Featured Member of the Month

Name: Kimberly Sampson

Profile Name: kimmitri408

Current Location: Woodbridge, VA

Triathlete? Duathlete? Other?: Triathlete

What brought you to triathlon? 

Initially I was just a runner. Last Feb, a knee sprain knocked me out for 2 months. When I was healed up, the doc said that I should swim or ride the bike, but not run for a while. I had just moved and joined a gym that sponsored the Tri It Now series. When I found out that they had short races, I figured I would give it a go, even if it meant walking the run portion. I didn't know how to swim and didn't own a bike, but I learned and set my sights on just finishing the race. After doing my first tri earlier this month, I think I'm kind of hooked.
 

What athletic achievement are you most proud of?

Learning to swim. I was terrified of swimming as a kid and as I got older, learned to be more at peace with the water, but still could not tread water or swim. Now, I can swim a few different strokes. I'm not the fastest, but considering that I went from not knowing how to swim a year ago to competing in races, I think I've done pretty well.

 
Best Advice for someone thinking of doing their first triathlon:

Just do it and don't worry about what anyone else is doing or what place you finish or what you look like. There are so many different body shapes and athletic levels in each race that your only focus should be on doing what you came to do.


Goals for 2008?

I'd like to compete in a few more triathlons and get more comfortable in the water. I also would like to complete my first 10K race before the end of the year and overall improve my level of fitness.


 
Contact: kmsampson@gmail.com