Congrats Ironman Ilan!

One of KidKraft's very own competed in Ironman Coeur d'Alene June 21, 2009, finishing in an incredible 12:21:23! Way to go Ilan!

So what is Ironman Coeur d'Alene? It's a fiercely challenging 2.4 mile swim in frigid lake temps of 63 degrees, 112 miles on the bike through 6,000 ft of elevation in the hills of Idaho, followed by a full 26.2 mile marathon (in wind & rain, in Ilan's case). We are so proud of Ilan's dedication, training, and exemplary times in his first Ironman competition. Here's a recap of the race:

The morning began chilly and in the 40's for the race's 7am start.
Check out the hectic open water swim start -
some 2,000 triathletes competed in CDA.



The water was choppy and the wind picked up
during the 2nd loop of the 2.4 mile swim.



After the swim, Ilan transitioned to the bike. He reports the course was "very scenic, a green nature-filled part of the world, the perfect location for a race like Ironman."



The bike course was hilly, technical, and overall very challenging with 6,000 ft of elevation changes. Ilan was very fast on the bike, averaging 20 mph.



And after the bike, Ilan transitioned to the run portion of Ironman, running several of the marathon's miles in chilly rain.





After much mental & physical exertion,
Ilan crossed the finish line at 12:21:23, an amazing time!



Ilan said the finish line was an adrenaline-filled rush, and he high-fived cheering fans, smiled for pictures, and happily made his way to pizza and other refreshments after crossing the finish line. Here he is, a final photo opp for the Ironman Finisher.

KidKraft celebrates Ilan for his extraordinary accomplishment and is grateful for his example and leadership in training and achieving fitness goals. Ilan teaches spin classes and leads lake rides for our KidKraft employees, and his positive attitude and fortitude in Ironman are an inspiration to all of us.

When asked what's next for the Ironman, Ilan humbly replied, "looking forward to the next one... maybe Louisville, 2010?" Congratulations Ilan!

Click here to watch Ironman CDA 2009's highlight video.

TX Tough Charity Swim

The KidKraft FireDragons recently participated in the Open Water Swim portion of TX Tough, a pledge fundraiser created exclusively to raise money for Children's Medical Center in Dallas, TX. The Open Water Swim & Relay is one of three segments of the fundraiser and KidKraft has participated in the run & bike events, as well.

Our KidKraft swimmers met at Lake Carolyn and completed the relay amongst 150 other participants. The weather was great and everyone had a great time!

Here are a few pics from the swim:

Talking pre-race strategy...

And they're off!

Swimming in Lake Carolyn

and the Post-race cool down, these guys are

*Thanks FireDragons for participating in the TX Tough Swim-
Stay tuned for the TX Bike Ride this summer!

KidKraft FireDragons Softball

KidKraft's 2009 Softball team... Go FireDragons!

Our FireDragons just wrapped up another great season!

Here are a few pictures of the team on & off the field:

Swing batter!

Here's Curtis warming up his pitch

In the dugout

Chiva getting ready...

Great hit!

A big thanks to KK's fans for cheering on the FireDragons!

Way to go, FireDragons!
Congratulations on a fantastic season!

TX Tough Ultra Relay & 5K Fun Run

Congratulations to our KidKraft FireDragons for their outstanding participation in TX Tough's Ultra Relay & 5K Fun Run!

TX Tough is a series of charity races (including run, swim, & bike events) which raise funds and rally support for Children's Medical Center of Dallas. KidKraft's FireDragons rode in TX Tough's Autumn in Bonham ride last September, and have since trained for TX Tough's run and upcoming 2009 swim & bike events. TX Tough supports Passion for Children's, the charity arm of Children's Medical Center, which allocates 100% of funds raised directly to the cause.

KidKraft eagerly participated in the run and sent 3 relay teams to the Cotton Bowl. Each team completed the 50k race, which means each runner ran a 5k (3.1 miles), or a 10k (6.2 miles), and some ran as much as a 15k (9.3 miles)! The race was held on the infield at Dallas' Cotton Bowl, and the runners began at 8am in unseasonably chilly weather in the high 30's. By the end of the race, however, the morning sun was out and everyone enjoyed a beautiful Spring day.

Check out a few pics from the TX Tough Run:



Ryan, Manny & Michael intimidate the competition

Chris & his family enjoy the charity race together.

Chris D finishes strong!


John ran 9.3 of his team's 31 miles!

Katie & Rebecca relax in the sun after the race.


Charles & Stephen, FireDragon champs


Ilan, Katie & Chris enjoy the Cotton Bowl post-race.

The KidKraft FireDragons had an awesome time and are already looking forward to next year's run. Stay tuned for results from the TX Tough Swim and Bike events of 2009! Way to go FireDragons!!

TX Tough Charity Bike Ride

The KidKraft FireDragon Team recently competed in the annual TX Tough Bike Ride in conjunction with the "Autumn in Bonham" Rally benefiting Dallas' Children's Medical Center in Bonham, TX. KidKraft's team of 20 dedicated riders trained for months and generously donated over $7,000 to the Children's Medical Center.

TX Tough cyclists rode in various races, from 14 to 64 mile routes on country roads, and the team's training leader Ilan Katz placed first in the 64 mile race with an incredible time of 2 hours and 38 minutes! That's an impressive 24 mph pace. All of the riders finished well, the weather was enjoyable, and everyone had a great time.

Ilan thanked KidKraft's leadership for their outstanding support by saying, "we were allowed to train on company time, able to participate in the event with a custom-made jersey at no cost to us, and finally, have KidKraft contribute over $7,000 in charity donations to the Children's Medical Center. Thanks so much to Steven and Charmaine for allowing us the opportunity and for covering all of the event's costs."

*A special thanks to Crystal E. for her awesome jersey design! Efforts are already underway for next year's KidKraft cycling team's participation in the 2009 TX Tough Bike Ride for charity.