Zone Products Used in Training:
EicoPro Omega-3 Concentrates, SeaHealth Plus and Polyphenol Plus.
Benefits Seen With Zone:
I have had a chronic Achilles injury for 6 years which peaked in 2007. I have spent the past 6 years on daily anti-inflammatories. At the current time, I am the most painfree I have been in 2 years and I am not taking any anti-inflammatories other than Zone fish oil (EicoPro).
Best Athletic Accomplishment To Date:
11-Ironman victories and 3rd at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships
Favorite Thing About Training:
Pushing through barriers – effort, time, distance, etc. I love the challenge of pushing my body further and faster; the joy of being outside and being active.
Least Favorite Thing About Training:
Training alone; getting out of bed to go and train alone; not living in an ideal training environment.
Biggest Challenge Overcome:
So many!! Broke my ribs and my arm in December 2003 and missed a solid 3 weeks of swimming and running but rode my bike like crazy (stationary) – managed to get back to running and a bit of swimming and won a half Ironman in Chile, South America 7 weeks later.
Chronic Achilles injury forced me to walk the last 12 km of Ironman Australia marathon in 2007 – I took 2.5 months off of running, modified my cycling shoes and my running shoes and returned to running only 3 days per week – 2 months later, I started and won Ironman Canada but the true joy was getting to race in the first place – I thought my career was over when I walked part of the marathon in Ironman Australia.
Serious chest infection the week of the Hawaii Ironman 2004 – I have cystic fibrosis and my lungs were full of infection. Thanks to some great antibiotics and mind over matter and positive thinking, I finished in 4th place in the World Championships.
Competition Rituals:
I always read The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale before every race – and I make notes and personalize it for myself.
Favorite Race:
Ironman Australia – I love the people and Ironman Hawaii – I love the place!!
Hobbies:
Reading and walking my dogs.
One Fact No One Knows About You:
I was a cheerleader in high school.
If You Weren’t An Athlete, You would Be:
A computer science teacher.
Average Day Consists Of:
Swimming first in the morning; biking for a few hours and then running off the bike – then home for lunch by around 3 p.m. and then some office work and then walking my dogs, dinner and a few episodes of 24!