San Francisco, California
| Primary Discipline(s) | Triathlon, Open Water Swimming, Aquabike |
| Bucket List Race | Straight of Gibraltar Swim |
| Post-Race Drink | Chocolate Milk! |
| Off-Day Activity | Long walk around SF or Marin and getting great food with even better friends |
I'm a "former fat kid" who was diagnosed with a degenerative connective tissue disorder as a teenager. I always loved swimming, but my deteriorating joint health meant that I had to stop swimming competitively, and I became very tentative and afraid to move my body. When I finally got diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in my late teens, I was told that I should never run. I love a challenge, so when I was a freshman in college, I decided that I wanted to run the Boston Marathon as part of my school's team as a senior. I never lost sight of this goal, and I dropped nearly 100 lbs to get myself into safe running shape. More importantly, I discovered that I could safely engage in endurance sports and improve both my physical and mental health. I completed Boston in 2014 and the NYC Marathon in 2016. I found triathlon after getting into cycling, and I completed my first tri in 2015. I've since done two 70.3s and countless olys and sprints, but my favorite discipline is aquabike. I competed on Team USA in Pontevedra in 2019 after qualifying at 2018 Nationals in Miami.
COVID caused me to pause racing, and during this time, I re-discovered my first love, swimming. I joined South End Rowing Club in SF and have since completed a 10k pool swim fundraiser and a 7k open water qualifying swim for SERC's Bay to Breakers. Though SERC members love to swim without a wetsuit, I still use my first wetsuit, a blueseventy sleeveless, on a regular basis! I love getting out in the bay and feeling the freedom that comes with open water swimming.