The rhythmic beat of the drum, the splashing orchestra of the river, the cacophony of cheers from the bank; yes the sounds of the 3rd Annual Independence Dragon Boat Race Regatta could be heard all along Kelly Drive. Paddlers from all over the Delaware Valley gathered at the Schuylkill this Saturday to demonstrate their ability on the river race course.

Our own Sales and Marketing Manager, Katie Godfrey, called the entire race and we aimed to make her proud. We finished 10th overall out of 65 boats! Not bad for a boat full of mostly rookie paddlers. Many local organizations competed including PAL, US Army, The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society and NBC 10.

Dragon Boating involves speed, power and an incredible amount of teamwork. With 20 people in the boat, synchronization is critical. If you're not paddling together, the boat does not move as quickly across the 500 meter stretch. Think about giving it a try next year. Rally your coworkers and put together a team for 2010!

Here's the official website. Click to see photos from the big race day and information for next year.
http://www.independencedragonboat.com/

Team NK Rocking the Boat

This past weekend our own Technical Support Manager, Ben Churchill, placed third in the National Selection Regatta for the Men's Double ("NSR2"), rowing for Vesper with his partner James Dietz of NYAC.

As a result, Ben and James have been invited to the National Training Center at Princeton to seek a seat in the US National Team 4x. Being ever the devoted NK employee, Ben will be both commuting and telecommuting from Princeton to make sure every NK and Kestrel customer receives the support they need.

If by chance your question appears to be hitting Ben while he is on the water or in transit, don't hesitate to hit "0" when you call in or email info@nkhome.com and we'll make sure you get an answer promptly. We wish Ben and James the best of luck in their training.

We make products for athletes and active, adventurous people. From rowers, runners, climbers, hikers and pilots to Olympic competitors- our products support superior athletic performance. So we decided to begin a program to promote employee health and wellness (and shed some winter pounds!)

There are 16 participants and competition is fierce! There's more at stake than just losing weight- winners will receive cash prizes!

We each received a pedometer to encourage more walking. And some participants have even taken to walking a mile on their lunch break!

In addition, Dwayne Wimmer of Vertex Fitness on the Main Line, is donating Personal Training sessions to everyone participating to whip us into shape.
http://www.vertexfit.com/

Fit Fresh Philly is generously giving 1 week worth of free delicious meals prepared fresh and delivered right to the winner's doorstep. Like a personal chef! We each had a consultation with a dietician and were assigned teams to help keep us motivated. Mmmmm how does Chocolate Chip Waffles made with 9-Grains, Chocolate Chips, and topped with Vanilla Ricotta & mixed berry compote sound for breakfast? Wow, I usually am lucky to grab a granola bar. And feel assured- it's healthy so no guilt!
https://www.fitfreshphilly.com/subscribe.html

Every week, we weigh in and every 2 weeks we get measured to track our progress. The program runs until July 31, 2009.

Stay tuned to hear about our Loser updates- I'll keep you posted on our progress. I'll be posting healthy recipes and tips. Please share yours- everyone who posts a recipe will be entered for a chance to win a Kestrel Prize Pack and be recognized on our blog.