A midwest girl who has spent her time studying law and training for an Ironman triathlons, our next interview is with age grouper Caroline Gregory. Caroline has built a nice triathlon resume for herself; she went to Kona this year. Please take a moment to get to know Caroline.

KK: Caroline, please tell our readers a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?

CG: I grew up in a suburb of Detroit. Man things are just different back there... both good and bad! But considering this is directed at triathletes: I hate cold weather!!  But until I packed up my car and drove from Farmington Hills, MI to San Diego I didn't realize how great Midwest people are! I am very fortunate to have had the upbringing I did!

KK: What was your athletic background as a youth?

CG: I started swimming competitively when I was 5. I had an older brother and cousin that started swimming competitively, and I didn't want to be left out. My mom threw me into everything, but swimming was what took up 99% of my athletic upbringing. (There was a spat at synchronized swimming, equestrian show jumping, and gymnastics).  I swam year round through high school. Whenever I met someone I thought looked familiar, I assumed it must be from swimming.  I am pretty sure I've been to more swim practice sessions than days of school....well if you only count grade school through high school.

CG:I did run track in high school, and continued to run in college. But, like so many swimmers I fell victim to shin stress fractures.

KK: What is your academic background?

CG: I attended the greatest college on the planet: University of Michigan. I'll never forget the day I received that acceptance letter! I turned on the Michigan Marching band cd and called both my mom and dad at work. My older brother was there, and we grew up as huge Michigan fans. Being a wolverine was all the motivation I needed to study hard!

CG: I was going to college, and figured I'd join a sorority. My brother was against the idea and made me try out for the crew team (I opted to do both). I was one of about 40 selected for the novice team, 1 of 16 to make the varsity team the following year, and one of only 2 to stay with it through graduation. Being an athlete at that school is something I'll never forget!  We tried to make history and become the first women's NCAA championship team at UM. Sadly, we fell short by under 1second my senior year. It wasn't all fun and games! Being an athlete at a high profile school like UM was stressful, challenging, demanding....and AWESOME! It taught me how essential it is for me to have athletics in my life.

CG: Oh...back to academics. Ya I moved to San Diego for law school. Honestly, that wasn't the best 3 years of my life...so when asked about academics I try to revert back to the best 4 yrs of my life at UofM.

KK: What do you do for a living?

CG: Well I went to law school, survived law school, and then passed the awful California bar. I guess that makes me an attorney. Nah, I am one of the few young attorneys that actually enjoys the profession. It offers an environment for me to constantly learn and challenge myself. Sometimes I wish I didn't have the requirement to meet hourly billing requirement (oh wait, that's all the time!) but I do enjoy my profession. I hope I can use my education to better the society that I live in. I am fortunate to have been able to pursue this career path, and now hope I can use my knowledge to do good.

KK: How did you get involved with the sport of triathlon?

CG: Revert back to my talk about running and stress fractures. I stopped counting at 15. After college I ran the Chicago marathon, but running every day isn't possible for me. I always wanted to do an Ironman. When I was in college I dreamed of being able to workout for 8 hours a day. I loved pushing my body to the limit. My senior year of college I remember my older brother calling to tell me he was going to do Ironman Switzerland. "No fair" I thought, I want to. But I just didn't think I could afford a bike.

CG: Tom Demerly, owner of BikeSport in MI, put me in touch with Sheila Taormina. At that time she had two Olympics under her belt (swimming and tri). She convinced me that I didn't have to spend a fortune on a bike, and convinced me to attend her masters swim team. I was instantly hooked. Three months later I did a half-ironman, and signed up for Ironman Coeur d'Alene the following year.

KK: What was your first Ironman race? How was that experience?

CG: IMCDA in its inaugural year, 2003.  Well the experience can be summed up in one word: grueling! It was about 115 degrees that day. Everyone was melting, and the pro's were dropping out like flies. I wanted to try to qualify for Kona before turning 25 and leaving the 18-24 age group. Our age group only got one spot.  This hot little triathlete went flying by me on one of the climbs on the bike course. I knew I was out of first and started stressing. Soon later I suffered my first ever bike crash...into the side of a mountain. Broken helmet and it wasn't long until I knew I badly bruised or fractured a rib. The heat and the pain were not fun, but I wanted to become an Ironman, so I fought on.  Little did I know that the girl that went flying by would soon be a good friend of mine: Katya Meyers. I'll never forget crossing the finish line in CDA and hope to return to do that race again.

KK: Tell us about your 2008 Honu 70.3 experience.

CG: I had never been to the Big Island. I said I wouldn't go until I was going for the Big Dance in October. I had heard such great things about this race, so opted to go with a friend that had been over there several times for Kona. Honestly, the race itself was not good at all! I had an awful swim, was sluggish on the bike, and didn't attack the run hard enough. I knew I was in better shape than the race displayed, so I went online that night and registered for Buffalo Springs. Now that I'd seen the home of Ironman I had to get back to Kona!

KK: I understand you then wanted to go Buffalo Springs to try to qualify for Kona, but suffered a bike accident just before the race?

CG: Yes, after racing in Honu I focused on higher intensity, lower volume training. Two weeks after Honu I was shocked to feel that my fitness level was at an all time high. It proves, that racing is really the best training. I was so excited to race at Buffalo Springs. I had all the motivation I needed to get my Kona slot! I was hungry and no one was going to take it from me.... Or so I thought!

CG: While out for a very easy spin the weekend before BS a car turned left in front of me. I was thrown head first into the side of the SUV at about 20mph. And then the car sped off and left me lying in the middle of the road. I was hysterical. In the best shape of my life, lying in the road, yelling in pain and fearing my bike was damaged.

CG: I knew I had to start the anti-inflammatory process. Instead of going in the ambulance I had a friend deliver me to an ice bath. I figured I had a concussion, and something was really messed up in my left knee and shoulder. Turns out is was bad bone bruising. I couldn't walk, bike, or swim all week. Each day was a lot better, but I just lied with frozen peas on my body day after day. I couldn't accept that I wasn't going to race. Some told me to forget about it, I'd get another shot.

CG: My decision: if someone wants to beat me, fine let them go to Kona. But I am not letting this awful excuse for a human being that can hit a cyclist and leave them in the road, take it. The race was the largest athletic challenge of my life.  You asked: how did I recover so quick? One answer: mental strength!

CG: I probably shouldn't have raced! The day before I could only move the pedals for 30mins. But I sucked it up, and dealt wit the pain. I ran a half marathon PR. It's that great thing we call "race day magic." I think I earned that spot .

KK: I have noticed that you race the long course events. How does your body handle all the distance throughout the season?

CG: I have always been more of an endurance athlete: long distance freestyle, rowing, and long distance running. I didn't get into the sport to do sprint's or Olympic distance tri's (actually I've never done a sprint. I may try one this year). I guess I always wanted to do an Ironman. I hardly had my bike before I was signed up for a half ironman back in MI. The competition was nothing like it is in CA, but I finished top 10 overall. I was hooked.  My favorite distance is half ironman.  You can do more a season, the training fits into my career life better, and recovery is faster. It has taken me years to learn how to race that distance, and I'm still learning how to conquer the Ironman distance!

CG: My body handles the volume of distance training and racing better each year. However, my body actually doesn't deal all that "well" with high volume training. I am quite injury prone (knock on wood), and couldn't make it without ice baths, arnica cream, foam roller, The Stick, foot rubs, my muscle stim machine, and my amazing therapists! (Yes, during high volume weeks my family room looks like a physical therapy office). I go to Brian Kildow for A.R.T. almost every week.  If I take a week off I pay for it!

KK: Describe to us what it was like competing in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Do you want to go back?

CG: A dream come true!  Those who watched me cross the line said I looked like I won the thing. Not even close, but I sure did enjoy it! Even when things got tough! Getting to that race was quite a challenge! Now it was time to embrace the experience and enjoy the race. I, like so many, have watched the race on tv year after year, and never thought I'd be part of the race.  A year ago I committed myself to making that dream come true, and now realize half the battle is believing you can do it.

CG: I have never felt so humbled! No athletic venue compares: not even a Big Ten title, or NCAA championship!  I was out on the course with so many amazing athletes and people. It was the first time I've done an Ironman with that many friends racing. I am lucky to train and be friends with such great athletes. To race with them on that course, on that day, is something I'll never ever forget!

CG: I was not nearly as obsessed with getting back to Kona this year.  I did return to Buffalo Springs this year. The winner of our age group already had her slot, so it rolled on to me. I couldn't say no. I have several things to work out to make this trip possible this year, but really hope it works out. I'll find a way.

KK: Did your family and friends make the trip out to Kona with you last year?

CG: Yes! It made the experience!!! Actually my parents and brother were all going to make the trip. My brother also does triathlons, and has done IM Switzerland and France. I think he was more excited about Kona than I was. He was at my first Ironman, and there isn't a better race day supporter than him! He gets so into it, and just loves Ironman! A month before the race he got a call asking him to navigate a boat for the Volvo Around the World Sailing race. This was a dream of his. And can you believe it... the race would start on the same day as Ironman. The night before we talked on the phone and wished each other good luck. As I fulfilled my dream of running down the Queen K I looked out into the ocean and thought of him fulfilling his.

CG: My parents never missed a swim meet or rowing regatta. However they hadn't been to a triathlon since most of my racing out in CA. Honestly, I can't put into words what it meant to me that they were there! The experience wouldn't have been even close to as meaningful if they weren't there to share it!!!  And I am excited to have qualified again this year so my brother can take in the IMWC experience. He'll love it!

KK: How did you prepare for Kona? Was it different than your preparation for your other races?

CG: Luckily, I had great coaches for the previous Ironman's I've done. I learned SO much from them, and tried to change my training according to my current increased fitness. However I wouldn't have been able to do it without the constant feedback and amazing guidance from Roch Frey and Terry Martin!

CG: I think training for Kona is an entirely different preparation. Every run and every bike is motivated with the knowledge that soon you will be on Alli Drive...as part of the Ironman World Championships! I don't know if much was the same in terms of training. The entire process was just so different than any other training or racing experience of mine!

KK: If you would, what are some tips that you would give to someone starting off in triathlon?

CG: Remember why you want get into the sport. It's about fun and fitness! The San Diego community can be quite intense. But remembering that we're all out there just trying to do the best WE can is what is important!

CG: Oh and it isn't just about swimming, biking, and running. There is a fourth component: nutrition! Make sure to improve and perfect all 4.

KK: What are some of your goals for 2009?

CG: I don't know why, but I keep a lot of my goals personal.  Yes, I would love to make it back to Kona, but it isn't everything.  I want to just keep improving. If I can improve on last year I will be quite happy.

KK: What else would you like to share with our readers?

CG: The greatest aspect of triathlon is the people. My whole life I've been an athlete. I don't know how I could ever live a one dimensional life. I try to excel intellectually and physically. I find that those I respect and admire most do the same.  Therefore, I feel very fortunate to have fallen in love with this sport. I'm convinced that it features some of the best people in all of sport!

 

 

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