I was born an athlete and I’ll die an athlete.  The competitive spirit was instilled in me by my mother who is a runner and extremely driven person.  As a young girl, I would accompany her on her training runs, although at that time, picking flowers and looking for butterflies interested me more than splits and miles times.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but those early jogging sessions would be the beginning of a journey that would not only take me to incredible places, but would also come to define me as a person.   

In high school, I ran on the cross country and track teams.  Even back then, my goals were lofty, and qualifying for the state meet was my primary goal.  Despite my hard work and determination, I never earned an opportunity to compete against the state’s top athletes.  But what I gained during that time was a burning desire to become an accomplished runner and a life-long athlete. 

My collegiate career began at the main campus of Penn State University.  The atmosphere of a Division I school was a drastic change from my small, hometown community.  The running teams were comprised of dominating women from around the country.  I knew these athletes had more talent in their little finger than I did in my whole body.  Opportunities to make the team were limited, especially for someone like me with less than stellar high school accomplishments.  That first year, I attended all of the home meets as a spectator and dreamed about what it would be like to earn a position on the team.

I spent the next summer training like I never had before.  It was grueling, but my ability improved dramatically and the following fall, I secured one of the few walk-on spots on the cross country team.  I spent the next four years training with and competing against some of the nation’s most gifted athletes.  During that time, I made some great friends and learned what it takes to bring lofty goals within reach.  Like a gift from God, my experiences built my character and changed my life forever.  Although it seemed impossible when I arrived on campus, I graduated from Penn State as a team captain on both the cross country and track teams. 

Let’s fast forward to the present day.  The competitive drive that blessed me in so many ways in the past has prompted me to pursue a new challenge, the intense and punishing sport of triathlon.  A local YMCA race two years ago initially sparked my interest.  During that race, I felt like quitting during the swim, as I watched all of my competitors run out of the water minutes ahead of me, while I breast-stroked the entire 400 meters.  However, I learned a long time ago that a lot can happen during a race, and you can’t give up at the beginning.  After I finished the swim, I managed to catch the entire field before the finish line, and secured my first victory.  I was pleased with the result, but I also knew I was capable of much more.

I spent the next year (2006) competing in a few more sprint-distance races and learning how to train for such a demanding combination of sports.  Learning how to swim was my first priority.  Although the breast stroke kept me afloat, I knew it wasn’t very fast or efficient in race situations.  One of the most challenging things for me to accept was the fact that it would likely require several years to master my swim technique.  I was used to winning most of the races I entered as a runner with shear determination and training methods I’d learned in college.  However, triathlons would require a different approach that included a broader skill set that stressed technique and efficiency.  I tried to learn as much as I could during that season, and in the end, I achieved some respectable finish times in some pretty large races.

 After my first full season of training and racing, I am hooked!  I trained harder and learned more about the sport than I ever could have imagined.  I’ve been like a sponge, soaking up every last drop of information that’s available.  I also just became part of the Mark Allen Online Triathlon Team with three exceptional coaches!!  To my husband’s dismay, I purchased a fairly expensive triathlon bike.  I also traveled all over the country, including Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, Orlando, FL, Cambridge, MD, and St. Joseph, MI.  I met some really cool people, and I trained with even cooler people.  It’s just plain fun!  I know I’m addicted, but it could be worse.  My new vices are long runs, hill workouts, interval training, and endless laps in the pool.

 So what’s next?  I’m almost afraid to say, but I’ll admit that I have dreams of the USAT World Championships, podium pictures, and most of all, crossing the finish line on the Big Island someday.  I know there are many others out there who share my goals.  Some of us will achieve them, others will not.  That’s just reality.  But, I can tell you that dreams are very powerful.  They may not define me, but they’re a constant driving force behind the scenes, pushing me to excel at whatever I do.  I firmly believe that I will be one of the ones to earn a chance to compete at Kona.  With a lot of intense training, a little luck, and some help from the Big Man, I know I can get there.  I’ll set goals, I’ll reach them, and I’ll be sure to enjoy the journey along the way.  Because I’m an athlete, and that’s what we do. 

Good luck to all of you in your athletic endeavors.  I wish you all the best in achieving your goals and making you dreams a reality!