Why tri?

I did my first triathlon three years ago on a spur of the moment decision. I was not in shape, hadn't run in several years, didn't even own a bike and while I could swim, hadn't done so since I was a child.

I went to my local bike shop, plunked down $400 for a Marin hybrid, bought a helmet at Walmart, dug out my swim suit and worn-out running shoes and showed up the morning of the race with exactly no training. It was the Danskin triathlon at Disney in May of 2004.

I had entered under the Team Survivor banner. This is a triathlon only for women, that has a special program for cancer survivors. I am a 10 year survivor of a rare breast cancer called Inflammatory Breast Cancer. I'll tell you more about that later.

I showed up for the triathlon with no training, no experience, terrified of gators, and found my new love.