meet the team
riders
Celeste Callahan
- Denver, Colorado resident
- Age 65 for 2008 RAAM
- Married, mother of four grown children, grandmother of five
- MA, University of Denver
- Two time Team RAAM finisher, record Senior Women’s Team
- ITU World Triathlon Age Group Champion 2002
- ITU World Duathlon Silver Medalist 2007
- ITU World Duathlon Bronze Medalist 2002
- National Age Group Duathlon Champion 2004
- National Board of Directors USA Triathlon
- Founder Team CWW – grassroots women’s triathlon training program
- USOC Triathlon Volunteer of the Year 2005
- IOC Volunteer Commendation 2004
- 3 time Hawaii Ironman finisher
- Israel Ironman distance triathlon finisher
Carol Whipple
- Arvada, Colorado resident, Native of Seattle
- Age 50 for 2008 RAAM
- 12 Time World Duathlon Championships w/Team USA - competed in 11 different countries. Several top-10 finishes and 3 - 4th place finishes
- Pacific and Rocky Mtn Region Masters Duathlete Champion 1999, 2000, 2001
- Rocky Mtn Age Group Champion 1998-2005
- Former NWCC 5k Champion - attended college on cross country and track scholarship
- USA Triathlon Co-Chair Duathlon Commission 1999-2004 - commission member 2005-present
- Project Manager / Landscape Architect. Presidential design awards, White House experience
- Elected as a Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects 2002
Helena Harman
- Denver, Colorado resident
- Age 50 for 2008 RAAM
- MBA, MSCIS
- Business Analyst
- USAT Level 1 Coach
- Third Place Vail 100K Mountain Bike Race, Masters 45+, 2002
- Qualified for Olympic Distance Nationals 2004, 2005, 2006
- First Place, Rattlesnake Triathlon Sprint, Masters 45 – 49, 2004
- Fourth Place, National Champion Sprint Triathlon, Masters 50-54, 2007
Lark Birdsong
- Golden, Colorado Resident
- Age 57 for 2008 RAAM
- Business Researcher & Analyst www.larkbirdsong.com
- MBA, MED and MLIS in progress
- Mother of One, Hopeful on Grandkids
- National Champion Sprint Triathlon, Masters 50-54, 2003
- Former Big 10 Basketball Coach
- Former General Manager of a Professional Basketball Team
- University Northern Colorado Sports Hall of Fame
- Sponsor Representative of a I Have a Dream Program for Youth in Need
- Third Best All Around Rider, Masters Age Group 55-64, Colorado ACA, 2006
- Two Time Silver Medalist, Senior Olympics, 2007
- Eight time Gold Medalist, Rocky Mountain Senior Games, 2005-2007
- Best All Around Rider, Masters Age Group 55-64, Colorado ACA, 2007
- Master Criterium Champion, Masters Age Group 55-64, Colorado ACA, 2007
crew
J Hartman
- 58 years young
- Taught for 31 years at the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado
- Commercial hot air balloon pilot for 15 years
- Certified EMT 1996
- Bicycle mechanic @ Castle Rock Bicycle Co. 6 years
- RAAM crew 2007
- Aide to CWW triathlon team
- Enjoys cooking, bicycle tours, ski biking, outdoor activities, and reading
Sam Wilcox
- Research specialist for a PR firm in Portland, Oregon
- He has been a crew member for two previous RAAM teams
- In 2008 will be his third time supporting Celeste Callahan
- Sam has previously worked in bicycle shops and spent some time fabricating frames before focusing on his research career
- These days, Sam tackles as many charity rides and bike parades as he can on his single speed
- He can also be found DJing around Portland and enjoying their many skate parks
Colin Callahan
- Owns and operates an internet development firm in Denver, Colorado
- Restores up old homes
- Crew member on Race Across AMerica in 1997 and a co-crew leader in 2006
- Enjoys motorcycling, snowboarding and golf
Nine other crew members will be added before the race in June, 2008.