PCAS IN THE NEWS
Open for Business
Live action is back! PCAS is excited to be ramping up several of our in-person programs.
Cycling
For cycling enthusiasts, Chester County cycling has been underway since April with single cyclists, hitting the trail on Sunday mornings. Cycling in Philadelphia began in June, on Saturdays from 9am – noon from the boathouse. Starting the end of June we opened both programs to tandem cycling as long as both riders are fully vaccinated.
Climbing
Climbing began in June, with a new lead coach, Andrew Skobac, who was mentored by former coach Pat Bost. Climbing started on June 9th, and meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
Birding
For those of us who prefer to stay grounded, our monthly Birding program might be a good alternative. It is a hidden treasure. This program will be on hiatus for the summer, but we’ll start back up in the fall when the birds start to migrate again. Keep an eye out for dates and locations!
Youth Track & Field
Meanwhile, our Youth Track & Field team members have been staying in shape, with two of our athletes competing with their high school teams. They’re now training to prepare for MoveUnited’s Junior Nationals competition in Colorado this summer.
Rowing
The rowing program is still pending, as we are unable to launch from the boathouse due to road closures and a blocked channel. It appears that dredging of the river and our channel won’t be possible until later in the summer. We are hoping to identify an alternative launch spot so we can begin to get single rowers (and double rowers who have been fully vaccinated and are at least 2 weeks post their final shot) out onto the water. The good news is, we are moving forward with plans for the BAYADA Regatta, to be held August 21st. We expect it to be a bit smaller, like other regattas held in Philadelphia this year. We also hope to support some of our rowers who compete in other regattas this year; we had one of our rowers, John Doughty, compete in the Dad Vail Regatta this past April.
For more information on participating in any of our programs, both in-person and virtual, please scroll to the bottom of this Newsletter for details.
(Contributor: Meg Jones)
PROGRAM NEWS
Youth Track and Field
Team PCAS hosted our first ever mini-meet on the weekend of June 12th - 13th. At the event, PCAS Youth Track and Field participants jumped, threw, ran and swam their way to qualifying for MoveUnited’s Junior Nationals , which is being held in Denver, Colorado in July.
For many of our swimmers, this was their first swim meet, and they found it a bit intimidating. One mom shared that her petite swimmer, Macyn Kronmuller, had to empty some tears from her goggles as she was so nervous getting ready to swim the 25 (meter) freestyle. Macyn was concerned about swimming the 50 freestyle, and needed a little pep-talk before the race. Later, at the 100 freestyle event, Macyn was not scheduled to compete, but there was an open lane, so Coach Darla suggested she try it. With a little encouragement, she agreed. And she absolutely crushed it! When asked what she would like to tell others about her strategy for success, Macyn replied, "Don't give up and try your best".
One of our younger athletes, Landon Healy, had been struggling to get the hang of long jump. It takes a lot of motor planning for many of our athletes to get the feel for the field events. But for whatever reason, something clicked, and Landon was soaring into the long-jump pit on Saturday. Afterwards, Landon’s mom asked him "what would you tell somebody they need to do who hasn’t done track before?” He said “you have to be brave and try your hardest.”
Two of our more seasoned athletes were seen lending a hand to Katie, a visiting athlete from Connecticut. First, PCAS athlete Madison Hahs helped Katie try her very first racing dive from the blocks, and later, our own Trent Clayton spent just a few minutes coaching her between throws, but it helped her gain over two meters in her discus throw.
These are just a few highlights of some incredible athletes who spent the weekend doing what they love. Smiles came to their faces when they faced and overcame challenges, or when the experienced that moment when their practice finally “clicked”, or when they helped other athletes. Those moments are what PCAS it’s all about!
Congratulations, PCAS athletes, and we owe a huge thank you to Henderson High School and the West Chester YMCA, for sharing their facilities to make our meet possible.
(Contributor: Darla Clayton)
Chester County Cycling
In the spring of 2013, PCAS extended its reach into the Philadelphia suburbs by offering adaptive cycling on Sunday afternoons in Chester County. Athletes of various abilities have experienced the enjoyment of cycling, and the ability to move with speed, by riding the 22 miles of the Chester Valley Trail.
Starting from the Church Farm School Trailhead in Exton, riders can enjoy the flat, scenic trail at a pace, and for a distance, that suits their ability and fitness level.
Despite the recent challenges due to the pandemic that have complicated the operation of PCAS’s various programs, athletes were able to cycle in a limited capacity late last summer. Our program resumed operations again this past May, with adaptations that allowed 14 athletes and 19 volunteers to enjoy the cycling season once again. Masks, social distancing, and health screening protocols have allowed for a safe return of our dedicated athletes and volunteers to the trail.
One of the adaptations has been the suspension of tandem cycling for the start of this season since it is impossible to follow social distancing protocols on a tandem. However, recumbent trikes and handcycles are still available for athletes to enjoy riding. Another pandemic adaptation is that athletes who need assistance with transfers now must bring a friend or family member to serve as primary assistance. These changes are being reviewed regularly as guidance from the PA DOH and CDC changes, and will be updated as appropriate.
Larry Way, a long-time program participant and the 2019 Cycling Athlete of the Year Award winner, expressed his appreciation at our return this season. “Chesco PCAS has been wonderful for me. Among the volunteers and athletes, I have developed friendships which will last a lifetime. We care about each other. We are family. PCAS has helped me to build my confidence and achieve goals I never thought possible, such as competing in marathons on my handcycle. PCAS is so much fun and so beneficial for my physical and mental health. Our Sunday rides at Exton Park are one of highlights of my week.”
Loretta Cohen, program organizer, has done an exceptional job of getting our cyclists back out riding. “You know you’re on to something special when not only the athletes, but the volunteers also, talk about how grateful they are for the programs. My gratitude goes to [PCAS founders] Isabel Bohn and Jeff McGinnis for building such a great program model.”
If you are interested in enjoying the summer weather while increasing your fitness level and making new friends, at a convenient location outside of the Philadelphia city limits, please contact PCAS for more information. The group meets most Sundays, weather permitting, from 1-3 PM.
(Contributor: Craig Rittase)
PCAS PEOPLE - ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Patrick Sweeney
Our last Newsletter highlighted a connection between PCAS and the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia, thanks to a series of articles written by one of our members, Patrick Sweeney. Being a voice for cyclists and people with disabilities is nothing new to Patrick, and we’re happy to spotlight his accomplishments.
Patrick has been active with the PCAS Chester County program for about five years, and he has made some incredible “friends that last a lifetime”. Other riders have helped him “tremendously”, especially Sandy Morrison and Dave Kolonauski, with their encouragement and support. Patrick participates in many races every year, including about a dozen triathlons.
Patrick takes the riding leg of the triathlon, which can exceed 50 miles, and he partners with others, like Matt Eshelman, who compete in the swimming and running events. Patrick's participation in PCAS helps with his training, while the Challenged Athletes Foundation and IM ABLE Foundation provide the equipment and funding to help adaptive athletes meet their goals.
A lot goes in to preparing for such competitive events, especially if you’re using adapted equipment in the midst of hundreds of able-bodies bikers. When participating in a race for the first time, Patrick and his handler (his Dad!), typically contact the race director to ensure that the course is feasible for an adaptive athlete. Bigger races often have more resources, but smaller races can be more accommodating, because there are fewer participants. Patrick was rejected from one race, but that decision was reversed thanks to his previous involvement in the Paralympics and intervention by a well-placed representative.
Although Patrick participated in some virtual races this year, he said he missed cycling outdoors. A former soccer player, once Patrick had tried cycling he said he was “hooked” and that spirit still inspires him. He says he can’t wait to “compete and inspire others.” We’ll be there to cheer him on when he does!
(Contributor: Andrea Pampaloni)
PCAS PEOPLE - VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Laura Baehr
Those of you who take Seated Fitness online know Laura Baehr, the energetic self-proclaimed “dancing scientist” who teaches the popular fast-paced class every Thursday at 5pm. Now, Laura has been chosen as an inaugural instructor for MoveUnited’s OnDemand platform, set to launch July 2021 and offering pre-recorded adaptive telefitness classes.
“I am beside myself,” Laura said about her acceptance into the competitive instructor line-up. "[PCAS Program Manager] Judy Morrison learned about the platform and encouraged me to apply. They only accepted about a dozen instructors and I was contracted to teach five seated yoga classes for the platform.”
Laura has also been asked to teach yoga at MoveUnited’s Junior Nationals event in Colorado this summer, an annual multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities from 7 to 23 years of age.
In addition to her volunteer work with PCAS and her future work with MoveUnited OnDemand, Laura is also completing her PhD in adaptive fitness, with her thesis focusing on seated telefitness for people with spinal cord injuries. She has also recently authored two soon-to-be published articles on the topic in scientific journals.
So, if you see Laura online or in person, be sure to congratulate her on her new affiliation, and look for information about this new program in future issues of this newsletter.
(Contributor: Irene McKnight)
