Originally Posted by Lise
Getting to Know You!
OK, I'll give it my shot!
Real name: Lise (pronounced Lisa)
Where do you live? Chicago, IL
Explanation of your handle: It's my name. I wasn't feeling creative enough when I signed up. "Run like a dachshund" because I love those dogs--they run with the purest joy. They have no idea their legs are only 3 inches long. It's a good luck charm for me to see at least one dachshund on every long race I do.
Explanation of your avatar: I wish I could figure out how to find an avatar of a dachshund.
Age (general or specific) 45
Occupation: Certified Nurse-Midwife
Favorite bike: Don't know enough to have one yet
What's in your stable? Marin Larkspur City bike. Great for riding around Chicago. I've done two international tris, three sprint tris, and a metric century on it. That said, I'm getting a "real" triathlon bike next spring.
Fastest speed on a road bike? where? when? 23mph, in the Lake Zurich triathlon last 8/14.
Another picture of yourself or your ride? Hmmm, I do not know how to add a picture...
What is the biggest lie you've ever told: Definitely not revealing it here!
Most memorable moment on my bike: A sprint tri this May. I was dripping wet, freezing cold, underdressed, and I rode harder than I ever have in my life. I felt so strong.
Most fun ever had on a bike? It's a toss-up between riding to swimming lessons when I was 7, and riding all over Chicago on my 45th birthday, just doing what ever I wanted to do.
...................
I found this site and first posted on the triathlon board--here's some of the info about me from there--
I'm 45 years old, did my first triathlon 2 years ago. I was a an active kid, then life happened, and I became completely alienated from my body. By 40, I was "crippled" (my perspective) with chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis. I was 30# overweight, and going through a nasty divorce. I made some new friends, and tagged along when one did the Accenture Chicago Triathlon. I saw old people, fat people, a woman in a clown suit, and thought, "I wonder if I could do that?"
You know the answer, of course! NO! Not in a clown suit! But YES! In regular tri gear! My first tri was completely un-researched. A friend and I did it together. We picked the Lake Zurich triathlon , an international distance, because, well, we didn't know anything. We didn't know there was such a thing as a "sprint" distance. So we swam across Lake Zurich, rode the hills of Lake County, and ...walked 6.25 mi. We were dead last across the finish line, but the organizers put our picture up on the website with congratulations to all the first-timers. I was bitten by the tri-bug when I did it again the following year.
This year I've done two sprints, one international distance tri, a metric century ride, two 5K runs, a 1/2 marathon, and the Chicago Marathon. If you're going to have a mid-life crisis, turning into an athlete is not a bad one to have. I'm doing the 8K Turkey Trot on, you guessed it, Thanksgiving Day.
Mostly I am tickled pink to be an athlete. There's still so much to learn. This is the first winter when I'm seriously committing to training all winter. My goal is to do a 1/2 Ironman. After the 100K bike ride, I was sure I had no desire to do the Ironman. Kudos to those of you who do!
Biking is far and away my favorite part of triathlon. On the bike I feel strong and free. It is one of the best feelings in the world. My mom started biking when she was 60 years old, and at 70 is still going strong. We have a tradition of adult-onset athleticism in our family!
Best wishes to all--I'm looking forward to reading more posts and getting to know you all, too! Lise
