About Kristin

Hi! My name is Kristin. I am a triathlete. I’m also a twenty-something graduate of the University of Virginia and currently working as a computer security engineer part-time and take classes part-time in various biology and chemistry courses in the hopes of going to veterinary school in the near future.  I was married to the love of my life, Curtis, in June 2009 and we live in northern Virginia with our dog, Tara, and cat, Suli.  Curtis and I frequently run together although he is much faster than me and often leaves me in the dust!  Tara is also a world-class running buddy, providing the perfect pacing for short runs.  We are lucky to have excellent running and biking trails nearby and access to several pools over the summer. Our gym membership provides the pool for the rest of the year.

In winter of 2006, during my third year of college, I had the great/crazy idea of doing a sprint triathlon that spring. I began training, mostly in my college gym on the stationary bike and treadmill. Since I have always been a swimmer, I did limited swim training because I knew that there was no way I wouldn’t finish an easy 750 m swim! I found a hybrid bike and a surfing wetsuit to borrow, but I didn’t see either till the day before the race. I was undertrained and underprepared, having put very little research into the sport prior to attempting the race. In May I competed in my first sprint triathlon and finished, not quite last but at the very back of the pack. Despite my placement, I was hooked.  I thrived on the energy the morning of the race and lived on the high of finishing for weeks afterward.  I knew that I would do it again, but next time, I would definitely be more prepared.

I didn’t end up racing again until a super-sprint early in the 2008 season.  After that race, I decided that the next year would be “the year”.  I revisited the site of my original foray into the world of triathlon in May 2009 and PR’ed by about 27 minutes!   I’ve since taken my training to the next level, and completed my first Olympic distance in September 2009, and my first half-Ironman in August 2010.  I finally feel that I’ve made sufficient strides in my endurance and I’m ready to focus on speed, especially on the run.  My goal is to someday do a full Ironman distance race, but I’m not ready to commit to the training necessary to tackle that challenge quite yet.

This is where I will keep my own accountability in training, and record my successes, failures, and all the hurdles in between.  I can’t wait to share my journey through the world of triathlon, trying to be stronger and faster for longer!