Age: I'm still working on that, some people say I don't act my age and others say I don't look my age. There are some days that I know I have been around and could be older than dirt and some days well, lets just say I'm 52 years young!

Home town: Just what is a Home town? I have lived in too many places to have a home town, now there have been a few places where I have felt at home and welcomed and would like to go back to and other towns don't want me back but as for having a home town mmmmmmm I don't know. Right now I live in Durham, NC but at times I would rather be somewhere else.

Occupation: I still have not figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I have had several starts at different things but I still have not found out what I want to be. I know my children are all grown-ups cause they have occupations. I have several jobs that I do and most days I seem to do them all! I started out being a daughter then I went to being a student in public schools. During that time I got a job as part of a wait staff in a Ice Cream Parlor when then I became a girlfriend/student in a Technical School. Upon graduating from the Technical School with a degree in Dental Technology, I then became part of the "working class" with no class at all well where I lived at the time nobody had any class. That was when my then boyfriend and I decided to marry. I then became a wife. So my occupations are now are daughter/working in a Dental Lab/and learning to be a wife. Now about this time in my life I became a mom to 4 beautiful, wonderful, outstanding, is this enough to let you know that I enjoyed being a mom? I now have to my credit being a daughter/working in a Dental Lab/a wife/ now mom, all at the same time. I did learn something, that once a mom always a mom and when your children leave for Big School (Collage), get married, or join the military, your job as a mom becomes harder. You are more of a MOM. Like those tattoos sailors get when they have nothing else to do. Then I became a caregiver to my Mother. My wonderful husband, my youngest son (he was a Senior in High School), and myself moved in to care for my mother who had a stroke. We lived with her for about 4 1/2 years and it was during this time I discovered Dara. More on that later! Currently I am a sub-driver for the school system in Durham. Plus I (well my husband says I do) own a auto repair shop. My job there is to keep him working and speak rudely to sales people. Which at times its hard to do either one. Then there are days that I get it mixed up! HE says I own the repair shop so he can sleep with the boss. I am also going to be a first time Grandmother!!!!!!! which is really going to take up some time cause they live 2 1/2 hours away and there is not and easy way to bike to their house. I'm also involved with our youth group at our church. I can say this, keeping active and doing the workouts that Dara has me do gives me some cool points among the Middle School boys. They are still talking about me doing 20 push-ups and winning the arm wrestling contests, (They still don't know I cheated!) during the mission trips I go on with them. And they thought I was just an Old Lady.....but like I said doing these workouts builds my stamina and endurance and I'm able to keep up with all the Youth. AND I hoping to able to keep up with our grandchildren.

Past history of sports participation: How far back in time can we go? I know I was playing unorganized sports in the neighborhood for as long as I can remember and at times that is not saying much because I can't remember what I did yesterday. :) So as far as organized sports, I guess I could name a few. Track and Field, of course we would have to get the cows out of the field and do some cleaning before the track games started. All that did was add to the fun! Softball has always been a part of my participation both organized and unorganized. Way back in the day when they used catgut for strings, I played tennis. I did that all though my high school years. Then there was the co-rec volleyball from our church. Where we girls had to keep telling the "boys" that we had to play in order for it to be call co-rec! Other than just trying to play with the children growing up and teaching our boys how to throw the ball (my Charlie was a musician that like to work on cars, he threw like a girl...he did teach the our Girls how to drive a straight drive and build fires in the rain.) I really just liked being outside and having fun.

Primary athletic focus currently: My primary focus at this time would be just to stay fit and to not to grow old gracefully. When I die, I want it to look like I slid into home base head first and when the dust settles I want everyone to know "I had fun!"

Favorite training or racing experiences: I guess my favorite training experience is when I get the e-mail from Dara telling me that "my plan is ready.” I just can't wait to open it up and see what she has me do. I think she know me better than I know myself b/c she has been able to not only find my limits, I am able to go past them and not know I did till afterward. It is such an awesome feeling I get when I'm thinking I can't do this and she just says "try it" and I do and BAM I did it!!! It makes me feel like a little kid again. It's cool being 12 all over again. I don't know about you but 12 was kinda bad for me so living it all over is a good thing.

Races/events completed this year: I could not participate in any of the races that I wanted to this year because we decided to go across the USofA on our motorcycle. I was able to take my bicycle and ride in several states and in places I though I never would. I was even able to see a real roadrunner (BEEP-BEEP) I was able to do a few things that were personal mile stones. I swam a mile, in open water, at a Boy Scout camp, WITHOUT a wetsuit, IN THE MOUNTAINS! I did a MS bike ride and averaged 17mph both days and am ready to do it again. Last year when I did the same ride I was happy to finish! I did a 20k run and finished. I didn't know there where that many hills in Durham! I think I ran all of them. I was able to keep up with a friend of mine that was training for an Ironman and went 96 miles with her and avg 17mph. AGAIN we found all the hills in NC and just had to ride them both up and down.

Favorite race/s: I think my first race was my MOST favorite. Now for the later part--You see 16 weeks earlier I was a kinda couch potato, with a family history of high blood pressure, and I won Dara in a newspaper contest! She told everyone who read the paper that in 16/18 weeks she could have someone ready to do a sprint Triathlon, all they had to do was write a essay. Well after days of figuring out what to write and having at least a dozen dear friends proof it and give me their blessings and knowing my life WILL change (and it did) I put my essay in the snail mail, I faxed it, and I e-mailed it! THEN she called me and I have been hooked ever since. That was way back in 2003. I've come a long way baby! I also think my next race is my favorite.

Personal Records/Best races: The fact that I finish is always a personal record. Races that you have fun in are the best!

Athletic achievement/s you are most proud of: I can impress middle school boys by doing push-ups, lift weights and arm wrestle them. Also a side note that I can squat in the woods to pee and not have to hold on to a tree to get back up! I have not broken any bones. My mother always told me I was not the most graceful person!

My best racing tip: When you go to a race always take someone with you, either physically or in your heart, cause it makes it more fun to talk to them during the race than yourself.

My best training tip: Enjoy what you can to and what you have accomplished, AND most of all just have fun!!!

Goals for the coming year/season:
* to do more open water swims either in races or just by myself. Well not really by myself, I'll have Charlie or someone with me.
* to do a Century with Dara
* to do another 1/2 marathon

Races you are planning on next season:
* the Coach Bubba 20k
* maybe try another international length
* or a 1/2 ironlady J

Additional comments/info: I owe a lot to Dara, not only has she been able to help me find an enjoyable way to get fit and to stay fit, She has helped me to find and keep my balance. I feel that I'm a better person both inside and out I know I'm much more fitter. It seems that for most of my life I was/am involved in other people lives that I have forgotten the most important one "myself". I have learned that if I don't take care of myself, I really can't take care of others or at least have fun with them. Doing races with my children has been a wonderful highlight in my life. Now I can't wait to do some races with my grandchildren!!

You know that I am and will be forever indebted to you for picking me out of all the ones you could have picked. You have been a real joy and blessing to me and for me.