Name: Linda Hawkins

When you started in TRIgirl: April 2008 .

Why you TRIgirl:
ISports/exercise have always been a major part of my life. I was a collegiate athlete participating as a synchronized swimmer for the University of Florida (UF) team during my college years. And believe it or not I played rugby for UF as well in intramural sports – I consider myself pretty tough and quite competitive! I moved to Richmond a few years after college graduation and joined a coed volleyball team and a women's soccer team. I thoroughly enjoyed the team camaraderie/competition and was in the best physical condition of my life when one unfortunate Saturday I was injured playing soccer, my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) was severed – that was a life-changing event. In those days there really wasn't a method to repair the damage so I had to adjust my physical activity, especially sports that required planting the foot and pivoting – soccer was definitely out. Some twenty years later I had my severed ACL repaired/replaced by cadaver tissue; the repair was fantastic and again life changing. I was now ready to try something different and one day I read an article in a woman's health magazine that I found intriguing about the benefits of cross-training and suggested triathlon training for women of all ages. I purchased a book about the sport and I felt somewhat overwhelmed to begin such an endeavor on my own. My apprehension didn't last long for as fate or just blind luck determined I came upon Grandison's flyer in the library about Triathlon Training for women. I attended one of her informational session and was so intrigued I joined on the spot. I liked the idea of training with a team of women and having coaches to help me along the way. Being able to have a daily plan has been extremely helpful as it provides me the opportunity to structure my day to include training, ensuring that I get a workout in. Structured training further enables me to set metrics and log my workout results giving me first hand feedback on my progress and insight into areas that require additional focus for development. Seeing the improvements that I have made in just a few short months really helps keep me motivated. I have also benefited from the individual technique recommendations the coaches have made as these have helped improve my overall performance as well.

Your family (or with whom do you reside?):
My husband Michael and I celebrated our 27 th wedding anniversary this August – WOW! We have two wonderful daughters, Elizabeth, 18 and Charlotte, 15. My husband calls himself my Equipment Man as he makes sure everything is in order and ready to go for the training sessions and events. I must say that my whole family turned out for the Power Sprint that I completed in June and it was heart warming to be able to hear my husband and daughters cheering me on at every stage of the event. It truly was a memorable time for me. I am very fortunate that they are so supportive.

What do you do for work?
I have a pretty busy job. My education is in chemical engineering and I am responsible for directing a team of engineers and graphic specialists in the design and commercialization of packaging and machinery for Altria Client Services. It really is a great job and I couldn't ask for one that is a better match for my skill sets!

The best meal you cook:
Lasagna and New York style cheesecake (really delicious) coupled with a bottle of Angeline Cabernet Sauvignon wine. These are frequently requested favorites of our family and friends!

Something you have accomplished in your life that you thought you could/would have not been able to do (not triathlon):
My family and I undertook the sport of Tae Kwon Do and after several years of hard work and commitment all four of us achieved the rank of black belt. It was a very positive experience as each of had to master the mental, academic and physical aspects of the training. This was a sport that I learned a lot from our children as they were able to more quickly absorb the complicated movements and were able to teach them to my husband and me so we could progress together. It was truly a huge accomplishment to progress with my family through the many levels of Tae Kwon Do training required for black belt status.

Favorite thought:
“Applying one extra degree of temperature to water means the difference between something that is simply very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machine – a beautifully uncomplicated metaphor that ideally should feed our every endeavor – consistently pushing us to make the extra effort in every task, action and effort we undertake.”