The Story: How I got here

My reflections and documentation of a personal journey to becoming me.

It was a shock to a lot of people - even to myself - that I fell in love with triathlon and fitness. A little over a year ago I hiked the Camino de Santiago with my university across northern Spain. It was out of my comfort zone to walk half marathons every day, but even more uncomfortable to earn the money to do it. I worked hard to invest in that experience, hoping it would help me discover and better understand what I'm capable of. Completing the Camino, I lifted the cap I'd put on myself and raised the ceiling of what I thought was possible. I learned that if I wanted to do something I could make it happen.

Finally allowing myself to try new things when moving my body and taking on physical challenges gave me the confidence to continue doing so. I went on to become a whitewater river raft guide in the summer following the Camino and completed my first half marathon that fall. I felt like I could finally call myself an athlete.

I never touched sports when I was a kid. I did a season of community soccer and would ride my bike up and down the dead-end street by my house, but other than that, nada! I started theater and acting when I was eight and was taught the cello at the same time too. With a cellist for a mother and father who never promoted sports and a very artistic and musical upbringing, it's easy to guess what my hobbies would be as a kid. Theater, music, and dance.

So when I came home from school during my fall semester and started biking on a stationary setup during the winter months, I was met with new comments. "Wow you look so good!" and "Congrats on your half marathon!", but in my mind, I was just doing what I loved. I was meeting myself every morning and seeing what I was capable of. How far I could push my limits.

The half marathon had me buzzing for my next race. What could this body do? So, after hours of indoor biking, I signed up for the St. George Ironman 70.3. I was ready to take this challenge head-on. And I did! Every hour of my schedule that spring semester was packed with training, family, school, and work. Slowly, I proved to myself that just because I didn't do sports as a kid that should not limit me from doing them now.

Training, school, and work taught me how to balance things, and to choose what's important to me. A semester later and 5 months deep into training I went to St. George- and won! I came in at 9th place and I was ecstatic! It was an incredible feeling and as I relaxed in the desert heat with my family I was already thinking of what I could do next. Luckily, that opportunity was not far off.

I qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Spain. Whhaatt???!!!!

Every day I go out and chase the joy whether in the water, on the road, or trail. Now it had turned into something quantifiable, and satisfying my logistical and left-brain itch. I'm on a journey to happiness, and it brought me to a community that values the same drive and exploration. These are my people. "Yes, I'm going to Spain."

This website and blog are a documentation of that journey. I wish I had more of my thoughts from these past months, and so I want to do more now. Here, I'm going to share my thoughts and lessons that I'm learning.

I'm interviewing several other athletes to learn the most I can and understand the next steps to take to become a better athlete. I'm making connections and looking for my next adventure. Thank you for being here to support my next dream.