Just how far can Nick Tarasovic go for Valley United Way?

Last week we were dealing with Farmers who had a unique Facebook challenge for Valley United Way, and this week we are moving on to athletes - well at least one athlete! I've known Nick Tarasovic ever since Pat Tarasovic came to work at United Way years ago. In Nick's case, I came to know of his love of sports and his high level of athletic ability. We even managed to get together for some basketball down through the years though the Senior Games. If you know Nick, he's pretty tall, and that always comes in handy when playing basketball. I'm not so sure that it is a great advantage when you are running, swimming or biking which is now Nick's big challenge - and ours.

Nick has been a runner forever, but in the last couple of years he has added the biking and swimming and completed his first mini-triathlon earlier this year after having run in several marathons down through the years. I don't think I need to say much about the dedication and determination that it takes for a marathon; but when you throw in biking and swimming events on top of it, it takes on a whole new life of its own. Evidently it works for Nick as he has taken off about forty pounds and is also taking seconds off all his times for the various events as well.

He has set a goal to run in the IronDistance Triathlon at Plymouth Rock next September and has already begun a training regimen. All he will have to do is swim 2.4 miles, ride a bike for 112 miles and run 26.2 more miles!! Now this is where you can participate by motivating Nick and helping United Way at the same time. We're following Nick's progress on our website and encouraging people to support his grueling schedule by pledging pennies per mile throughout his journey to the finish line next year. (You'd be surprised how pennies can add up when you train as much as Nick does!) It's simple to do by using the form on the page. During the course of the year, we'll be posting information and stories - and maybe some of your comments as we try to keep Nick motivated - not that he needs too much if you know Nick!

Nick gets plenty of motivation from his personal coach - granddaughter Grace Rose!

For more information about Valley United Way, visit our website at http://www.valleyunitedway.org/.