How Triathlon started for me: I did my first triathlon the summer after finishing swimming in college (I swam at U of Illinois). I always loved running, and about 2 weeks after my last Big Ten meet, I was pretty antsy and ready for the ?next thing?. I do not sit still too well. I ran a bunch and of course injured my IT band, so I started spinning to rest it. That led to me thinking it?d be cool to be moving forward on the bike, rather than going nowhere, so I got my first bike, a size 56 road bike which was much too big but I rode for about 2 years. I moved to Colorado Springs in 2002 to be a part of the US National Resident Triathlon Team and lived at the Olympic Training Center. I showed up there with a triple chain ring!
Interests: My husband Derick and I are very much into good beer and good music. We jokingly say we bonded over beer back in 2003. We share an affinity to good beer, especially IPA?s, and also love skiing (mostly downhill but have done a little bit of cross country as well). I used to live in Manitou Springs, CO and to have Pikes Peak right out your door was pretty amazing. The access to running trails and the 2 hour drive to many ski resorts spoiled us a bit. Since moving to Austin in 2006 for him to go to grad school, we have been enjoying the Austin music scene, though limit live shows to what the budget can handle. I studied Kinesiology in school, and currently coach athletes through our company (Durata Training) and also have a strong interest in health psychology. I would like to go back to school for psychology and I am currently taking classes here and there. I have 2 steel plates in my left arm from a bike crash in 2005, which involved 3 surgeries through the year and was a big turning point in my triathlon career (from ITU to longer distances). I like being around happy, laid back people who enjoy life. We have a 20lb. cat named Corgi. I am extremely close to my parents and my 2 sisters, all of whom live in Indiana.
Motivation: I try not to over think motivation and why I do what I do. I seem to thrive on being physically active; it is just ?what I do? and have always done. I know that I have drawn a lot of confidence and self-realization through sport my entire life, and I often encourage others to just try it?push the limits of what they ?think? they can or cannot do. I still have a desire to see where I can take myself in terms of success, which to me is defined by personal accomplishments and is measured up against myself. Bottom line is, as long as I am enjoying triathlon and still seeing improvement, waking up each day excited to do what I do, I?ll continue it. When I see that passion start to wane or my interests shift, then I?ll move on. My parents were extremely ?hands off? when it came to my swimming career, and I think I have adapted that attitude. I cannot ?force? myself to do it. If I get to that point, I should probably re-think my direction.