TRIATHLONS

A tech savvy ski bum who has also traveled the world extensively lives and exercises in Vermont. Starting in the early '80's I skied almost every day for a decade in Stowe, and traveled the world for a year and a half. In the '90's I built a house and raised three great kids. In the Spring of '08 I lost 65 lbs by running & biking, and now I compete regularly in local bike and running events including triathlons.

Founder & CEO of Fifty States HALF Marathon Club www.HalfMarathonClub.com An entrepreneur with a passion for running and triathlons, and the desire to share my passion with others, to motivate, encourage and lead others toward their journey of achieving health & fitness minded goals in life.

I grew up and live in a small city in central Texas. I love big city lights but prefer the intimacy small towns have to offer. I lived in New Mexico for 8 years pursuing my undergradute and graduate degree. New Mexico was a great fresh of breath air and will always be my second home but I i find myself back in Texas enjoying my life as a young finance professional. I love to wine and dine, a jaw dropping comedy or drama, triathlons, polictics and enjoying the surprises in life. I am an open minded person & believe in everyones ultimate uniqueness.

Alexandria Williams is a Dallas native graduate of Texas Tech University. By day, Alexandria is a Media Relations Manager. By night, she is a certified sports nutritionist, triathlete and motivational speaker. Alexandria co-founded Sporty Afros after being asked how she maintained her healthy hair while training for her first triathlon in 2010. Sporty Afros is solving the “I can’t workout because of my hair” excuses and focused on decreasing the staggering obesity and diabetes rate among African American women. Alexandria has completed 5 triathlons, 1half-marathon, 1 duathlon and countless other local races. She has been featured in the USAT Magazine, The Examiner, Dallas South News, Fox and CW33. She also has been a featured speaker regionally at various workshops, seminars and expos on the essentials of nutrition with hair growth, triathlon training and tips on workout hair care regiments.

Manhattan bred and born, I now reside in a college town surrounded by semi-rural upstate NY. I live near Cayuga Lake, the fairest of the Finger Lakes. Despite the space between our rural homes, my neighbors provide a real sense of community. I'm a medical professional, compete in sprint triathlons, work with Akita rescue, and love gardening, reading, renovating my house and my 3 rescued Akitas.

www.HalfMarathonClub.com An entrepreneur with a passion for running and triathlons, and the desire to share my passion with others, to motivate, encourage and lead others toward their journey of achieving health & fitness minded goals in life.

I am a full time freelance writer. My writing projects cover a variety of sports related events including cycling, running, triathlons, duathlons, nutrition, training, sports gear reviews and more.

I am a veteran kayak instructor and raft guide. I currently work in health care. Recently i've been training for and competing in olympic distance triathlons.

Kristin Duffy was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio (along with five brothers and sisters). She lived 10 years in New York City, and is currently residing in London, England, with her architect husband. While living in New York, Kristin was a fashion designer, specializing in children's clothing and did triathlon in her spare time. She is a four-time Ironman triathlete and has completed numerous marathons and other cycling and running races and triathlons. Kristin enjoys travel, great food and wine, fashion, and of course, writing. She dreams of acting on the stage as well as writing about everything from travel to fitness to books (and making a living doing it!) Kristin is also pursuing children's book writing and illustration.

I have run marathons and triathlons, climbed, paddled, biked, trudged, spa-ed and luxuriated in 118 countries and written about them all.

Currently a double major student at my local university studying nursing and health science. I attempt to stay in shape and regulary compete in triathlons and marathons.

Donovan is a qualified Oil and Gas Engineer and currently is employed as a Pipeline Engineer. His spare time is consumed with looking after his house, car, going exploring and hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, triathlons, you name it, he does it. Now that is enough talking in the third person, if you'd like to get to know me, feel free to drop a line and we'll chat. Best Regards, Me (Donovan!).

I am a stay-at-home mom of three little boys. I enjoy reading, writing, and running and am currently training for my first summer of triathlons. I love outdoor festivals, concerts, and going downtown with my kids whenever possible.

As with many people, I have a vast array of responsibilities and interests. Obviously, this leads to quite a busy life! I love music, sports and exercise, video games; I complete in triathlons with a goal of completing an Ironman (before my body falls apart:) I cherish being a parent of four wonderful children; which is the greatest gift ever given to me. I have been very lucky to have a job as a teacher from the moment I graduated college. It's the greatest career anyone could hope to pursue. There's nothing like it. So, at a young 39, I have lots going on. But, I left out one of my other passions . . . writing! Since I love to read and write; I have fused the two and have began creating blogs, squidoos, Yahoo Network writings.

Meghan Frost has a master's degree in social work and is committed to a healthy lifestyle. Meghan has ran 6 half marathons, 2 full marathons, and has completed 3 triathlons. Meghan is also a mom to two little girls and tries to maintain a balanced life.

Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology Athletic Trainer Co-Founder FIT and CrossFIT Los Altos After 10 years in the fitness industry, learning of the frustrations of clients who previously subscribed to a number of diet fads and exercise trends, Tracey recognized the need for a premier health and wellness facility to provide solid, scientifically backed information and application for clients to feel better, look better, and live longer. Tracey created FIT in 2000 to make the health and fitness expertise usually reserved for elite athletes available for everyone. Tracey, a breast cancer survivor and mother of 2, knows first hand that the best way to ensure fitness success and wellbeing is to educate clients on how to best help themselves. Each session with Tracey includes an exercise prescription and a rationale for selecting the exercise based on that client's individual goals and needs. Fitness and health goals are achieved because Tracey educates her clients on scientifically based processes that lead to success. Under Tracey's leadership FIT has grown from 3 trainers and 20 clients to 20+ trainers and over 400 clients. FIT's clientele is quite diverse. The organization services superlative athletes including Juli Inkster, and Andre Carter, as well as and Silicon Valley executives, Ned Barnholt, and Jerry Yang. In addition to operating FIT, Tracey has raised over $30,000 for a number of local and national charities. As a 7+ year survivor of breast cancer, Tracey is busy building awareness of the disease in her community and educating the public regarding personal advocacy within the medical world and awareness. For all her outreach efforts, Tracey, in 2002, was nominated by her community and selected, to be Olympic Torch Bearer for the Salt Lake City Olympic Torch Relay. Tracey's athletic accomplishments include multiple marathons and triathlons of varying distance culminating in a successful finish at Ironman Canada in 2003.

Melanie Ryan is a seasoned marketing and communications professional having worked in several industries including: beverage, transportation, retail and non-profit. She earned a B.S. in Journalism from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Melanie currently resides in Columbus, Ohio; where she works for a non-profit arts organization. In her free time she enjoys participating in triathlons and other endurance sports, along with spending time with friends out-and-about in the community.

Janice Smith, B.Sc (Kin), ATTH obtained her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and her Certificate in Athletic Therapy from York University in Toronto, ON Canada. She has an extensive background treating the injuries of athletes having worked with the York University Football, Volleyball and Water Polo teams. She is an avid runner-running several full and half marathons in addition to completing several triathlons. She has coached several "learn-to-run", 10K and half-marathon clinics. She works full-time and she is a mom of two dynamic little girls.

Monica is a writer, social media enthusiast, who enjoys traveling, food & sports. She has a BA in Communications & an MSW. She enjoys writing on a variety of topics from her work & life experience, including Christian Living, Disney, Hawaii, Health & Wellness, and wherever her curiosity takes her. Sports fan of NBA Orlando, Magic; LA Lakers; The University of Hawaii Warriors, and the Florida Gators. She has traveled to India & Asia, including China, Thailand, Japan & across the US. Monica loves sports & spending time outdoors, has completed two Hawaii Tinman Triathlons, served in the USAR, and likes to play in sand as well as the snow! Monica has over a dozen years experience in social services, working with children & families, geriatrics, adoption, medical & mental health issues. Born & raised in Hawaii, she presently lives in Orlando, FL.

I was born February 07, 1984 in Washington DC where I have lived most of my life. An avid athlete and hobbyist, I can be found running triathlons between bouts of home improvement projects, building computers, restoring an American Classic, or any other activity. Educated at Radford University, School of Business, and then receiving a Master's of Business Administration from the University Maryland, I am an experience researcher and enjoy applying my skills towards the advancement of human knowledge. Since I will be commenting periodically on the subject; politically I consider myself a Moderate, with a slight lean towards Conservatism. I prefer to stay away from traditional nomenclatures on the subject however, as I believe any subject deserves to be evaluated independently and should not be biased by political party affiliation. I once served in the US Army, but suffered a recurrence of an old knee injury in 2005. I have been fighting for the past three years to rejoin. I hope to someday realize this dream, as I believe my early separation from the Armed Services is a disappointment. Currently, I am deployed overseas as a defense contractor. Thank you for your readership! I look forward to your comments! "That which isn't challenged, grows weak."

I was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Went to Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and then State University of NY at Purchase. Major: Graphic Design, Photography Minor: Art History. After graduation I worked in NYC in Advertising for five years which was very exciting. Then I went freelance and worked in NY & CT. Moved to California and got into triathlons. Completed the Canadian Ironman in Pendiction, Canada. Now I live in Anchorage Alaska which I call my home.

Jennifer Valenti is Managing Director of Apple Box Media, LLC and an avid film enthusiast. She has logged many credits in film and television, and currently works as an Executive at a Market Research company - but, not for long. She started Apple Box Media in 2010 in the hopes of reviving her film career while she still has the use of all (most) of her bodily functions. Jennifer is a single mom to Dylan, 6 and Tyler, 3. Her interests are films (shocker!), writing, training for triathlons and spending time with her family. Aside from her professional aspirations, Jennifer also hopes to complete her first Ironman in the fall of 2010. Oh, and she also really likes chick peas.

Karen is a freelance writer with a background in sales and marketing. She is published regularly in CountyLine Magazine, a community magazine for Johns Creek and South Forsyth in metro Atlanta, GA. Karen is actively involved in fundraising for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Her family hosts the ALS Run for Life 5K each May, and Karen is the Race Director/Organizer of the event which has raised over $50,000 for the Emory ALS Center. She supports numerous events that benefit ALS research to find a cure, and steadfastly advocates for awareness about the disease. When she's not writing or fundraising, Karen enjoys supporting her husband and two sons in triathlons and golf tournaments throughout the southeast, and enjoys the opportunity to race when not cheering for her family.

I am a 40 year old Type 1 diabetic that was diagnosed on October 31, 2007. This came as quite a shock as I went to the doctor for a routine physical. At the time I was running about 30 miles a week and felt as if I was in great shape. I began my real training regiment when I turned 20 years old. At that point of my life stress and everyday life was getting the best of my sleep habits so I decided to take up Martial Arts. To make a long story short, I loved it and took it to every extreme possible. By the year 1998 I held the rank of 2nd degree black belt and was a part time instructor at the school. In addition I taught Cardio Kick Boxing classes in several locations a few nights a week. As my professional career grew, traveling and time away from home became much more increased. I found myself missing out on class schedules so I decided to try running. For the first few months I would come home very excited to complete 2 miles. Little did I know that was the beginning of my base building mileage. I just loved the idea of having the ability to run anyplace when ever I had the time! About a year and half after the start of my running I bumped into an old karate friend. He had become an avid runner and he was telling me about a triathlon he was training for. The challenge of Triathlons seemed intriguing so my thoughts were "why not give it a try". I joined the local college and started swimming. It was a great deal of trouble to complete 2 laps in the pool. Clearly swimming would be no easy task. Either way I decided to keep at it and give it a whirl. In early June of 2006, the day had arrived, my first triathlon (Olympic distance in Montauk, N.Y.) since that time I have competed in dozens of running, cycling and triathlon events. My largest feat as a diabetic was completing Ironman Arizona in 2008. Currently I am training for Ironman Florida 2010 and my goal is to take 3 hours off the previous time that I did in Arizona.

I am currently a student at Wright State University majoring in Biomedical Engineering (pre-med). My hobbies include guitar, music, running, and some other things. I write my own music, play covers of others, and record music for myself and others. Running has kept me in shape, and I actually have experimented with triathlons... definitely the best physical shape I have ever been in. Anything else? I have no idea...

Hi! My name's Barbara. I love writing screenplays, short stories and have written feature and news stories for a local newspaper. Movies are my penchant - watch them for enjoyment as well as technique. As a sports affectionado, I have trained and competed in several triathlons and many road races.

By day I'm a computer programmer who enjoys triathlons and obtaining packets of ketchup while at night I eat cheese popcorn and get distracted by shiny objects. I've also had the privilege to study improvisation and writing at Second City in Chicago.

Born and raised in Southern Colorado. Oldest of four children. Have a crazy mom and a very philosophical dad. Married with twin daughters. Lived in Germany, loved it, and fell in love with good beer. Live a very active life-triathlons, snowboarding, yoga, rugby, Muy Tha

I am a student living in Indiana. I enjoy sports, mainly soccer, and academics. I have also competed in multiple triathlons recently. I am a gearhead through and through. I have loved cars since I first saw them.

I am a 58 year old male with a 30 year career in endurance sports, including over 35 marathons and 14 Ironman triathlons. I have also published a book concerning the Ironman called "Ironstruck...The Ironman Triathlon Journey." I hope to add some on my knowledge to AC.