On Sunday, July 30 in Lake Placid, New York, Compaq's Jeff Lynn
and John Whalen spent the day and most of the night swimming, biking,
and running. The two were among 1,500-plus competitors in one of
the world's most grueling sporting events, the Ironman triathlon.
An Ironman competition is a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile
bike ride, wrapped up with a full marathon, 26.2 miles.
"I saw it on television and said, 'Oh, that's crazy.' But it was
interesting and I was looking to get in shape," said Whalen, a senior
account manager in Bethel, CT.
Training for three sports at once has an upside, according to
the competitors. Cross-training reduces boredom and appears to reduce
injuries and illness, according to Lynn, vice president and general
manager of Compaq Professional Services in Stow, MA. "Since I started
doing this four years ago, I'm healthier than ever -- fewer colds,
fewer cases of flu," he said.
The sport of Triathlon actually comes in several sizes: sprint,
Olympic, Half Ironman, and Ironman. Although this is their first
full competition, both men are experienced in the sport. Lynn started
out with sprints and, like Whalen, graduated to a Half Ironman last
year.
The two have personal goals for Lake Placid. Lynn wanted to finish
in less than 15 hours; Whalen was looking for a time under 13 hours.
"I want to know that at least once, I was able to do it," said Lynn.
"I will have a great sense of satisfaction if I can cross the finish
line vertically before midnight."
ESPN will broadcast a taped version on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 4:30
p.m. EST.
Compaq's Big Band Still Playing After 25
Years
Every Wednesday night the "big band" sounds of musical legends
such as Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Stan Kenton pour out of a
conference room in the Marlboro facility. The weekly session of
swing and jazz music from the '20s to the '80s is courtesy of a
21-piece group, complete with female vocalist, practicing for upcoming
gigs.
"We're a mix of Compaq employees and the rest are locals," says
bandleader Al Saloky, one of two original band members still with
the group. Saloky played alto sax in the band for many years, taking
over directing duties four years ago. By day, he is a senior engineer
in the Storage Solutions group in Shrewsbury.
The 25-year-old, non-profit band was born in March 1975 when two
former Digital employees - a jazz trombonist and his wife, a trumpet
player - invited musical colleagues to an open rehearsal. The full-instrumentation
band, which has about 400 music selections, plays an eclectic mix
of functions, says Saloky. "In summer, we do outdoor concerts. The
rest of the year it's dances, dinner dances, and fund raisers."
Members are not compensated for playing, so they are able to keep
big band music both alive and affordable. Every year, they give
three no-fee benefit performances; two are for area high-school
band programs.
Compaq's Jesse Lipcon Helps East Coast
Team to Computer Bowl Victory
Jesse
Lipcon, VP, Alpha Technology, helped the East Coast Team win the
"Kick-off Round" of the annual Computer Bowl for the first time
in five years. The East Coast team beat their West Coast rivals
with a final score of 190 to 130 in the June 22 competition at Boston's
Museum of Science. Bob Metcalfe, founder of 3Com, pitted two teams
of technology's "best and brightest" against one another in the
bicoastal competition. 