Why are we profiling Dr. Christy Keeler this month?  Because of her infectious smile, her contagious positive attitude, her sense of humor, her big heart, and… she’s full of surprises!  (You didn’t know she is a Ph.D., did you?)  And regarding the ‘sense of humor and big heart’ comment, when asked if she has any odd nicknames, she responded “Organ Donor.”

Excuse me?

“Yeah, My mom received a lung transplant.  Make sure you keep my heart beating long enough for medical personnel to harvest my organs before I die.”  “But be sure to stop my Garmin before you put me in the ambulance.  I don’t want to cheat on my mileage.”  Big heart and a sense of humor!

Christy discovered triathlon when running kept getting her injured. (Sound familiar?)  She figured that swimming and cycling would provide the cross-training that would help her recover, and in the process discovered that she was a better swimmer and cyclist than runner, and also realized that “Hey, I’m training for triathlons!

Christy did her first triathlon, the IronGirl Sprint, in 56 degree water without a wetsuit, establishing her “tough as nails” credentials.  But even after that chilly start to her career, she was hooked.  She then did an Olympic distance, then a half, then a full.  She missed the bike cutoff in her first Ironman race by seven minutes, which she raced even though it was only six months after surgery for a broken leg!  But she immediately registered for another Ironman and finished that one, the first of eight full Ironman distance races.

Christy prefers full distance races because “I’m far too slow to complete in shorter races and too cheap to pay for lots of shorter races.”  Her favorites are the HITS long course races, as they are smaller and more intimate, but does like the spectacle of the Ironman branded races because “There’s nothing like running through that finishing chute!” and she would like to go to Kona one day as a legacy athlete.

Regarding training and racing tips, Christy says, “Have fun. When racing, don’t worry about your pace, except to ensure you make the cut-off times. You don’t have to go fast if you don’t care about winning. Instead, smile, thank the volunteers, encourage your competitors, and thank and give high-fives to spectators.

Christy’s goals in multisport are to keep healthy and have fun. She points out that “to complete the 140.6 distance, you just have to average 13.5 mph on the bike and 15-minute miles on the run to make the cut-offs, and that’s doable.”

A great perspective and a great attitude from one of our great Tri Club members!

This month’s Member Profile focuses on one of our most consistent triathletes, Naomi Hermina, who completed all three of our Club Triathlons in 2018.

Naomi’s triathlon journey shows how far she’s come in a very short amount of time. She caught the triathlon bug when she was riding a single-speed bike with friends in 2013 and together decided to do a triathlon. She did a Sprint, then did an Olympic, then jumped right into a Ironman 70.3 in Puerto Rico in 2015. Her most recent race was the tough St. George 70.3 on May 4th.

Naomi likes the local races the best, as she gets to know new training partners and meet new friends. When asked about her best races, she says, “Crossing the finish line is always good!” This is being quite humble, as she finished 4th in her age group in her very first triathlon and finished 2nd in her first Oly.

Naomi is wise beyond her years. When asked about her training and racing tips, she answered, “Listen to your body and have plenty of fun.” She also recommends that we seek professional help, whether it be a coach, nutritionist, or experienced friends already in the sport.

Naomi likes new rides but says that her favorite ride is in Puerto Rico along the north coast, because of “the fresh air and the sound of the waves.”

When she’s not training, Naomi enjoys abstract painting and is a Landscape Designer for Gothic Landscaping.

When asked about her “Why”, Naomi says “Personal achievement. I love the adrenaline and the challenge of completing these events. It also gives me a motive to keep improving myself and staying on track.”

Naomi, it is wonderful having you in the club. Best of luck to you in your future races!

Nickname: Rodo!

How did you get started in multi-sport?

I always loved sports. But when I was a kid I saw a race back in Argentina. I always wanted to do one.

What is your triathlon/multisport history?

I did the Las Vegas Triathlon in 2012.  Since then I have done a lot of the BBSC races, most of them Sprints and Olympics.

What is your favorite triathlon/duathlon/multisport event and why.

I love Las Vegas Tri club races cause it is easier to see where everybody else is.  It helps with the racing experience. In some of the biggest races, you don’t really know who is ahead or behind you. Even though we know at the end of the day, we all are racing against ourselves. I really enjoy the friendly competition that the tri club races bring, especially because there is such a fast field in those races.

What has been your best athletic performance? Or the one you’re most proud of? Any PRs you’re especially proud of?

My first and only half Ironman was Arizona 70.3 in 2016. I did it in a 5:09 hours. My goal was to break 5:30 that year. After T2, I couldn’t believe how much time I had left to break 5:30.

What are the training or racing tips, tricks, or “aha” moments that have made the biggest impact on your swimming, biking, and running performance?

Learn how to listen to your body. I know we hear this all the time but it is SO hard to be honest with yourself. Do you feel down, or that you haven’t recovered from the last workout?  If so, go easy – it is not worth it to hit those intervals.  On the other hand – are you really feeling down or are you just making excuses to not hit those hills repeat? Find the balance between these.  Leave your ego on the side but at the same time don’t be sorry for yourself every session.

What lesson(s) have you learned that you could impart on the rest of us to save us from learning what you learned the hard way?

Unfortunately, in my first years. I didn’t have a lot of guidance, so I kinda learned a lot of things by making mistakes. I highly recommend getting a coach to help with training and nutrition or getting a training program. There are so many little details that can improve your race and training experience, especially in swimming.  If you are just getting into triathlons and you don’t have a swimming background, getting a coach can save you from picking a lot of bad habits, which after so many hours of training are hard to get rid of.

What is your favorite ride or rides, and why?

I love to ride red Rock loop. My epic ride is 3 loops. 1st low cadence, 2nd high cadence, 3rd survival!

Tell us one thing about yourself that we wouldn’t have guessed.

I’m a flair Bartender (you know – one of those guys flipping the bottles). Back in my 20s I use to do all the big flair bartender competitions. In 2005 I won a world championship here in Vegas. That’s why I moved to the USA.

Lastly, and most importantly – what is your “why?”  Why do you train and race triathlon or multisport? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

I love the lifestyle behind triathlons. It’s the kind of lifestyle I want around my kid and family. I also love the transformations around triathlons. Is not about getting stronger-faster, it’s about the person you have to become to get stronger-faster.