried in his Team HFP Racing uniform. Alan Boos – Forever Champion Alan NEVER got out split on the run and ran to win EVERY race. 2005‐2006
2005 started out with a huge blessing on January 5, as the Kurek’ welcomed their daughter, Madeline, to the world. Even with an infant and a 4 year old running around the race site, Jennifer and Shannon did not miss a step and moved forward with one of the busiest race season to date. However, knowing his plate was very full now with two children and a small business to run, Shannon took the initiative to make sure that was it for children. After seeing the success of the Spirit of Racine, the City of Morgantown, WV contacted HFP in late 2005 to bring a similar event to their city. In June 2006, the MedExpress Mountaineer Triathlon was born and the City of Morgantown rolled out the red carpet best it could in this university and coal mining community. Though mountains are included in the name of the race, there are actually no mountains on the course or anything that comes close to being a mountain. However, that does not make the race course easy and New Zealand’s Byran Rhodes can attest to the challenging terrain (including rough coal truck roads) that greeted him during the first couple races he attended. At one of those races, it rained during most of the bike course portion of the event. Coal dust on the roads turned to pure black grime and when Bryan crossed the finish line he looked like he had just done an off‐road triathlon. He had black grime all over his legs, arms and face. In 2013, the Wells Fargo Advisors Mountaineer Triathlon & Duathlon event will be held for the first time ever while the WVU students are in town in September in the hopes of catching some of the university spirit through participants and volunteers. Madeline Grace Kurek Born January 5, 2005 MedExpress Mountaineer Triathlon – June 2006 One of the many unique aspects of this urban triathlon was the indoor transition within the Morgantown city parking garage. And bonus baby makes five!!! – Born May 16, 2006 After Shannon went through with the required procedure to keep their family at four members, Ezra Thomas arrived on May 16, 2006 to the surprise & delight of everyone. Mountaineer Triathlon – June 2006 Swimmers on the green water of the Mon River in Morgantown, WV Mountaineer Triathlon – June 2006 The official voice of HFP Racing – the one and only, Rich Fowler 2007
In 2007, HFP was retained to produce the Triathlon One‐O‐One national series that featured a ¾ ironman distance and a $50k prize purse at each event. Events were scheduled in Florida, California, Canada and Texas. While waiting for the return flight after producing the California event in June, Shannon received an email that the RD in Canada was out and this set off a chain of events that would ultimately doom the series and the final two events were cancelled. Some notable professionals attended the two events with 2012 Ironman & Ironman 70.3 World Champion Leanda Cave headlining the show winning both the Florida and California events. Triathlon One O One – Clear Lake, CA – June 2007 “One of the best triathlon venues I’ve seen” Dan Empfield In August 2007, HFP escaped near tragedy on the highway when two young HFP staffers rolled an HFP truck and trailer 3 times on I‐71 on the way to an event. Miraculously, both came away unscathed and even worked the event that weekend. Shannon was leading the way north on I‐71 in the box truck and he received a panicked call from one of his staffers that there had been a very bad accident just behind him. He quickly got off at the nearest exit and headed south on I‐71 to the accident scene. As he approached, it looked like white body bags were surrounding the trailer and his heart sank. Thankfully as he got closer he correctly identified the body bags as white coolers and the two staffers were standing next to the accident site. Dozens of rescue units arrived and heavy duty wreckers were needed to move the totaled truck and trailer from the accident scene. Once Shannon knew everyone was OK, he quickly headed off to find the nearest U‐Haul truck rental location to get a box truck for the crashed race equipment. When he arrived with the rental truck, it started to rain. Gatorade powder mix bags had been torn open and the powder was thrown onto much of the race equipment. As clean up began when Shannon arrived with a rental truck, so did the rain which created a sticky mess on everything. Amazingly, all the race equipment in the trailer was undamaged and after loading it in the rental truck, the staff got to the race site only a few hours behind schedule. And They Walked Away – August 2007 Accident scene from terrible crash on I‐71 with two HFP staffers, both walk away Darryl Kollai 1955‐2008 It had been awhile since Darryl Kollai attended an HFP Racing event or even wore the Team HFP singlet, deciding to take a lower key approach to his racing season and joining his son Eric at a few races in 2008. Darryl was a true gentleman of the sport and had been racing in Ohio for more the two decades as a top age grouper. After getting an invitation from Shannon Kurek to join them at Alan’s Elite Triathlon, Darryl was making plans on racing at the HFP’s season ending event at Portage Lakes. However, on September 2 while riding on a routine bike ride with a training buddy, he suffered a heart attack and died. Darryl was just 53 years old. DK – Bringing it home! Darryl and his always recognizable stride. Darryl Kollai – 1955‐2008 Darryl with his son, Eric, before one of his many races they did together. Atwood Lake Park – July 1998 Darryl enjoyed tremendous success as a Triathlete but was an even more dedicated father and husband. 2009
After a great season of racing in 2009 which included the sale of the Spirit of Racine Triathlon to the World Triathlon Corporation (owners of the Ironman brand), Team HFP members Shannon Kurek, Curt Haywood, Mark Lemmon and Brian Barker embarked on an epic training camp that consisted of running around New York City while hitting all the major landmarks – then finishing off the long weekend with the last ever Bruce Springsteen concert in the Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. Shannon was using the long run miles for a buildup to his first attempt at MiamiMan Triathlon in Miami, Florida the following month. MiamiMan Triathlon Family Trip – November 2009 Shannon and his family en route to the MiamiMan Triathlon in Miami, FL. NYC Road Trip – October 2009 Shannon Kurek, Mark Lemmon, Curt Haywood and Brian Barker enjoying an end of season road trip. On July 19, 2009 HFP Racing would produce the Spirit of Racine Triathlon. What started off as a tremendous gamble 9 years earlier for Shannon and Jennifer turned out to be one of the most successful business ventures in the company’s history. The event was by far the most laborious event to produce and required effort of epic proportions of which most folks would not even contemplate let alone put themselves through. However, each year for 9 years HFP Racing brought together a dedicated team to produce this awesome event and on the final year in 2009 no team was ever better. The team was brought together by similar beliefs and attitudes which allowed the 2009 Spirit of Racine Triathlon race crew to work hard and play even harder. The crew was lead by Daniel Smith and complimented by Avery Brooks, James Davis, Luke Phillips and Isaac Phillips. This was the All‐Star Squad of race crews. The final chapter of this event went down as the easiest and most enjoyable of the 9 years and all it took was 157 hours during race week from each one of the Spirit of Racine Triathlon – July 2009 Daniel Smith, Luke Phillips, James Davis, Avery Brooks aforementioned staffers to make it happen! and Isaac Phillips. 2010‐2011
In late January 2010, Jennifer was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and it rocked the Kurek family. Being a natural fighter and strong woman of faith, Jennifer takes on the challenge with little fear. She believes with God’s help, she will beat the cancer. Thankfully, Jennifer wasted no time in contacting her doctor as soon as she noticed a “swollen” area that hadn’t gone away for a month. She caught the cancer early and only had to have the lump and some lymph nodes removed. After surgery, it was determined the cancer did not make it to the lymph nodes and she would only need radiation and no chemo! The radiation was tough, but Jennifer was tougher. On the Friday morning, before the 2010 American Triple T, at 6:30am, Jennifer headed to her last radiation treatment. The minivan looked quite full as it rolled to The James Hospital in Columbus for the last treatment celebration! To celebrate with her was the family dog, Zoey, her mother and best friend, Donna, her three children and their toys, clothes and bikes. With ice packs in the cooler for Jen’s “sunburn”, the motley crew headed south to Portsmouth to meet up with Shannon at the event after the treatment. Even with a very swollen and super sun burned breast area, Jennifer worked the four Triple T races, 18 hours a day for 3 days without complaining. Survivor – September 2010 After being diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Jennifer did not miss one race in 2010. Here she is pictured with two of her children Ezra and Madeline at the final race of the season. A Proud Moment – September 2010 Shannon Kurek with his son Henry Jacob after finishing the Akron Kids Duathlon. Daddy’s Girl – September 2010 Madeline Grace watches for her brother Ezra after just finishing her race. Pushing Hard – September 2010 Ezra Thomas makes it 3 for 3 for the Kurek kids. HFP Racing – WE ARE FAMILY – September 2010 Carol Kurek (Mom), Madeline Kurek, Jennifer Kurek, Ezra Kurek, Larry Kurek (Dad) and Shannon Kurek In the spring of 2010, out of the blue, Shannon received an email from his contact in Sri Lanka stating “The government has approved the triathlon event to move forward. When can you come to Sri Lanka?” Not wanting to be consumed by an international event, Shannon agreed only to consult on the event and introduce them to Ironman. That September, Shannon made his first trip to Sri Lanka and returned again in December to meet with Ironman and finalize the license for Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka. During the summer of 2011, things seemed to not be going smoothly in Sri Lanka and a very frustrated Shannon cancelled his consulting agreement and breathed a sigh of relief that that event was no longer on HFP’s schedule. In October 2011, Shannon got a call from the Asia‐Pacific manager for Ironman urging him to come back on board. Reluctantly Shannon agreed. The big carrot for Shannon was the opportunity to race in Thailand where meetings for the Sri Lanka race were scheduled during Ironman 70.3 Phuket in December of 2011. After spending a couple of weeks in Thailand and Sri Lanka, everything looked like it was back on track. However, after Christmas, the emails coming from the local RD seemed very concerning and Shannon agreed to come in and take over the event with just 7 weeks to go. However, without the proper government support this might be all for none. Only time would tell. There is a good book to be written on what went down during those 7 weeks! In the end, Shannon along with a contingent of Ironman staff from Australia, successfully produced Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka and the rest is history. Shannon had been gone from his wife and three young children a total of 12 weeks during this venture, so upon his arrival back in the U.S., Shannon promised his wife, Jennifer, “Never again!” Take that, Cancer! – September 2011 Just a little over a year after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Jennifer finishes her first triathlon at the Akron Women’s Only Triathlon. Ironman Phuket – December 2011 Shannon gets up close & personal with an elephant at Ironman 70.3 Phuket in Thailand. Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka – February 2012 Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka Men’s Champion – Faris Al Sutan Sri Lanka Sprint Tri – January 2012 Shannon Kurek and Avery Brooks jump in the Sri Lanka Sprint Tri while prepping for Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka. 2012
Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka Race Report from Ironman.com: It is a race that very nearly didn’t happen, but with the perseverance of the organizers headed by race director, Shannon Kurek, the assembly of the Brisbane team of USM Events Australia, which was recently acquired into the WTC family, and huge support from the local officials and volunteers here locally, the race made it to the waters edge of the Indian Ocean and Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka champions were made. “This was an adventure triathlon,” says winner Faris Al‐Sultan (GER), who blitzed the course in hot and windy conditions. “If you want perfection in a race, then inaugural races in developing countries are not going to be for you”. Al‐Sultan admitted that while perfection was not delivered, the race went ahead in difficult circumstances and nobody tried to hide and make excuses. It was also clear on how everybody had pulled together and made the race happen. Women’s winner Lucie Zelenkova (CZE), pictured below, came here to win. The athlete who lives and trains in South Africa is used to challenging training and racing conditions and said that her race today lived up to those expectations. “This was a crazy adventure you would not experience anywhere else. I saw something different and that's why I came here. I am thankful to the WTC, because without their races I would not have raced in so many different places, met so many new friends and experienced so many cultures.” Crazy refers to the bike course that was three intense loops. Athletes praised the swim and run, especially the run that was reduced to four close‐knit loops where athletes could keep an eye on their competition. With cooling breezes off the Indian Ocean, plenty of spectators and willing volunteers it proved to be the highlight for many. Second place female Katya Rabe of Germany likened today’s race to an adventure race. “The volunteers were amazing, especially on the run course, and I am happy that the race was not cancelled and that we got to come here and experience this.” Second‐place finisher Bryan Rhodes (NZ) has raced all over Asia. He posted the fastest bike split of the day with a scorching 2:05:24, which included a tumble. Christie Sym (AUS) finished third today and was here racing for the first time since her gallbladder surgery last year. She was full of smiles on many levels after revealing that she had no nutritional problems, which means the surgery was a success. Age group performance of the day goes to an Australian who now lives in Phuket, Thailand, AJ Anderson. He blitzed his 30‐34 AG and came fifth overall in a time of 4:10:31. Continuing on with the age groupers, they are the athletes who come here just for passion alone and the consensus among the majority is one of “sure it was a little crazy, but it was also great fun.” To sum up, a miracle has been achieved here today. A transition area that has wowed many of the athletes appeared overnight. Teamwork in every area of race organisation has taken place with three different cultures over three different continents working together over the past five days. The result has been a success. As female winner Lucie Zelankova stated. “If everyone crosses the finish line safely you can say that today has been a success.” Not to long ago the local people in south East Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines were as mystified by the sport of triathlon as Sri Lanka is today. How fast the times change and now Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines among others have embraced triathlon. And we hope that the same progression will now happen here in Sri Lanka as the people have been introduced to a sport that they would never before in their life have experienced or witnessed up close. Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka – February 2012 Sri Lankans welcomed HFP with open arms Sri Lanka – Feb 2012 Avery Brooks (USA), Shannon Kurek (USA) and Beccy Jesson (UK) 2012 was a very up and down fast paced season with the sad loss of our dear friend Debby Prevenslik in early 2012 from complications from a surgery and then soon after arriving home from Sri Lanka and wrapping all the post event details from Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka, Shannon was off to the annual HFP Training Camp in Helen, Georgia. This annual camp has become very popular and features and great week of training and camaraderie that is very difficult to replicate in a setting away from the gorgeous backdrop of the Helen, Georgia Mountains. Helen GA Training Camp – April 2012 Top: Curt Haywood, Jr., Shannon Kurek, Kurt Molter, Mark Lemmon Bottom: Andrew Provenza, Jarod Jaret, Adolfo Loustaunau He finally did it! – October 2012 Shannon Kurek, Mark Lemmon and Curt Haywood, Jr. pose after Mark’s wedding. MiamiMan Triathlon – November 2012 Shannon finished off his long exhausting season with a runner‐up finish in Miami. After a long, tough rushed race season in 2012, Shannon gained insight and a much needed new focus of “family first” in both his personal and business life for the future. Willing to continue to share his passion of the sport of triathlon with others and their children has lead him to re‐birth of HFP Racing brand into more family focused events on American soil. And so, we begin another 24 years anew. Let’s Bring it HFP Family! 2013 ‐ ????
The Kurek Family – September 2012 Shannon, Ezra, Madeline, Henry and Jennifer