About Team Sheeper Triathlon
Team Sheeper Triathlon is for athletes interested in a challenging and positive group training program. Adults of all ages and skill levels welcomed.
History of the team
Team Sheeper got its start when Tim Sheeper realized that the most interesting thing about coaching triathletes was the group energy and sharing of collective experience. He saw that achievement was greatest when athletes were surrounded by like-minded individuals who fed off of each other’s passion for the sport.
The other thing that Tim observed was that triathletes are generally fascinating people, achievers with lots going on in their lives. Some triathletes devote their lives to the sport and Tim enjoys coaching athletes with such admirable focus, but he found that he was most intrigued by the athletes who had other interests, families, and careers. He became an advocate for the multisport lifestyle and for the incorporation of training and racing into a lifetime of health. So Tim founded Team Sheeper in the mid 1990s, both to provide athletes with the power of group dynamics and to be able to reach more people with the message about multisport lifestyle.
Team Sheeper has evolved over the years and has offered many types of programming, but basically has stuck to Tim’s original mission. Team Sheeper is, as always, devoted to creating and building community around sport that’s welcoming, positive, and supportive. In addition to maintaining the team’s basic tenets, Tim embraces change and new experiences. Every year the team seeks to push both the organization and every team member out of their comfort zone so that we all discover capabilities that we didn’t know we had.
In recent years, the team has numbered over 100 members who do a lot more than triathlon. We have adventure racers, ultra-distance athletes, world-class swimmers, cyclists, runners, and life explorers who bring a richness to the team that’s unparalleled. We also have athletes whose children are involved in our youth programs and we encourage families and partners to train and race together. Today, we have broadened our outlook even further. Team Sheeper aims to channel our passion for athletic endeavors into benefits for the entire local and even the global community, sporting or not. We do this by supporting community-based charities and service organizations, and continually seek opportunities for our membership to spread the word about health and achievement.
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Upcoming Events
2023 Team Events
| February | 50/100,000 yards swimming – Triple Crown #1 |
| March | 50/100,000 feet of cycling elevation – Triple Crown #2 |
| April | 50/100 miles of running – Triple Crown #3 |
| April 30 | Orange County Triathlon (California State Championships) |
| May 20 | Ironman 70.3 (Morro Bay) |
| June 10 | Ultimate Run-Bay-2-Breakers 26 miles – Fearsome Foursome #1 |
| July 1 | Epic Ride-Terrible 200 – Fearsome Foursome #2 |
| August 5 | Super Swim Relay – Fearsome Foursome #3 |
| August 11-13 | Tahoe Training Camp – Alpine Meadows |
| August 12 | Donner Lane 2.7 mile swim |
| August 26 | Fearsome Tri-Santa Cruz – Fearsome Foursome #4 |
| August 27 | Sandman Sprint Triathlon – Aptos |
| September 10 | Ironman 70.3 – Santa Cruz |
| November 5 | Morro Bay Spring/Oly Tri |
Schedule & Pricing for Team Sheeper Triathlon
Schedule
Check our our monthly training calendar! It details the locations and specifics for each scheduled workout, as well as including team events and team races.
Pricing
Team Sheeper Membership
The Triathlon membership includes all Team Sheeper Triathlon and Lap Swim workouts. If any current Triathlon member wants to switch to Triathlon + Menlo Masters Swim workouts please email our customer service team.
Triathlon + Lap Swim + Masters – $139/month – Register today!
*Annual and Quarterly memberships are currently NOT available.
Team Fee
Team Sheeper membership also requires an annual $60 team fee. Monthly members are billed on the first day of the month and quarterly members are billed on the first day of the calendar quarter.
USMS Membership
Menlo Masters is part of the US Masters Swimming association, which means all members must be registered with USMS for insurance purposes. Your USMS card is required to participate in Masters swimming events and you receive the benefits of regional and national news about Masters swimming. Register directly on the US Masters Swimming website at www.usms.org/reg/er.
Proudly Affiliated with CAF
Team Sheeper is a proud affiliate of the Challenged Athlete Foundation (CAF). Talk to one of our Service Center representatives today to learn more!
Additional Fees
Plus, special events and services we use outside the team often cost extra. These might include lodging and meals during our camps and tours, the cost of physiological testing at Endurance Performance Testing, or tickets to a movie or presentation we put on our calendar.
Newcomer information
If you are new to Team Sheeper and don’t know how to start, simply get in touch with team manager, Mike Osmond. He will answer all your questions about how to get started, how to meet the team, training levels and more! You can also come observe a workout. No matter what your experience, you can find workouts and a schedule to fit your goals. Our team possesses a huge range of skills and we like training and racing together, no matter what our individual experience and fitness. So you will get to train with athletes who can teach you a thing or two, plus you’ll have every opportunity to fill in gaps in your knowledge and add new skills to your repertoire. See you out there!
Meet the Pros
Tim Sheeper / Founder and Head Coach
For over 30 years Tim Sheeper has coached athletes of all ages at the beginner, intermediate, and elite levels. Tim’s passion for building a community of multisport athletes resulted in the formation of Team Sheeper in the mid 1990’s. Find out more about team history.
Tim has been competing in triathlons for more than 35 years and has been racing in running competitions since the age of 8. While Tim has competed at the age group level, he has competed as a pro triathlete since the late 80’s and has no plans of stopping.
Tim’s mission in life is to encourage and motivate people to live a life full of activity — strengthening both the body and the mind. He is interested in enabling the discovery that one is capable of doing much more in life than thought possible.
Tim also makes family a priority. He has three children who are active in sports and his wife Lisa is herself a champion swimmer and team advocate. Tim’s interest in developing whole-person athletes extends to including families in Team Sheeper activities and supporting members’ personal commitments.
Mike Osmond / Team Manager
Mike graciously holds the post of organizer, communicator, and ombudsman for Team Sheeper. He is deeply involved in triathlon as a sport, in current thinking about training methods, racing strategy, and team dynamics. So Mike brings a wealth of knowledge as well as great energy to the team. He is your day-to-day resource for team logistics and news, so don’t hesitate to “Ask Mike.”
A Team Sheeper member since 2002, Mike has completed 5 Ironman triathlons and is an avid runner with at least 10 marathons to his name.
When not immersed in sport, Mike works for World Wildlife Fund, utilizing his expertise in marine protected areas and fisheries bycatch to address conservation issues in various parts of the world. Prior to joining World Wildlife Fund, Mike (an Australian) worked on the Great Barrier Reef and in Western Australia as a marine park ranger. He also spent a number of years coordinating humpback whales research across the Pacific. Contact Mike directly.
Policies & FAQs
Policies
Reoccurring Payments
All payments are non-refundable. All payments are billed automatically on the first day of the month. There are no pro-rated refunds for mid-month cancellations.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation requests must be submitted by the last day of current cycle (month) to terminate recurring payment/membership for the following billing cycle (month). Please fill out this form if you’re looking to cancel your membership. You may also cancel your membership in person with a Service Center representative.
FAQ’s
Q: How do I get started?
A: Write to Mike Osmond, team manager, to get your questions answered. You can also arrange to meet him at a workout if you would like more guidance. Try our workouts for one week with a trial offer. Meet the coaches, athletes, and experience the unique workouts we provide to the team.
Email General information: info@teamsheeper.com
Website feedback: webmaster@teamsheeper.com
Membership and billing inquiries: membership@teamsheeper.com
Ask Mike! For questions about workouts and events, team logistics, and what’s going on in general, give team manager Mike Osmond a shout. mike@teamsheeper.com.
Levels and Pricing
The Team Sheeper pricing structure and workout schedule are designed for flexibility. We are all busy, with full lives that can make fitting in training and racing a challenge. The team encourages balance and creating your best schedule for your own best results. This means that there are a lot of membership choices — you get to choose your membership level and the workouts you attend.
Q: How do I cancel, suspend, or change my membership?
A: If you would like to cancel your Team Sheeper membership completely, please fill out the online Cancellation Form. Cancellation requests may also be taken in person through the Service Center, (650) 781-5525. Cancellation requests must be submitted by the 15th of current month to terminate recurring payment/membership for the following month.
Membership
Q: How do I pay?
A: As of 2023, we are only offering monthly memberships at this time. Payments are made online through your membership account.
Q: How do I fit in if everyone on the team is training for long distance races and I’m just trying a sprint for fun?
A: We have many members who are short-distance specialists, are new to the sport, or simply don’t have time to train for long distance races. So you won’t be alone if a long distance doesn’t interest you. Our workouts will prepare you for sprint triathlons just as effectively. And if you’re a beginner, join our Level 1 program to train for your first triathlon.
Q: I don’t know what my plans are for the fall, can I join for just the first half of the year?
A: You can sign up for monthly payments, but these are automatic debits so you would need to cancel your membership to quit for the second half of the year.
Training
Q: What is the focus of weekly training?
A: Our training schedule is designed to benefit athletes will all sorts of goals, so you will find that early season base-building is followed by gradual introduction of speed work and racing prep. Week to week, the workouts will help you stay healthy while improving strength and endurance over the year. We incorporate strength training, flexibility and core work with ongoing technique and skills training. We publish a monthly training calendar for our athletes and below you can see the structure for our weekly workouts.
| Monday | Recovery day from the long weekend |
| Tuesday | Our weekday run workout. You can find us on a local track, sometimes a trail, and we often take advantage of our indoor cycling studio to make it a combo workout. |
| Wednesday | Our weekday bike workout. When daylight is limited we are indoor on the cycling studio. Otherwise, we are doing the Chase Group. |
| Thursday | Our weekday strength workout. Bootcamp, Crossfit, and combo style workouts help us develop core strength, balance, and flexibility. |
| Saturday | The long bike workout for the week. Portola Valley, Old La Honda, Kings Mountain, Pagemill, Pescadero, and Tunitas are just some of the locations we take advantage of in the Peninsula. And we usually encourage everyone to do the swim workout before the ride. |
| Sunday | The long run workout for the week. Woodside, Huddart Park, and bay trail at Oracle are the usual trails that we use for these workouts. |
| Swim | Daily Swim workouts – Team Sheeper members join Menlo Masters for workouts which are offered 7 days a week. |
Q: Where are the workout locations?
A: Angell Field, Stanford
The Cobb Track and Angell Field is one of our track workout venues and is open to the public when the track team is not practicing.
Directions: Off El Camino Real, enter the campus by turning west onto Galvez. The track parking lot is on your left after the stadium, about one block.
Bayfront Park, Menlo Park
Bayfront offers a network of trails on mild hills and a paved flat perimeter loop on the shore of the bay.
Directions: Travel east on Marsh Rd until it ends at the Bayfront Park entrance at the intersection with the Bayfront Expressway (84). Cross the intersection to the parking lot.
Burgess Park, Menlo Park
Burgess is Team Sheeper’s administrative home as well as the venue for many team activities including Menlo Masters swimming and weekly bike ride starts.
Directions: Located at 501 Laurel Street. From El Camino, turn north on Ravenswood, cross the RR tracks and turn right on Laurel. From 101, exit Willow and drive toward Menlo Park. Cross Middlefield and look for Laurel Street on your right.
Chip Trail, Stanford
This is a trail covered in wood chips located across the street from the Stanford track. It’s a good soft-surface warmup loop.
Directions: Off El Camino Real, enter the campus by turning west onto Galvez. Park in the track parking lot on your left after about one block. Cross Galvez to get to the trail.
DeAnza College Track, Cupertino
A track that has lighting at night, popular with south-peninsula running groups.
Directions: Hwy 280 to 85 south toward Gilroy. Exit immediately at Stevens Creek Blvd, east to Stelling Rd. Turn right, then right again at McClellan. Turn right at the first entrance, park in lot D. The track is adjacent.
Edgewood at Canada Roads, Redwood City
Intersection where you can park for Canada Road and Edgewood Park workouts.
Directions: Hwy 280 to Edgewood Road exit. Go southwest toward the hills and park at Canada Road.
Foothill College Track, Los Altos Hills
A convenient mid-peninsula track that has lighting at night.
Directions: Hwy 280 to El Monte/Moody Road exit. Travel west and find the track on your right at the edge of campus.
Holbrook-Palmer Park, Atherton
This park is one of our favorite venues for indoor strength, core, and spin workouts. It’s convenient with a great old carriage house we use for our classes.
Directions: Located between Middlefield and El Camino Real at 150 Watkins Ave. From 101 take the Marsh Rd exit into Atherton. Turn left on Middlefield and right on Watkins. The park is on the left. From El Camino, Watkins is between the lights at Encinal and Atherton Ave. Turn onto Watkins, cross the RR tracks and the park will be on your right. Use either entrance and wind around to the back of the property.
Oracle Parking Lot for Bay Trail, Redwood City
Ideal starting point for runs north up the Bay Trail which goes all the way to SFO along the shore. The trail from Oracle to Coyote Point is a flat 8.5 miles each way. Bathrooms, some mile markers and water.
Directions: Hwy 101, take the Ralston exit, go east on Marine World Pkwy. Turn left into Oracle, and then an immediate left again into the parking lot where we meet.
Pioneer Hotel, Woodside
There is ample parking for Woodside bike starts and runs in this municipal building complex. It’s a favorite meeting spot and recommended for least impact on the town of Woodside.
Directions: Hwy 280, take Woodside Road (84) toward Woodside to the top of the hill. See the old Pioneer Hotel on the left. Park anywhere behind the buildings.
Q: My fitness has slipped due to travel. What do I do if I’m not feeling up for the particular workout that’s on the schedule?
A: Please come to workouts anyway! You can quickly speak to the coach and get a suggestion for a lower-key approach. Or, plan to complete all the exercises in the workout but only to the level you can sustain — slow down the reps or rest more frequently, slow your pace or cut the number of intervals. For example, on Saturdays, you can start out riding with Hani’s group but if you’re going to be short of energy (or time), plan to shorten the route. Just be sure to let the coach know so that the group doesn’t go looking for you! In all cases, don’t hesitate to ask about how to approach any workout.
Q: The team’s group emphasis is great, but what if I’m looking for an individual training plan?
A: We encourage following your own plan, but the team doesn’t offer this specific service. Athletes have different needs, from those who want daily input from a coach to those who want guidance about periodization of a season. In all cases, Team Sheeper membership can complement individual training plans:
There are many online and one-on-one coaching programs, and we can recommend some locally.
If you engage a coach, you can still join Team Sheeper workouts so that you don’t have to train by yourself.
If you structure your training using an online program, you can enhance your learning with Team Sheeper’s collective knowledge and experience.
Q: What if my training plans don’t correspond with individual Team Sheeper workouts?
A: We welcome your participation in all activities. However, if your workout requirements disrupt the objectives of a Team Sheeper workout, we respectfully ask that you choose another session. For example, if your training plan requires a bike workout of sprints or intervals, please don’t join a base-building ride that’s designed for long, slow distance. This would be like coming to a Pilates class when you need an aerobic workout that day — simply doesn’t make sense.
Sponsors
Team Sheeper sponsors believe in the mission of the team and provide discounts or supply merchandise to our members. Please say thank you for their support by visiting their stores and considering their products and services.
At ROKA, we’re dedicated to empowering triathletes and swimmers with products that make them faster — faster than they were yesterday, faster than they were last season, faster than their competition. The Maverick Pro’s patent-pending design puts you in the fastest body position possible and facilities proper rotation for fast freestyle. What’s more, our suit is so comfortable that your shoulders will not tire like they do in your current suit – promise. After extensive pool and race testing, we believe the Maverick Pro is the fastest wetsuit on the planet. We have not found a faster suit. Along the product design path, we discovered a breakthrough training product in the SIM. For non-wetsuit swims, the super-fast and comfortable Viper offers NASA-tested, market-beating performance. More is on the way, so stay tuned. Visit www.rokasports.com
After completing this Survey, please book a time slot on the Calendar below to discuss your goals with Tim. Please note that booking is available Wednesday – Friday at select times.
Triathlete of the Year
Every year, Team Sheeper presents a Triathlete of the Year award to two exceptional individuals on the team. They are chosen for their personal, behavioral characteristics as well as for their athletic achievements and team contributions.
Our triathlon community is comprised of numerous individuals who are worthy of this award every year, but these athletes are singled out because of the way they elevated themselves in achieving ordinary to outstanding results during that year. And more importantly, they have improved our already thriving team culture by their actions and demeanor.
In the end, our team would just not be as successful without the involvement of these individuals. Congratulations to our winners!
2020: Ann Burton and Mike Rothenberg
2019: Jenny Roost and Lee Katzman
2018: Lindsey Amos and Tim Wong
2017: Claudio Casserati and Cindy Akard
2016: Jenna Holden and Mike Ross
2015: Grant Little and Leah Fine
2014: Mary Posey and Paul Buttery
2013: Claire Mancini and Bob Carlin
2012: Heidi Buttery and Dave Mandelkern
2011: Vaagn Toukharian and Jess Smith
2010: Ian Hersey and Mia Terada
2009: Keith Terada and Kelly Couch
2008: Mike Osmond and Cindy Welton
2007: Martin Michael and Michele Santilhano
2006: Pierre Pujol and Kirsten Kempe
2005: Jeff Piland and Sally Phillips
2004: Lennard Hachmann and Mimi Winsberg
2003: Ed Owen and Tina Lount
2002: John Richardson and Edie Heideman
2001: Chris Berry and Tina Lount
2018
Lindsey Amos
Lindsey – The light is on and the welcome mat is out. Lindsey is akin to a porch light that is bright and shining where everyone feels comfortable approaching and being greeted by her pleasant and uplifting demeanor. Her openness and willingness to authentically encourage all team members with no bias to first day members or grizzled team veterans, is her special brand of welcoming all to be themselves and thrive. Once Lindsey is convinced that the group is in good spirits, she is also very capable of ripping off their legs on a hill climb or their arms in a 400-yard pool effort. Of course, with a finishing smile.
Tim Wong
Tim – With the mindfulness, precision and patience of a Zen master, Tim has molded himself into a very capable and competent triathlete. Joining our team devoid of any swimming or cycling ability was not viewed in Tim’s mind as a detriment or a detraction, but more as an opportunity to learn more about himself while navigating the challenge of mastering three sports. While observing, questioning, participating and experimenting within our team environs he methodically improved his command of the sports, his connection to his team members, and his awareness of how everyone in the community is lifted when one grows and thrives. I am certain that Tim’s process will continue to enlighten himself as well as others on the team to reach even greater heights.
2017
Cindy Akard
Cindy – Concentrated; is the word that best describes this powerhouse of a person. Jam-packed into a stature that on her tip toes nearly reaches five feet, is resiliency, tenacity, positivity, creativity and durability. Her careful planning, and thoughtfulness in her physical endeavors and her outreach to team members is unprecedented. Cindy’s “Super Powers” are an incredibly fast walking pace, that absolutely no one else on the team can dream of matching accompanied by her body flexibility that makes one wonder if her tendons and ligaments have been replaced by rubber and elastic. Her commitment to our team community has led her to achieve more life accomplishments than she once thought possible.
Claudio Casserati
Claudio – Fashionable and international, while still very sleek and swift is what best describes Claudio. When desired, provoked or challenged Claudio is capable of unleashing wicked-fast speed in all three sports that tops all facets of our team. Claudio in sport as in life has the innate ability to express incredibly strong traits of yang while racing motorcycles, bicycles, triathlons, trading stocks or DJing a house party. While he is equally as comfortable and capable of expressing his ying while caring for beginners on our team or attending to his two small children. Claudio is a unique treasure to our triathlon community.
2016
Jenna Holden
Jenna Holden-Cool Runnings. Unmatched in the history of our team in strength, courage and optimism. Jenna has overcome more in her young life than most will encounter in a century of living. Her loudest voice couldn’t wake a sleeping baby, but her actions wake up others to quiet their personal pity parties and to strive and push right alongside her. Just try to rattle this woman…I dare you…it can’t be done.
Mike Ross
Mike Ross-Tenacious Attack-When Mike bites into something…he will not let it go until he has shaken the life out of it or is content to let it go on his own terms. Mike came to triathlons as a below novice swimmer and has had the most meteoric rise to prominence in the history of the team. His tenacity condenses timelines and that is his enjoyment and his gift to others. Who can help get caught up in his drive and enthusiasm? He pulls a majority of his teammates along his fast path of growth and determinism, while he never loses sight of his goal or his bliss.
2015
Grant Little
Grant Little-Quiet Storm. Grant is by nature quiet…you will hear only a few words from him during a training session, but he will make his presence always be known by devastatingly fast efforts on the bike and run. He can get so far ahead of the chase group that if he were to say something, no one could hear. But, when he speaks about his passions of triathlons and adventure, you’d be engaging with a man who living out what is in his heart and what satisfies his soul. More importantly there is not an equal to Grant when it comes to caring for others on the team. A true team player.
Leah Fine
Leah Fine-Positively Steady-There is no stopping Leah. Leah has been steadily improving year over year as a triathlete since the late 90’s. Leah is an athlete that accepts and conquers our most daunting team challenges gathering more and more “street cred” in our circle of reality. More importantly, Leah is a natural team builder and instigator of inclusion. Teammates respect her experience and her insight as she encourages all to participate, grow and enjoy all at the same time. A true fire-starter.
2014
Mary Posey
Beginner to Badass in a decade.
The first time I saw Mary at a training session, I would have “bet the farm” that her career in triathlon would have lasted another 2 weeks before retiring to the local “quilting club.” Mary has taught me to never judge an athlete but what you see in front of you, but to get to know them and look deep into their resolve and soul for the true athlete. She has transformed her physical athletic machinery to match her competitive and ever positive psyche. She is one of the only handful of people that I know that takes on challenges with guts and gusto.
I have witnessed Mary cross the finish line at many extremely demanding XTERRA races where ambulance rides off mountain would be abundant for less than expert riders. I have seen her dominate stand-up paddling endurance races and take-off on lefts in Maui. I hope to meet more people in my life that surprise and impress me as much as Mary.
Paul Buttery
How can a guy be constantly smiling and in a good mood?
What does he know that we don’t know?
How can a guy always seem calm when there is a storm brewing around him?
What does he know that we don’t know?
Well, we know that our Paul Buttery:
Has ascended from a very green beginner triathlete to an accomplished Ironman triathlete in such a very short period of time.
We know that our Paul Buttery:
Equally enjoys conquering the challenges of a very tough Wildflower long course and the celebratory bacon laden breakfast the next day.
We know that our Paul Buttery:
Does not hold grudges against his beautiful wife after she crushes him in our annual donut-eating contest.
We know that our Paul Buttery:
Is doing triathlons for all the right reasons and we know that he will have a long a successful crusade in the sport.
2013
Claire Mancini
Like her famous namesake, Ray “Boom-Boom” Mancini, a world champion boxer, our own Claire “Boom-Boom” Mancini is a fierce competitor. Boom…she shows up at a race. Boom…she dominates the race. Claire is new to triathlons, but she is not new to competitive endurance sports. To accompany her strong and extensive background in swimming and running, this year she put her head down and started punching out cycling workout after cycling workout to a point where she is now able to knock-out all her peers in each of the three disciplines. Beneath Claire’s quiet exterior lies true grit and determination. These characteristics, coupled with her intense will to win and her insatiable appetite to improve herself by attacking every training session will allow her to be at the top of the sport for years to come.
Bob Carlin
Passion, wit and hard work. These are the three characteristics that have led Bob to be a valued and respected member of the team for a decade. The passion Bob has for triathlon and for everything he does in life is demonstrated by his consistency of effort, attendance and attitude. Bob’s ability to poke fun (Monty-Python-Style) at himself and a few others is the comic relief that is necessary to break the drama of pressure and tension that often builds and disallows others from taking our hobby and ourselves too seriously. When all is said and done, Bob is one of the hardest workers in the history of the team. He will flog himself over and over if it is necessary to get something done and done right, so he can finish with his patented phrase, “Jobs-a-Goodn’.”
2012
Heidi Buttery
Heidi’s appetite for improvement in her relatively new sport of triathlon is insatiable. Her quest for self-optimization is apparent at every training session and every event she graces. Her eternal optimism married with her internal drive has combined to elevate her swimming, cycling and running. Heidi has thrown the traditional wisdom of increasing one’s goals and expectations slowly and methodically, out the window. She has put herself on the FASTRACK and she is thriving due to her focus and drive in order for her to meet the high standards. Heidi accomplishes all this with an extremely humble and giving attitude and is admired by all team members.
Dave Mandelkern
Dave is the epitome of the Triathlete Statesman. He is driven, tenacious, experienced and a bit crazy. Dave is famous on Team Sheeper for completing a triathlon in each of the 50 states before he was 50. This amazing feat was only accomplished because of his resourcefulness, precision planning and expert execution skills. Dave has frequented our training sessions for more than a decade and honed his fitness and endurance skills during the week so he can launch into various challenges on the weekend that fuel his never-ending thirst for challenge and adventure. Dave has become a standard and steady measure on our team. Everyone always knows that his positive demeanor and his healthy output will add to our team experience.
2011
Vaagn Toukharian
Who knows where his peak is? Untapped and unknown are the best way to describe Vaagn’s triathlon talent.
Vaagn began his triathlon career with very little swimming, biking or running background or any sporting background for that matter. His strategy for triathlon training has been.. “keep up with the guy in front.” Well, Vaagn is running out of guys in front of him.
He has taken his drive for perfection, his analytical mind, and his raw physical talent and molded all that into being a national class triathlon contender.
Although he is capable of riding or running alongside the very best, he enjoys everyone’s company and can be found happily accompanying all levels of his team mates around the training courses, displaying his authenticity as a team player.
Jess Smith
Always smiling, always leading with a pleasantry, always inquiring about how you are doing.
This is very tricky to the uninformed…it is easy to mistake this wickedly talented young triathlete as a happy-go-lucky, just-glad-to-be-here amateur rookie….that is, until she puts her body into motion.
Whether she is swimming, cycling or running Jess will go “flat-out” at world class speeds with a ton of passion to accomplish whatever goal she sets out for herself.
Her tenacity and talent have propelled her to the top of her class in short, medium and long distance races. Her personal qualities also lift the performance and spirits of all who come in contact with her during training or racing, making Jess a vital member of our triathlon community.
2010
Ian Hersey
Tenacity, focus, determination, longevity. This is what Ian Hersey is made of. Ian has accomplished many great feats as an lifelong endurance athlete and he is nowhere near done with his career. In fact, he is just getting stronger and more intense as the years wear on. Ian is the ultimate achiever who is always setting out goals for himself that he is not sure he will be able to meet. Each time he does meet the goals it just makes him that much stronger and hungrier for the next horizon. Ian is and will always be a competitor in every age group that he enters in the triathlon world or his beloved running community. His contribution of passion and pure joy of triathlon to the Team Sheeper culture has no match.
Mia Terada
Mia is a phenom and is not even aware of it. Mia has really only scratched the surface of what her body and mind are capable of accomplishing in endurance sports. As she continues to build years of athletic experience her confidence in her athleticism will follow and she will begin to demonstrate exactly how lethal she could be on a triathlon course. She has shown that her hard work, consistency, positive attitude and perseverance allows her to find the steps of a podium at most of her competitions. Mia has overcome many physical set-backs to achieve her fitness goals. This Team Sheeper Triathlete of the Year has only just begun her ascent.
2009
Keith Terada
2009 was the year that Keith decided to commit to change from a recreational athlete to a competitive athlete. He not only changed his mind about his desires, he changed his training schedule, he changed his racing schedule, he changed his thought patterns, he changed his eating habits, he changed his personal expectations, and through all this he changed how people viewed his athletics. The one thing Keith did not change was his passion for keeping it “fun” and keeping it “real.” 2009 was only the first year in what I am sure will be a long line of years of personal discovery and improvement.
Kelly Couch
2009 was the year Kelly decided she had enough of being a good triathlete. She decided she wanted to be an excellent world class competitive triathlete. She wanted to put her whole being into reaching her physical and mental potential. Her great strides in 2009 as an athlete had nothing to do with more or harder physical training, it came from belief. Step by step through the season she was able to believe more in herself and her abilities which enabled her to tap into her extreme athletic potential. Each time she stepped to a starting line in 2009 she had more confidence and belief than her previous event. This confidence unlocked her door to high performance and self-satisfaction.
2008
Mike Osmond
Mike is an athlete that performs at his peak when he is surrounded by positive and enthusiastic people. He has been doing triathlons for almost 20 years over all distances and has plenty of experience to share with newer team members. Mike uses his natural ease with people to offer his positive energy in return for theirs. He has employed this formula to continually improve each of the three disciplines over the many years he has been a part of the team, and is a great example of how consistent training can overcome the aging process.
Cindy Welton
Cindy is a unique triathlete who has progressed tremendously since her introduction to the sport a few short years ago. Her drive to uncover the mysteries of our sport have led her on a quest to improve as an athlete by the most efficient means possible. Her tenacity at consistency and her continual positive outlook on life and sport has enabled her to come into the good graces with the wide spectrum of athletes across our team. She is a gamer and ready to give anything a go.
2007
Martin Michael
The noblest of all gentleman athletes that the team has ever known. His consistency, camaraderie, empathy, and determination set him in an echelon that all athletes can learn from. His performances are carefully planned and executed with most results going the way of the dream.
Michele Santilhano
The world is not quite ready for a woman of this caliber. Her endurance feats in one season are nothing short of remarkable. Her endurance, recovery ability, desire to excel, desire to find human limits are what set her apart not from just the average athlete but from even the best world class competitors.
2006
Pierre Pujol
Dogged determination with an understanding of the global and minutiae of triathlon have kept him on a constant trajectory upward in his triathlon career. His unparalleled preparation for Ironman Cour de Alene where he ran with a torn tendon in his foot, but it still netted a Hawaii Ironman qualification where he managed a most respectable finish in his first World Championship appearance.
Kirsten Kempe
The strongest, sturdiest, and swiftest triathlon runner to ever grace the team. Her sheer joy of running has propelled her to many top finishes at the sprint to Ironman distance, along with an fantastic appearance and finish at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. There is no one else that can match her spirit to run for the pleasure of it regardless of time or place, which she never even calculates or records.
2005
Jeff Piland
The quietest most humble elite athlete that you may ever meet. His ascent through the age group ranks at numerous races along with overall race wins have made him a contender on the national stage for his professional career.
Sally Phillips
Her strengths are her determination and her mental outlook, along with her phenomenal endurance capabilities. She has made tremendous improvements on her cycling enough to challenge our teams top riders as well as her racing peers. She epitomizes a team player and has been a fabulous training partner and confidante to many athletes on the team.
2004
Lennard Hachmann
He parlayed his epic leg speed with his strong determination and his unmatched preparation skills to launch himself to the forefront of the team and the regional and national scene as a top competitor. His swimming improved to a point where he could still be a threat for the win on the run.
Mimi Winsberg
She came from out of nowhere to have one of the most diverse seasons of racing in the history of the team. Events from long distance cross country skiing to short sprints at swim meets to sprint and Ironman triathlons. Her recovery and preparation ability and determination married with tenacity thrust her to be a endurance force.
2003
Ed Owen
In only a few short years of being a triathlete he has leveraged his world class swim speed into a strong cycling and a national class long distance runner in the Ironman. Ed logged one of the top five fastest Ironman run splits ever on the team with a 3 hours 25 minute marathon to go along with a team record 49 minute 2.4 mile swim.
Tina Lount
She was totally relentless in her racing endeavors again this year. Coming back after a year off to give birth to her first child, Tina raced herself into shape and back to the highest point of the podium in races ranging from sprint to the Ironman. An inspiration to aspiring parents everywhere.
2002
John Richardson
One of the strongest riders on our team even though he give up a couple of decades in age to most of his teammates. This ageless wonder has carved out a name for himself on the regional scene with numerous top age group placin
Edie Heideman
One would never know by looking at her that this is the fiercest competitor that the team has ever known. She will let nothing stand in the way of her and a finish line. Sweet and motherly on the outside, while rugged and rough on inside. She mowed down most of the woman in her age group with top placings at Nationals and World Championships.
2001
Chris Berry
A remarkably strong athlete in each discipline. Started with a water polo background and used hard work to raise him to the top of the team and the top of his age group nationally with a phenomenal 9 hours 30 minute Ironman California which qualified him for Hawaii Ironman where he went about the same time.
Tina Lount
A fearless and prolific competitor who raced more than anyone on the team with countless wins and top age group placings. She uses her wicked-fast foot speed to close out races faster than any of her competitors.
Where’s Tim?
This is a partial compilation of the multi-sport events that Tim Sheeper has joyously taken part in over the past few years. Tim competes for the challenge, the diversity and the satisfaction of leaving a job well done. Place and time are not included in this list because Tim believes that once something is done to the best of one’s ability on that given day it is a personal success. Rankings, often times diminish the feelings of satisfaction, as comparison can strip away joy. Tim rarely feels there is a need to go back and review the place, time or standings. (If you would like to know, visit athlinks.com)
Competing is a personal and precious gift. This is where Tim has been, and this is where he hopes to go in his journey through the multi-sport world.
The endurance journey…since 1974
2023
- Cape Epic, 8-day mountain bike stage race-Cape Town,South Africa 3/19-26
- Championship Swim Meet,Morgan Hill, 4/14-16
- Sea Otter Classic,Laguna Seca 4/21-22
- Nationals Swim Meet, Irvine, 4/27-30
- Orange County Triathlon,Irvine 4/30
- IM 70.3,Morro Bay, 5/20
- Unbound Gravel, Kansas, 6/3
- Del Valle Open Water Festival, Livermore, 6/11
- Crusher in the Tushars, Utah, 7/8
- Championship Swim Meet, Novato, 7/21-23
- Santa Cruz Pier Swim, 7/29
- Donner Lake Swim, 8/12
- IM 70.3-Santa Cruz, 9/10
- La Jolla 10 Mile Relay Swim, 9/24
- The Rad, Mtn.. Bike Race, Trinidad, CO, 9/30
- Championship Swim Meet, Long Beach, 12/1-3
2019
- Pacific Masters Champs Swim Meet-Santa Clara
- Half Moon Bay Tri
- Santa Rosa Ironman
- Morgan Hill Tri
- Lost and Found Gravel Grinder
- Lake Tahoe Death Ride Camp
- Around Tahoe OC1 Paddle
- Trans Tahoe Swim Race
- Lost Coast Adventure Trek
- Donner Lake Swim
- Hoodoo 500 Bike Race
- Santa Cruz Tri
- La Jolla Relay Swim
- Maui Swim Festival
- Morro Bay Tri
2018
- Morgan Hill Tri
- Wildflower Tri
- Lake Tahoe Tri Camp
- Russian River Swim/Paddle
- Trans-Tahoe Relay Swim
- Donner Lake Triathlon
- Santa Cruz Tri
- La Jolla Relay Swim
- Grand Canyon Run
- Central Coast Bike Tour
2017
- Way to Cool 50K Trail Run
- Epic 5- 5 IM’s, 5 Days, 5 Hawaiian Islands
- Lake Del Valle (1 mile open water swim)
- Trans-Tahoe 11-mile swim relay
- Long Course Pac Swim Championships
2016
- Kaiser Half Marathon-San Francisco
- Half Moon Bay Olympic Triathlon
- Wildflower Long Course Triathlon
- Ocean-Canyon-Ridge (OCR) 9 m. paddle, 26 m. run, 38 m. mtn. bike. Santa Barbara
- 270 mile bike around SF Bay with 3 mountain climbs-25 hours
- Xterra Triathlon–Tahoe City
- California International Triathlon – Aquabike – Pleasanton
- 65 mile Outrigger Canoe paddle around Lake Tahoe
- Pacific Master Long Course Championship swim meet – San Mateo
- Vineman Ironman-Windsor, CA
- Leadville 100 mile Mountain Bike Race-Colorado
- Malibu Olympic Triathlon
- Ironman 70.3 Triathlon-Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Olympic Triathlon
- World 24 Hour Time Trial Championships-Borrego Springs, CA- 438 miles
- Mt. Tamalpais 50K Mountain Trails Race
2015
- Marin Headlands 30K Trail Run
- Stagecoach 400 mile self supported Bikepacking 3 day race So Cal
- Rim to Rim to Rim-Grand Canyon-50 mile run
- Wildflower Mountain Bike Triathlon
- Sacramento River 100 mile SUP paddle-Redding to Chico
- Monterey Bay 40 mile beach run from Aquarium to Pleasure Point
- Mega Colossus-Huntington Beach lifeguards4000 yard swim 8.5 mile run
- Xterra Triathlon-Tahoe City
- Tahoe 100K Mountain Bike Race
- Oakland Triathlon
- Malibu Classic Triathlon
- Malibu Olympic Triathlon
- Tahoe Nalu 6 mile SUP paddle race
- Xterra Worlds Triathlon-Maui
- Fall Classic-Trans-Tahoe 22 mile SUP paddle
- Splash and Dash 2 mile swim-Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Short Course Championships
- Pac Masters Long Course Championships
- Catallina Marathon
2014
- Morgan Hill Sprint Duathlon
- Morgan Hill Olympic Duathlon
- Ironman Triathlon-Cabo San Lucas
- OCR-Santa Barbara 9.5 mile SUP, 26 mile run, 38 mile mtn. bike
- Ironman 70.3-Hawaii
- Tahoe Trail 100K Mountain Bike Race
- Vineman Full Aqua-Bike
- California International Aqua-Bike
- Wildflower Long Course Triathlon
- Challenge Penticton-Half Ironman
- Pac Master Short Course Championship swim meet
- GNARR-Santa Cruz 6 mile swim/run
- Xterra Worlds Triathlon-Maui
2013
- Wildflower Long Course Triathlon-Half Ironman
- Del Valle Open Water 10K Swim
- Del Valle Open Water 1 mile National Championships
- Vineman Full Aquabike
- Ironman Triathlon Coeur de Alene
- OCR-Santa Barbara 9.5 mile paddle, 26 mile run, 38 mile mtn. bike
- Morgan Hill Sprint Triathlon
- Silicon Valley Olympic Triathlon
- Ironman Triathlon World Championships-Hawaii
- Xterra Triathlon World Championships-Maui
- Ultraman World Championships-Hawaii
- 16 hour adventure race-San Francisco
- Pac Masters Long Course Swim Championships
- Pac Masters Short Course Swim Championships
2012
- Tough Mudder-Squaw Valley, Tahoe
- Mega Colossus-Huntington Beach Lifeguards 4K swim 8.5 mile beach run
- GNARR-Santa Cruz-6 mile run/swim
- ITU Worlds Olympic Triathlon-San Diego
- Splash and Dash-Stevens Creek 1 mile swim 3 mile run
- Sandman Triathlon-Santa Cruz
- HITS Sprint Triathlon-Napa Valley
- Chinese New Year 10K Run Race
- Eugene Sprint Triathlon-Oregon
- Xterra Triathlon World Championships-Maui
- Tahoe Fall Classic-22 mile SUP Race length of Tahoe
- Tahoe Jam the Dam-5 mile SUP paddle race
- Urbanathlon-San Francisco
- OCR-Santa Barbara
2011
- Kaiser Half Marathon-San Francisco
- Silicon Valley Long Course Triathlon-San Jose
- Silicon Valley Olympic Triathlon-San Jose
- Wildflower Long Course Triathlon
- Challenge Roth-Ironman Triathlon-Germany
- Ironman 70.3-Hawaii
- Ironman 70.3 World Championships-Las Vegas
- ITU Long Distance World Championships-Las Vegas
- OCR-Santa Barbara
- Tahoe Sierra 100 mile mountain bike race
2010
- Race Across America 3000 mile bicycle relay race
Bucket List
- Arizona Trail 750 bikepacking event
- Colorado Trail bikepacking event
- Catalina Channel SUP paddle
- Brec -Epic mountain bike stage race
- Race Across the West San Diego to Durango, CO. 1000 miles
- Bike/Run Tahoe Rim Trail 175 miles