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First Triathlon: Danskin 2007
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: my Cervelo
Best Tri Advice Received: hammering up the hill doesn't win the race.
Favorite Race: Beaver Lake
If I Won the Lottery: I'd go to one of those training camps in California or Arizona.
Personal Mantra: it's the journey more than the destination
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: S'More!
I am a mom who found the sport of triathlons after having 3 girls.
I have always enjoyed sports and was happy to find triathlons as a way to get back in shape after having my kids. I have a background in downhill skiing. I realized I missed the competition. Triathlons have been a great way to keep me motivated to stay in shape. Further, it's a super healthy hobby. I am proud that when my kids role play...the ''mommy" doesn't go to the mall to go shopping. They pretend "mommy" leaves to go to a running race!
I am excited to begin my 3rd season of triathlons. I am thrilled to begin my 1st season with the Luna Chix tri team. I look forward to meeting and training with a lot of new people,
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First Triathlon: Issaquah Sprint Tri 2006
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: Wetsuit
Best Tri Advice Received: If you aren't a strong swimmer, start at the back.
Favorite Race: Issaquah Sprint Tri
If I Won the Lottery: I'd spend the winter somewhere warm and sunny.
Personal Mantra: Just keep swimming.
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: Lemon Zest
I used to ride my bike a lot in high school. I remember waking up in the morning, calling my riding buddy and saying "let's ride to Pennsylvania today." Granted we were in Ohio right on the border, but we were 15 and this kind of freedom was huge!
Eventually life got in the way and my bike sat untouched for many years. Luckily I had a great opportunity to go to Costa Rica for a few months. Since I didn't have a car there, I had to ride my bike - how else would I get to the beach to go surfing!
That trip wound up being life changing. When I got home, I was healthy, fit and had a new outlook on life. I started racing mountain bikes and having a ton of fun. I took a few years off to have my two kids, but started doing triathlons as a way to get fit again and stay active with my family. Many workouts involve family runs or bike rides with my very supportive husband bearing the extra baby weight, and a stop at a park to play.
I am really excited to be part of the LUNA Chix program because I love to meet up with other women to share training and racing experiences, learn from each other and support the Breast Cancer Fund. And LUNA is just all around great!
First Triathlon: 2003 Danskin Triathlon
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: My cheap green wrist watch. It's nothing fancy at all but it's easy to use and has reliably kept track of my splits for the last 6 years.
Best Tri Advice Received: I have a soccer/lacrosse background where sprinting is key so when I got into triathlons my pacing was terrible. I did more of a sprint and walk for my first several races. My non-runner husband demonstrated the various paces of running in the middle of our living room and explained that I could slow down instead of stopping to walk. I ran the entire run for the first time in the next race and his advice (and the image of his cute little demo) have been with me during races ever since.
Favorite Race: Lake Padden Triathlon
If I Won the Lottery: I would play outside every day!
Personal Mantra: "Don't give up. Keep going. Do it for all of those people out there who can't."
Favorite Luna Bar Flavor: Caramel Nut Brownie
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I remember my dad referring to me as a dolphin because I would have lived in the water if he would have let me and he could never get me out of the pool. I also remember my first organized bike ride on my new ten speed. I joined a group ride that went from my elementary school at the time to a nearby high school. It was tough and I was pedaling so hard and so fast but couldn't keep up with everyone. I didn't give up though and when I finally made it I learned that I had been in the wrong gear. Little did I know that was just the start of learning how to use my gear appropriately.
As I got older, I learned to drive, the bike disappeared, and I didn't spend as much time in the water but in 2003 a friend convinced me to participate in the Danskin Triathlon. I thought she was crazy but I followed along anyway and she encouraged me every step of the way. I remember being so excited about the little milestones like my first open water swim, my first mile on the treadmill, and riding my borrowed bike for 4 miles! They had all seemed so daunting but once I got over my fears there was no turning back and after the first race, I was hooked! I have since participated in more than 20 Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons and I successfully completed my first Half Ironman in 2008. I love encouraging other women to give it a try as my friend did for me and have loved seeing many of my friends who didn't think they could do it cross that finish line for the first time.
Though this is my first season with Luna Chix Tri Team I was a member of the Cycling Team for the last two years and believe so strongly in everything that the Luna Chix program represents. Everyone needs a safe place to start and a great support team along the way. The Luna Chix have definitely been that for me over the last 5 years and I am just so excited to help more women reach their triathlon training goals while also raising money and awareness for the Breast Cancer Fund. So whether you are aiming toward your first or your 51st, I am looking forward to working out with you this season!
First Triathlon: Devil's Challenge Triathlon, 2006
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: "Iron-crack," a mixture of 3 different electrolyte/protein drinks for long workouts
Best Tri Advice Received: On race day, expect the unexpected; the ultimate goal will always be to finish.
Favorite Race: Ironman Wisconsin
If I won the Lottery: I'd travel to as many different countries as possible!
Personal Mantra: "Courage, compassion, commitment"
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: Chocolate Peppermint Stick
I began triathlons three years ago while in chiropractic school in Iowa because there wasn't much to do there besides run along the Mississippi river and bike in the cornfields. I immediately was inspired by how incredibly diverse, motivated, and positive the triathlon community was. After completing my first sprint triathlon in 2006 I was hooked, and it became more than a sport, it became a lifestyle. Since then I have completed a few marathons, many sprint and Olympic distance tri's, and in 2008 finished my first Ironman in my hometown of Madison, WI. I will be racing again in the Wisconsin Ironman in 2010, but the experience will mean more this time as I am participating in the Janus Charity Challenge raising money for a local Seattle charity, Rise n' Shine.
I love the physical challenges of triathlon. More than that however, I love the camaraderie and lifelong friendships that begin with the many hours of swimming, biking, and running with people who all get equal fulfillment helping each other achieve their goals and dreams. That is what initially drew me to the LUNA Chix program, along with the fact that they pride themselves on raising money for such a worthy charity, the Breast Cancer Fund.
I am thrilled to not only be in my first year with Team LUNA Chix, but also my first year training in the Pacific Northwest. I am a Midwestern transplant that relocated to the Seattle area for my position as a sports chiropractor at NW Sports Rehab. I can't wait to represent LUNA, support other women triathletes in any way possible, and learn how to become a better well-rounded female athlete, inside and out.
First Triathlon: Danskin 2008
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: Brooks Ariel shoes, my sleeveless wetsuit, Skirt Sports tri tank and shorts, quik laces, and Body Glide. Body Glide everywhere.
Best Tri Advice Received: "You can totally do it," from a friend who had just finished the Danskin in 2007.
Favorite Race: Titanium Man Triathlon
If I Won the Lottery: Hmmm - hire a coach and a nutrition consultant, and start a triathlon training camp for kids.
Personal Mantra: It changes based on whatever challenges I face during a race. My old standy is "I am strong, I am fast, I stay focused on my task." The great thing about mantras is that you don't even have to believe that they are true in order for them to help you perform better!
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: Lemon Zest
This will be my third season doing triathlons and my first season as a LUNA Chic. I had always enjoyed swimming, biking and running, although I never did any of them competitively. I continued swimming for fitness as an adult, and found my way back to running around 3 years ago. One thing led to another and I signed up for the Danskin women's-only triathlon!
My foray into the world of triathlon could have turned out very differently. I could have gone to my first tri having only ever ridden by myself on a flat bike trail, and maybe dipped in the open water once or twice. I probably would not have known to practice the bike/run brick. I could have panicked and lost my breath at the shock of being in the cold open water. I could have panicked when the road went up a narrow, steep and crowded section. I could have panicked at the leaden feeling in my legs going from the bike to the run.
But, I had the good fortune to get introduced to the LUNA Chix team! The help, advice and encouragement I received at the workouts and clinics made the whole experience fun. I was able to practice and work out all the kinks beforehand I went to my first tri knowing that I can swim in the open water without hyperventilating, I can ride in a group without falling over, and that I can get my running legs back after cycling. With all that practice and knowledge, it made that first tri a celebration, and it made me want to sign up for more.
When I am not training for triathlons, I am a software engineer at a very well-known Redmond company. My husband is a stay-at-home dad to our two children. Our favorite things to do as a family include riding the bike trails or going swimming together. One of my favorite triathlon moments was when my son crossed the line at his first kids' triathlon. My husband asked him how he felt, and he said, "I feel proud!" That pride and sense of accomplishment is what I want to share with my children, and with all the new women I'll meet as a Team LUNA Chix ambassador.
LUNA is awesome for creating this program, and the women of Team LUNA Chix make it a welcoming and accessible sport for all women! I am so excited to represent LUNA, and I hope to help make this another fun season of workouts!
First Triathlon: Issaquah Sprint Tri 2009
Tri Gear I can't live without: Padded bike shorts!
Best Tri Advice Received: Never do something new on race day.
Favorite Race: Chelanman Triathlon
If I won the lottery: I would work part time teaching, workout a ton and learn to be an amazing cook for my husband!
Personal Mantra: This isn't worth doing if you aren't having fun.
Favorite Luna Product: Watermelon Moons
I started swimming when I was 8 and fell in love with the sport. I swam at college but stopped after my junior year. I took up running and going to the gym for classes to keep in shape. After about 2 years of doing that I got bored and convinced myself to get back into the water... and of course I fell in love with swimming again.
After spending a year running and swimming I wanted to do more. My husband encouraged me to get a bike since our friends all like to do bike rides through Monroe on the weekend. For my birthday I received an amazing bike (that I love!) and I began riding. Now that I had a bike, and I could run and swim I thought I might as well try a triathlon. After doing the Issaquah sprint tri I was hooked. It became addicting and I looked forward to pushing myself and seeing what I could achieve.
I had an amazing summer of triathlons and fun runs, and knew this was the new sport for me! :-) I competed in two Olympic triathlons and I qualified for the 2009 and 2010 age group nationals but I think I am going to pass because they are in Alabama and race temps are usually in the 90's! My goals for the upcoming years are to compete in Olympic distances throughout Washington, go to age group nationals and complete the ½ Ironman in Canada (2011)!
I am really excited to be a part of the LUNA Chix program because I love to work-out and meet new women who share the same goals. I look forward to learning new things about how to be a better triathlete, encouraging other women in their adventures, and raising money to support the Breast Cancer Fun!
First Triathlon: Danskin 1999
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: Chamois Butt'r
Best Tri Advice Received: Pace your race. Be patient, don't start out too fast or you will fade at the end.
Favorite Race: Whisky Dick
If I Won the Lottery: I would would train in Hawaii fall, winter and spring, when the weather is crappy here.
Personal Mantra: While running in races I repeat, 'I can do this, I am strong, I can do this, I am strong'
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: Cookies and Cream
This is my 11th season doing triathlons. I did sprints and olympic distances for many years, and now I'm trying to master the half ironman. What a challenge on pacing!
I've been involved as the team leader of the LUNA Chix since it started 6 years ago. I love being a part of the program because of the fantastic women I've met! I'm happy helping women in their quest for success - answering questions on training for a first tri, gaining comfort in the open water, learning bike mechanics, or just getting out there! The Breast Cancer Fund connection means a lot to me too, as my mom's a breast cancer survivor.
I learned a valuable lesson several years ago when my boyfriend and I were riding in Hawaii. After having ridden 55 miles (of which 16 were climbing) and gaining 4500 feet of elevation, I grew tired of him telling me "We're almost at the top'" only to NOT be at the top (this happened several times). To make matters worse, there is a company that will bus you to the top, and then drop you off so you can ride all the way down. So I was suffering climbing up, I had to endure people screaming with glee as they flew down the hill, not needing to move their pedals at all. Having had enough punishment, I pulled over to the side of the road and cried. Finally composing myself and getting back on my bike, I rode another two minutes and there was the summit. The moral is: NEVER GIVE UP!!!!
When I'm not running, biking and swimming I'm sleeping, eating, working, gardening, and taking care of my two pugs Henry & Oliver.
First Triathlon: Federal Escape Sprint 2007
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: Wetsuit, Garmin, Chamois Butter, Body Glide
Best Tri Advice Received: Appreciate and enjoy the journey. Race day is the icing on the cake!
Favorite Race: Lake Sammamish Triathlon
If I Won the Lottery: I'd find a way to train and race in warm, sunny locations year-round. With the best equipment, trainers, and nutritionists, of course.
Personal Mantra: "I'm faster than I look!"
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: Berry Almond
2009 is my first year as a member of the Seattle LUNA Chix, and my third season doing triathlons. After almost 20 years of being sedentary, my sister dared me to sign up for Danskin with her in 2007, and I haven't looked back. Through the sport of triathlon, I have regained my joy in physical activity that I once had, and my zest for life has returned along with it. I have become capable of setting and achieving goals that 3 years ago seemed crazy. I am in better shape now than I have ever been, and have completed ten triathlons including one Olympic distance. This year I have eight duathlons/triathlons on my race calendar, with a goal of completing a half iron distance in September.
I happened upon the Seattle LUNA Chix Triathlon team during my first season and attended a few workouts, and went to even more of them last season. I am so excited to be able to be on the team this year and to help spread the word about triathlon and the Breast Cancer Fund to women of all ages, shapes, sizes and experiences. Being a 40-year-old, far-from-skinny, stay-at-home mother of two young children gives me hope that I can encourage other women to take a chance on this crazy and addictive sport and find their own successes no matter what the barriers may be.
A big inspiration for me is my dad, who was very competitive in multi-sports in the 1980s until becoming a quadriplegic via a ski racing accident. When I am doing a workout that is super challenging or trying to talk myself out of working out, I tell myself that he would do anything to be out here doing this right now, and that keeps me motivated. I also do this to set an example for my children about having fun and living a healthy, active life. I am motivated constantly as I see what my body and mind are capable of doing, what goals I can set AND reach, and how I can continually change both physically and mentally. It's highly satisfying when friends and family tell me I am their inspiration for starting a healthy habit or trying something new. I also enjoy proving that people of all ages and body types can do this sport and succeed at it.
My favorite local places to train: Trail running on Tiger Mountain, swimming in Beaver Lake, and cycling just about anywhere as long as it is with my friends.
First Triathlon: Cascade's Edge
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: I'm addicted to my Garmin 305
Best Tri Advice Received: : It WILL hurt
Favorite Race: Grand Columbian (HIM), Beaver Lake (sprint)
If I Won the Lottery: Sunshine, family, and a stress free life
Personal Mantra: "You can do it!"
Favorite Luna Bar Flavor: Nutz over Chocolate (Yum!)
I got into triathlons while going through emotional turmoil during a bad relationship/breakup in graduate school. I thought that the world was coming to an end when a friend convinced me to sign up for a triathlon-- Cascade's Edge Olympic (yeah, jump in with both feet!), in 2004. I thought he was crazy, as the only bike that I owned (besides my pink cruiser with streamers) is a $50 mountain bike that I got off of Craigslist. That little bike got me through Cascade's Edge, and was the beginning of what has been a change in lifestyle and attitude toward health and fitness. I've since completed 3 half-ironmans, and a couple handfuls of sprint and olympic distance races.
I learned about the Luna Chix in 2005, and started going to the Chix workouts. I've met a lot of great woman through the Luna Chix, and I am delighted to be a member of the team. I'm looking forward to planning fun workouts and introducing women to the sport in a happy, fun, and friendly environment.
Outside of keeping healthy and training for triathlons, I work for AMEC Earth & Environmental as an environmental consultant-- delineating wetlands, identifying environmental permits needed for developments, and planning environmental restoration/mitigation sites.
First Triathlon: 2002 Reebok Women's Sprint Triathlon in Naperville, IL
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: Body Glide
Best Tri Advice Received: Get your legs ready for the run by increase your cadence on the bike a few minutes before transitioning to the run
Favorite Race: Beaver Lake Triathlon in Sammamish, WA
If I Won the Lottery: Buy an around-the-world airplane ticket and take off for a year-long adventure to see all those places I haven't seen yet in this big world
Personal Mantra: Always think positive
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: The new and improved Lemon Zest
I started triathlon seven years ago as a way to challenge myself and diversify my activities - up until that point, I had mostly been a runner and only a casual cyclist and I thought triathlon would be a new and exciting challenge. Since my introduction to the triathlon scene in Chicago, I have done almost 20 triathlons and countless number of running races all over the world, including Ride the Rockies in Colorado, the Vancouver Half-marathon, the Medoc Marathon in France (ok, only the first half of the race - my dad did the second half), the Nike Women's Half-marathon in San Francisco, and the Bike Against the Odds ride in Oakland, CA.
The triathlon community is truly special and I enjoy meeting and hanging out with other fellow triathletes at weekly workouts or various events. The biggest challenge I face every year is fitting in work, travel and training into my calendar so I can actually participate in some events and not be the very last person across the finish line (luckily, with wave starts at triathlons, that's usually unlikely to happen). When I am at home, I especially like training runs and rides around Magnolia and Discovery Park, and riding up Lake Washington Blvd through Madrona/Leschi where all the cool cyclists seem to be.
This is my fifth year with the Luna Chix program - initially, being on the team was another way for me to build my Seattle network as I had moved to the area only a few months before then, but now, even though I feel pretty settled, I would never think of doing anything but being a Luna Chix team member. I love the fact that every week we meet excited and eager women who can't wait to learn more about the sport and are looking to us for guidance - it's always such a treat when someone says "thank you" after an especially challenging open-water swim or hilly bike ride. I love the camaraderie among the team and all of the women who come to our workouts. I love seeing last year's beginners out-swim/ride/run the Chix at this year's workouts - it proves that we were good at knowledge transfer...and perhaps that we need to train a bit harder. And, I love that we support such a great cause such as the Breast Cancer Fund and I am hopeful that BCF will continue making strides in its fight to eliminate the environmental causes of breast cancer.
First Triathlon: Issaquah 2005
Tri Gear I Can't Live Without: My beloved bike!
Best Tri Advice Received: Nothing new on race day.
Favorite Race: Issaquah
If I Won the Lottery: I wouldn't know where to begin.
Personal Mantra: I'm doing this for fun...
Favorite LUNA Bar Flavor: Pomegranate LUNA Moons
2009 is my fourth year as a member of the LUNA Chix Seattle Triathlon Team, and my fifth year competing in triathlons. My favorite sport is swimming, though triathlons have helped me become much more enthusiastic and confident about biking and running. A woman on my Master's swimming team convinced me to try my first triathlon...and after doing the first one, I was hooked.
I love the Luna Chix ambassador program because it allows me to meet other women who are involved in the sport or looking to train for their first race. The partnership with the Breast Cancer Fund is important to me, because I strongly believe in supporting an organization dedicated to finding the environmental causes of cancer.
My personal race goal for this year is to complete Ironman Cozumel in November! I participated in my first half and full ironman races last year, and enjoyed the new challenges that it brought to my training, nutrition, and overall lifestyle. Though I did not finish the Ironman last year due to an injury (8 miles short!), I am excited to try again this year in Mexico.
Since beginning Ironman training, I find myself outside biking and running much more than in the past. Though an adamant Seattle 'westsider', I have come to appreciate the eastside for its beautiful bike routes. The Snoqualmie River Valley is absolutely gorgeous on a warm spring day, with rolling hills and lush greenery. I am always looking for new places to get those "long rides" in, so if you have any suggestions, be sure to let me know! My favorite places to run are Greenlake/Ravenna Park and the downtown Seattle waterfront area.
We wouldn't do triathlons if we didn't find them fun...but there is always a funny story here and there. During my very first triathlon (Issaquah Sprint Tri), I got a flat tire halfway through the bike course. I had no idea how to change a tire (though I have learned since!), and was not about to give up on the race, so I rode at a snail's pace on the flat tire...6 miles! Other cyclists kept flying by and telling me I had a flat...as if I didn't know. I got back to the transition area, ditched my bike in disgust, and completed the race!
When I'm not swimming, biking, and running, I spend my time working as a fisheries biologist, enjoying time outside hiking, skiing, or camping, and spending time with friends and family.
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