From Our Readers

Jerri Lynn Fields

Mamaroneck, NY

I started running in 2004, ran my first marathon in 2005 (Chicago), second marathon six months later in spring of 2006 (Nashville), completed my first triathlon in summer of 2006, ran on a team for the Reach the Beach Relay in New Hampshire in 2006 where I experienced a horrible injury, was sidelined for four months.

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Philippa Hughes

Washington, DC

Occupation: Flaneur (aka a person who appears to be ambling aimlessly but is secretly in search of adventure)

Loves: surfing, travel, art, good food and happy hours!

Favorite quote: "Live in the now dude."

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Clifford

Washington, DC

Loves to: run, chase chipmunks, eat anything

Woofs of wisdom: Massages keep your muscles in prime condition.

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Cindy Koo

Canmore, AB, Canada

Loves: trail running, mountain biking, adventure racing, backcountry and X-country skiing, climbing and windsurfing

Dream job: Organic farmer growing mangoes, pineapples, avocados, green beans and yam fries with miso gravy.

Interested in: Clean and green living.

Admires: David Suzuki and Deepak Chopra

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Robin Brown

Knoxville, TN

Loves to: scull

Favorite place to be active: Tennessee River

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Jennifer Danylchuk

Arlington, VA

Occupation: 3rd grade teacher

Perks of the job: Summers free for extended solo adventures: Belize, Guatemala, Rome, road trips through the US.

Does not leave home without: tent, journal, and iPod Nano

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Terri McGuire and Shannon Emanelson

Chicago, IL

Event: Geneva Lake 5k in February 2007

Dedicated to: Running in all climates, triathlons when the water's not frozen.

Just to be clear: We're not training to run bandit.

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Kim Johnson

San Diego, CA and Frisco, CO

Loves: whitewater kayaking

Disclaimer: Only grimaces in extreme circumstances.

Works in: High tech PR, web design and search engine optimization

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Christi Schwartz, Brittany Eck, Courtney Forsell, Sarith Ruiz, Sarah Dow, and Abby Livingston

Washington, DC

Heroic feats: working with politicians, lobbyists, and saving firefighters

The tie that binds: playing softball on the Mall

Extra bonus: meeting new friends!

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Lisa Haug

Seattle, WA

Amazing talents: balance, nerves of steel and staying grease-free while riding in eveningwear

Loves to: travel, climb, practice yoga, bike

My other job: Sit on the board of Women Climbers Northwest.

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Kristen Podolak

Berkeley, CA

Loves to: kayak

Upcoming adventure: starting grad school at UC Berkeley

Favorite 4-legged friend: Buck

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Pamela Hu

New York, NY

Loves to: run

Missing from the Food Pyramid: frozen yogurt

Recent adventure: graduating from college

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Anya Naschak

Washington, DC

Loves to: hike, eat great food, and hang out with her awesome hubby, Doug, that she met in college.

Recent hike: Old Rag, Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia

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Molly Lethert

St. Paul, MN

Gross fact: Her left ankle was cut off in a snowmobile accident when she was 10.  They were able to reattach it.  It hurts to walk a lot of the time, so her bike is her freedom.

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Andrea Cendrowski

Birmingham, MI

Favorite activities: water skiing, road cycling, rock climbing

Next adventure: starting grad school at Brandeis

Side job: learning new languages

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Sarah Cepeda

Columbia, MD

Favorite plays: running, swimming, cycling... marathons and sprint tri's

Day job: Elementary Music Teacher and Middle School Running Coach

Upcoming adventures: IronGirl Columbia, Twin Cities Marathon, NYC Marathon as a member of Team Hole in the Wall!!!

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Beth Jensen, R.B. Hopkins and Johnnie Braden

Sierra Madre, CA

Picture's title: "Pure Bliss"

Where's the bliss? Maui, HI

Loves to: go canyoneering and hang out under waterfalls.

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Casey Moore

Arlington, VA

Favorite Plays: triathlons including a recent Ironman finish.

In spare time: competitive trampoline, professional high diving, rollerblading, hiking and trapeze.

Energy sources: all products made by Powerbar and Clif, and an unending supply of Gummy Bears for those long bike rides.

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Lesley Green and Lynn Starr

Northern, VA

Marine Corp Marathon, Philadelphia Marathon, Disney marathon... been there, done that... now it's time to RUN NYC!

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Mayda Sakawat

Vienna, VA

Inaugural hike: "I have been living in Vienna, VA for 2 1/2 yrs. & have yet to experience the true beauty of this area until now.  Ordinarily I'd be meeting with potential clients but I found myself free and I decided to meet up w/ friends at the Billy Goat Trail in Great Falls.  I have never really hiked before so I didn't know what to expect.  I met great people, saw beautiful scenery, and learned that I really like hiking which fits really well into my dynamic wellness lifestyle."

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Grace Miller

Pittsburgh, PA

Why triathlons? In a word, I compete in triathlons for the catharsis.  It's not about the challenge, or the competition, or the accomplishment.  It's about expending myself physically in a way that rejuvenates me emotionally.

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Team LUNA Chix: Seattle Mountain Bike

Seattle, WA

Age: 40 "Yikes!  Most days I don't feeeeel 40!"

Who's in the pic? back (left to right) - Debbi Murray, Peggy Prichard, Courtney Nash, Shannon Sandeno, Katie Jackson, Silivia Leveque, front (left to right) - Susan Clementson, Kathy Alexion

What's fun in Seattle? Along with my 7 awesome team members, we form the Seattle Mountain Bike Chapter of Team LUNA Chix.

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LUNA Chix DC

Washington, DC

Who's in the pic? top (left to right) - Bevin Keen, Julie Oplinger, Laurie Bickart, KC Lawler, bottom (left to right) - Cris Turney, Andie Emshoff Nelson, Katie Davison (me)

Tell us about your team: Team Luna Chix DC was formed in 2007 as a group of women triathletes looking for opportunities to exercise & share a healthy lifestyle with other women.  As a new Team Luna Chix, we are encouraging women in the DC area to Get Out and Play, 'tri' something new.  We come from varying backgrounds and have varying goals in the sport, but as a Team we are dedicated to building a Luna community in the DC area!

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Lena Lago

Washington, DC

Favorite activities: Traveling, cycling, and avoiding work.

Next adventure: Training in Krav Maga.

Loves to: Lounge on the beach, commit random acts of baking, and spoil my nephews.

Goal: Finish the Ironman by age 40.

Favorite quote: "Words without actions are the assassins of idealism." - H. Hoover

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Lesa Kingsbury

Saint James, NY

My story: Sometimes, you don't know what you want until you find it.

I had worked hard as a college student in California to gradute with an architectural degree.  When I finally did so, I moved to the East Coast to go to Columbia University to get my Masters in Architecture and Urban Design, and then continue along that career path.  I was excited about the direction I was taking, but then I started in the field, and found architectural glory - and personal satisfaction - to be pretty elusive.  I worked on some large and important projects for some big firms, but the stress and the endless hours were larger than my then twenty-something self had anticipated starting out.  At times, I even felt trapped.  For me, architecture was just not a pretty picture.

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Marni Harang

Sugar Land, TX

I am a 60 year old solitary long distance bike rider who does sponsored, supported rides for charity.  I ride around south west Houston and its environs and manage about 150 miles per week.  I also workout in the gym and with a trainer (crazy former Marine guy) for 10 hours a week.  I recently raised $2000.00 for the Coalition Fund for Breast Cancer Research on a 600 mile ride from New Orleans, Louisiana to Memphis, Tennessee.

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Ladies of the Potomac

DC and MD

Star Mitchell: “39+ and holding". I am a retired Montgomery County high school teacher and live in Bethesda, MD…” I started kayaking in 1985 but started rowing around in a row boat in the Bay in FL when I was 9 years old and started canoeing as a Girl Scout when I was about 11 or 12. I. I spend most of my time kayaking, biking (I am on the C&O Bike Patrol for the US Park Service), hiking, contra dancing, and partying with my many friends and time with my children and granddaughter (age 11).

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Marily MacDonald

Grand Lake, CO

I recently returned from a six month Odyssey around the world. 360 degrees, 180 days, 14 countries, and one bag. It all seemed so flippant. Here I was jetting off, leaving all responsibilities and “reality” behind, to do what? Live life to the fullest?  I  put off that mortgage, two and a half kids and the picket fence for a backpack, two and a half months worth of Malaria pills and no limit to where I would “find myself.”

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Erin Pinckney

Frederick, MD

Current Occupation:  Marketing Director
Favorite places to get re-energized: High Sonoran Desert, Arizona. Central Pacific Coast, Costa Rica.
Perfect day: sleep late; read while eating a leisurely breakfast; 90 min. gym class (I loathe workout machines!); hour massage; walk on the beach, dinner (out) with husband, watch a movie at home, read, lights out.

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Michele Myauo

Washington DC

My story: In December 2005, while I was training for my first marathon, my neck swelled out and I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Intravascular Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.  Intravascular Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, is a rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, where disease is in the veins and arteries that go to the heart.

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Brett Buckles

Colorado

My story: I grew up ski racing from age 5 to 19 and retired from the U.S. Ski Team due to a nagging shin injury. I was thoroughly frustrated with the sport and needed to get away from it before I lost my passion for skiing forever.

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Melissa Kushnick

Austin, TX

In 1996 Melissa Kushnick’s father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. T. J. Caplinger’s good friend was also diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma a few years ago. She is also doing well now.

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