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It wasn’t how I had imagined my race morning – not concerned with when I woke up, no need to meticulously review what I would take to the course and no timeline to follow for my race day schedule.
Last February, as I’m sure many of us were, I spent my time watching the Winter Olympics. One of the events I came across was the women’s biathlon.
At 36, with two kids and a more than full-time career, people who don’t know me will often ask, “Why the Ironman? Why torture your body for hours for just a finisher’s medal and a box to mark off your bucket list?”
One year ago, I stood on the infield at Villanova University’s commencement ceremony. In my hand was my degree and in my head was a blueprint of how the next year was going to play out. I had plans to return to Villanova for graduate school and a fifth year of eligibility in cross country and track and field after spending the summer at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center as a resident member of USA Triathlon’s Collegiate Recruitment Program (CRP).
The tags were off and the feet were through the legs. With a jump I hiked the jeans up over my torso and buttoned up the crotch. They fit. I felt like I was in high school all over again.
This past year Coach Vicki Vandergriend (USA Triathlon Midwest Region) received a Women's Committee scholarship for the USA Triathlon Leadership Webinar Series. This popular series covered themes of character development, teamwork, communication and team culture. Below she shares some of her takeaways from the experience.