Why do you want to race for Team Eleonore Rocks?

I’ve been training and racing in triathlon for three years. I believe I’ve been given this passion by God as I’ve done things I could never have done on my own. I’ve been looking for a way to contribute to “the greater good” through triathlon so that all this hard work doesn’t get chalked up as a hobby but rather as God’s work!

Why should we choose you?

I eat, sleep, and breathe triathlon. Well, no, not really. I have 3 wonderful, healthy, perfect children and a loving husband who supports me fully. I don’t take any of this, or my health and ability to train and compete, for granted. I understand the pain a family goes through, however, when children are ill and cannot come home. Long before this call for applications, I found out about ER (I can’t remember how) and thought, ‘Man! I wish I could be a part of that!’ I work very hard to be able to participate in swimbikerun and I’ve been looking for a long time to make it count for something.

What philanthropic endeavors are you involve in?

None. Well, maybe that’s not fair. I love. And I give whatever I’ve got to whoever needs it. I donate clothes and jackets and food toiletries to the homeless and needy people of our area but I don’t consider that a” philanthropic endeavor” but rather sharing.  I’ve been looking for a ‘project’ and I hope I’ve found one in ER.

What is your background (school, hometown, current town, major, etc.)?

I grew up on a small farm near Las Vegas, NM. After high school I went directly to New Mexico State University, where I met my husband, earned my B.S. degree, had my first baby (a boy), and then earned my M.S. degree, in that order! Both of my degrees are in Animal Science with a focus on nutrition. Upon completing my Master’s degree, I was accepted into Texas Tech University where I would earn my Ph.D. in Ruminant (think cows, sheep, goats, deer, camels….) Nutrition. While working on my doctorate, we had our second baby, a girl. Shortly after graduation, we learned we would be having another baby, a boy! While pregnant, I taught myself to swim. I hired the TTU football team’s kicker to help me with my stroke/form a few times. I had a goal of swimming a mile, non-stop, before he was born. I swam my first mile (in a pool) in November 2008 and he was born in January 2009. While I was learning to swim, I thought, ‘well, I know how to swim now, and I’ve always liked running, and according to the saying, I haven’t forgotten how to ride a bike, so I may as well do a triathlon! It had been a dream. Not the same type of dream as earning my degrees but more of a ‘in a different life, if I were a different person’ kind of dream, but there I was, 9 months pregnant staring that dream in the face.  A fire started in my soul that has become bigger and bigger each year. I completed three sprint races in 2009, 3 sprint races in 2010, and 2 sprints and my first Olympic distance race in 2011. My goal for this year is to add more Olympic distance races to my schedule and to complete my first 70.3! I currently live in a small community called Bushland, TX which is a few miles west of Amarillo. I continue to be heavily involved in agriculture. I am currently the Director of Research at a privately owned Beef Feedlot near Hereford, TX where we evaluate the role of nutrition on health and growth in beef cattle to improve health and growth while reducing cost and thereby reducing consumer cost for beef products.

How did you get involved in triathlon?

It’s always been a far-away dream. I rode a bike as a kid, ran for weight management, and taught myself to swim while pregnant with my third child. I started my first race a few months after he was born and haven’t looked back.

What is your favorite of the 3 sports in triathlon? Why?

I really love to swim although I never seem too fast on race day. I’m pretty tough on bike and like going fast so I think all things considered, I like bike best!

What inspires you?

Improvement. I say this to my kids every day, “Be the best you, you can be.” I live by it!

Do you have a significant other? Children?

I am married to my college sweetheart (is there such thing?), Brandon. And we have three children. Bladen, boy, 9; Maysa, girl, 4; and Hylan, boy, 3.

What is your big boy/girl job?

Beef Cattle Nutritionist and Research Scientist.

What kind of goals do you have for the year?

My primary goal is to complete my first 70.3 race. I’d also like to add another Olympic distance race and beat my sprint times at a few repeat sprint races

What is your favorite training spot?

The pool. (not a whole lot of open water in our parts!)