I started participating in triathlons around 1992. At the time, I was young and had no athletic background. I had been smoking for the past seven years and drinking socially for a while. Determined to make a change, I quit smoking and quickly joined a masters swimming program. Soon, I found myself at the starting line of a few sprint-distance triathlons. Gradually, I worked my way up to Olympic distance races, holding off on attempting the half distance (now 70.3) until I was confident, I could truly complete it. This is how I kept overcoming life’s challenges to become a triathlete.
I was always self-coached, devouring Triathlete Magazine articles and training plans, tearing out pages and taping them to my bedroom closet door as a constant reminder of my goals.
Ironman Cozumel
Fast forward to 2009: I was living in San Francisco, working as a Personal Trainer, teaching 10 indoor cycling classes a week, and training for Ironman Cozumel. I still held the old-school mindset that high-volume mileage was the key to success, doubting the importance of proper strength training for triathlon performance. During my classes, I noticed that my right shoe would often get stuck on the pedal. To free it, I’d torque aggressively, but stubbornly, I blamed the shoe and didn’t fix the issue. Before long, my right knee started hurting. I assumed it was an IT band issue, caused by all the miles I was logging on the bike and run. Despite foam rolling, stretching, and massages, the pain persisted.
When race day arrived, I pushed through and finished Ironman Cozumel in 11:20—my fastest Ironman yet—with the help of a couple of Advils to numb the “dumb” knee pain.
The Culprit was Revealed
In January 2010, I saw two sports medicine orthopedists. After an MRI, the culprit was revealed: a lateral partial tear of the meniscus. One doctor recommended the traditional shaving of the torn part of the meniscus, while the other suggested a newer procedure that involved using blood to create a clot, which would be sewn into the torn area to assist with tissue regeneration. I opted for the latter, but unfortunately, it didn’t work. Two years later, I went back to the OR for the traditional surgery.
Rediscovering My Love for the Sport
After a four-year hiatus, I returned to racing and rediscovered my love for the sport. I began setting personal records and earning podium spots at local races. Then, in 2019—just before COVID hit—while competing at the Oakland Triathlon Festival Olympic-distance race, disaster struck. At the 20-mile marker of the bike leg, I hit a pothole, landed hard, and heard my helmet crack. I managed to get back on the bike with some help and made it to the transition area, but I couldn’t get off the bike. My left hip was in excruciating pain.
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Another Setback
The diagnosis: a pelvis fracture. It took three months of recovery and six months of physical therapy, but I was determined to come back stronger—and I did. Shortly afterward, we moved to Sacramento, where I resumed racing locally, earning podium spots once again. I finally qualified for the 70.3 World Championships in Lahti, Finland.
Sent to the ER
But my challenges weren’t over. In 2023, I experienced several AFib episodes, two of which sent me to the ER. The last episode occurred in October 2023, prompting me to undergo an ablation in January 2024. I took the entire year off from racing. At the time, I had been training for Ironman Arizona (IMAZ) 2023, but I decided to defer to 2024. During my break, I embraced yoga, made lifestyle changes, and went through a divorce.
Your Heart Looks Great
In November 2024, I completed IMAZ, and three weeks later, I crossed the finish line at the California International Marathon (CIM)—my first marathon “on fresh legs.” This morning, I had a heart stress test with my cardiologist. The doctor told me, “Keep doing what you’re doing—your heart looks great!”
Looking ahead to 2025, my plan is to keep racing and coaching athletes. I’ll be at the swim start in Oceanside on April 5th, aiming to qualify for the 70.3 World Championships in Marbella. I continue overcoming life’s challenges to pursue my dream.
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