Athletes
Valerie Gonzales
Age: 62
Occupation: University Lecturer in Statistical Snalysis
Valerie Gonzales is a triathlete who has been learning to swim, run and bike for the last 10 years. She has no notable previous athletic history other than be booted from ballet class, drummed off the drill team, and eased out of dance-type aerobics. Her primary injuries these days come from yoga. For the last 3 years, she has devoted her training to Ironman distance under the most awesome guidance of Melissa Spooner, with her swimming guided by the ever-tolerant Neil Harvey. She continues to be the slowest swimmer in the slowest lane; regardless, he still lets her come and paddle. The 2006 season was amazing! It was to be the season of optimum performance because Valerie was in a new age category (60-64). The goal was to have an injury-free race season while being the youngest in her age category (the primary reward for getting older. The injuries began in March and continued right into October at Hawaii Ironman. Oh well--life happens! :)
Despite the fact that most races were done with some part of her body extensively taped for the "injury of the month", the season saw...
- #1 Age group at UBC Olympic distance tri
- #3 Age group placing in the Island Race Series
- #1 Age group in Comox half-marathon, a PB in time and an Age group record.
- #1 Age group in Brazil Ironman; qualified for Hawaii ironman
- #1 Age group in Kelowna ITU Triathlon; qualified for Canadian National team
- #1 Age group in Landsend half-marathon &PB for time
- #9 Age group in Kona--Ironman world championships in the toughest race conditions she had ever faced
- Valerie's proudest accomplishments in all of that were tied between (a) the Age group record at the Comox 1/2 marathon and (b) seeing Brad (good friend & one of her bestest first coaches) be the overall male winner for the Landsend 1/2-marathon and having the overall female winner at the same race, Rochelle (a previous student in a course Valerie teaches at UVic) tell Valerie that seeing what she did inspired Rochelle to start running too!
Valerie is proud to be a part of the Frontrunners team because she shares the ideals promoted by Frontrunners--especially those of:
- Promoting healthy lifestyes for people of all ages,
- Supporting community outreach programmes (local and international),
- Fueling the passion for sports at all levels (i.e., the recreational athlete as well as the pro),
- Truly caring about the world we live in and acting on that care with groups like Runners of Compassion but also with acts to individuals and groups that people are often not as aware of, and,
- Walking the walk.
Valerie's goals for 2007 are to:
- Increase her opportunities to volunteer in local events because she loves watching others meet their goals,
- Do some local races becaiuse they are so much fun--and have the best post-race food,
- Do an easy 1/2 ironman or two (St Croix's "Beauty and the Beast" is on the agenda because at 18% grade bike ride sounds like fun),
- Try an event she has never done (snowshoe racing??)
- Continue to insist that if this old lady can do this stuff..anyone can--and should try!
- Stay healthy and keep having fun!
Quotes to live by:
- "You won't find peace by avoiding life." Virginia Woolf
- "What the world really needs is more love and less paper work." Pearl Bailey
- "Whatever you are, be a good one" Abraham Lincoln
|
-- F r i e n d s --
|
