What was your first triathlon?
The Danskin Women’s Sprint Triathlon in Sandy Hook, NJ in 2004
What is your favorite leg of triathlon?
I actually like all three legs of the triathlon for different reasons. I like triathlon because you get 3 sports and not just one. It makes training and racing more interesting! I have exercise ADD so have to do several different kinds of exercise.
What is your goal race?
I would like to do an IM (Iron Man) eventually. Right now my work and life schedule just makes it too hard to train for that length of a race. I have been doing 70.3 distances so this is where I’ll be staying for a while. This year my big race is Pumpkinman 70.3 in South Berwick, Maine. I would also like to race Escape from Alcatraz again. I have done that one 2 other times.
Why do you do triathlon?
Because it allows me to exercise outdoors. I work in the gym as a personal trainer and get tired of being in the gym. The swimming, biking and running are also good compliments to the things that I had been doing already – strength training, yoga, dancing. I want to stay healthy and fit forever so triathlon is a great sport because it is more well rounded and involves several different major muscle groups. Triathletes tend to get less repetitive stress injuries and stay more balanced.
What shoes do you use?
Asics DS Trainers, I also play around with doing some shorter mileage in Vibrams but stick to the cushioned shoe for runs longer than 3 miles.
What bike do you race with?
Felt S22 650 wheels – very few stock bikes fit me because of my short torso – this one seemed to be the best when I bought it in 2007
What wetsuit do you race with?
Xterra long sleeves
What is your favorite piece of gear?
The smartest thing I bought was a neoprene chip holder – so the chips they give you at races don’t cut your ankle up. I always use mine instead of the one they give you. I also think the Garmin heart rate monitor watches are awesome and such a valued technology to have when you are training/racing.
How many triathlons have you done?
Over 30. I lost count.
What was the hardest triathlon you have done?
My first Olympic in Milford, CT – just because of the conditions – big waves in the sound (it was the first time I swam a mile open water) and it poured down rain the whole bike. It was awful. I was soaking wet the whole race. Escape from Alcatraz is pretty tough too – challenging swim with the icy temperatures and currents, very hilly bike and run. But the course is great and it is a classic race!
What was your favorite triathlon?
Escape from Alcatraz - the hype and build up with the challenging course make it one of my favorites – plus I always take an after race trip to Napa/Sonoma afterward. Pumpkinman because my good friends live 2 miles from the start so I have a comfortable place to stay and my friends can go outside and practically sit on their lawn to watch the race. And the lobster bake my friends make for me afterward is awesome. (Do you see how I’m talking about post race…rather than the race itself!?)
What is your day job?
I am the owner and founder of Physical Equilibrium in NYC and the Hamptons. We specialize in personal training, nutrition, triathlon/marathon coaching, post rehab training, pre/post natal, outdoor workout classes.
More about Sara at www.physeq.com