Tell me about your triathlon history & how you got started in the sport...
I am entering into my 5th season as a triathlete, and have done sprint, Olympic and half ironmans. Olympic distance has definitely become my favorite distance, as the fun part of triathlon just seems to disappear somewhere around the middle of my half-marathon in the Half distance :-) I got into tris simply because running became extremely boring for me. After I ran a couple of marathons, I was bored with the sport so I looked for something to decrease the boredom, and here I am!!!

Looking ahead, what athletic goals have you set for yourself in 2007 ...
My two goals for this season are 1. to qualify for Worlds in the ITU distance at Nationals in Oregon at the end of June, and 2. to set a PR at the NYC Tri in July.

What is your favorite thing about competing in triathlons?
My favorite part of this sport is the people. There are so many different types of people who participate in tris, and for some reason they all are so interesting! I LOVE meeting new people during training and/or races. It just makes the sport so much more fun to be involved in!

What gets you motivated for a big race, or hard training session?
For a big race, I need to listen to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" song about one hundred times to get myself psyched up. For a hard training session, I count on whomever I am training with to get me, and keep me, motivated. If I'm training alone, the training session is never as hard as it would, or should be!

What's your favorite meal to eat before and after a big race?
Before a race, I always have a bowl of Kashi shredded wheat cereal with one banana, chocolate soy milk, a tall glass of OJ and one piece of toasted wheat bread with peanut butter. After a race, I'll eat ANYTHING!!!!

What other hobbies do you enjoy?
Being that the winter is my favorite season of the year, I enjoy snowboarding, snowblading, snowshoeing and ice skating. I also enjoy rollerblading, reading and playing with my black lab, Jeter :-)

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?
Being a physical education teacher, swim coach and track coach at a NYC public high school, I just love the fact that this sport of triathlon is new and interesting to alot of the athletes at that age. I love teaching the next generation about this wonderful lifestyle!

What is the best piece of advice you have for other triathletes?
No matter how serious you become in the sport, remember to have fun. Meet new people at races, talk to everyone, and enjoy the journey!