I was that kid who went out of her way to try not to participate in field day or gym class (unless we were swimming). I wasn't ever chosen for playground games and usually hung out with a few others or read during recess. Sure, I took gymnastics lessons, dance, and was even on a t-ball team for a season, but they weren't my strong suit. And by the time I was a teen marching band was my physical activity. In college it was just getting to/from class. By the time I was in my first year of marriage I was cleaning my house and baking on weekends while my husband worked. While I had always been large, I was putting on weight. And at age 32 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I knew something needed to change. I started walking 20 min a day on a treadmill we had bought when a regional chain store was bought out. I also changed how I ate. After a few months a friend challenged me to walk a 3-mile Halloween race. I was very hesitant, but did it and fell in love. Later that fall another friend challenged me to a half marathon. I had no idea a love affair was about to begin. I love half marathons. They're still my favorite distance and the one I run the most.
Over time walking became slow running. I added biking to participate in the ADA TourdeCure. Then I was challenged to a sprint triathlon. Sure! Why not? Nothing came easy and I had so much to learn. I was working so hard just to finish at the very back of the pack. I was struggling to manage my blood sugar because the medication wasn't right for someone at my level of activity. Over time I started working with a sport dietitian. I got my fueling under control (mostly) and had fewer DNFs (yeah I still do sometimes). After 10 years I was able to get off diabetes medicines and manage only with diet and exercise. My blood sugar isn't "normal" but is in the pre-diabetes range and where it was medicated several years ago. In 2014 I decided to start working with a coach. For real. And not just any coach...the coach to the fast people. This meant I was constantly training "with" the really fast people in Indy. I am still almost always at the bottom of the team race results despite tremendous progress. But training with them makes me a better runner.
I also decided somewhere along the line that I wanted to be an Ironman. It took three years of training, but in 2018 at Ironman Louisville I became one. It is the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. I'm currently training for Ironman Wisconsin. And even with racing on hold I continue to train, and train hard, because when racing is ready for me I want to be ready to race.
Rose is a Masters Athena triathlete living and training in Indianapolis. When not playing runner/triathlete she is a community planner. She has finished 79 half marathons and 11 full marathons. Her half marathon personal best is 2:14:31 and her marathon personal best is 5:16:29. She runs with Personal Best Training with Coach Matt Ebersole and swims with Speed Factory Racing with Coach Sean Edwards. Her husband David is a cyclist and yogi who is a professional geologist when not training, cooking, or taking care of their home.
