Triathlon Resume:  Suzanne Wheatall

Early years spent cheerleading. Did not run track in HS; but did run after football players and caught most of them!

In college, started dating marathon runners. Married one and did my first running race in 1984, the San Francisco Bay to Breakers.

Got three kids settled into school and instead of going back to work, started working out more. Living in Alaska made it possible to find other 40-something women also becoming athletic for the first time.

After building up cycling strength hauling 3 kids, their toys, snacks and rock collections around the hillside, started mountain bike racing in 1997. Started road bike racing to get in better shape for the short mountain bike season; Still prefer dirt to asphalt.

At age 37, completed my first triathlon: the GNT. My 500y swim time was 17:35.

Obtained the most buoyant wet suit I could find and started doing open water triathlons.

Moved to Texas where it was possible to distance train and race all year long. Running speed picked up, as did running injuries.

Sick and twisted anniversary present had me entered into IMAZ. Of course, I would finish it--torn ligament and all!

Since my first Gold Nugget in 1999, I have completed numerous sprint and Olympic distance triathlons, an aquathon, dirt duathlons and a couple half irons before settling into my favorite distance: the ¼ iron, because of its relatively short swim to long bike!