For all my success, the toll of training as a high-performance athlete, working full time and trying to maintain a marriage really got to me. I was always tired and sore from training. I was completely distracted at work with triathlon and not really enjoying my job.

My commitment to sport has definitely had a profound impact on all of my relationships. It was likely a big part of the tearing apart of my first marriage. That said, it’s not actually something I regret in the least as it really wasn’t the best fit for either of us. Along the same lines, sport introduced me to the incredible man I now share my life with. He’s also a very committed and strong athlete and coach. I believe for a professional athlete to truly be successful they need partners around them who understand what it takes, and accept wholeheartedly the journey, time and commitment it takes to be at the top of the sport.

During my own personal transition, I discovered a fascinating health care profession in genetic counselling and went back to school for another Master’s degree. I decided to take my training down to just one sport and raced bikes for a local team. 18 months later I was a graduated genetic counsellor, completely burnt out from the intense study, and in the process of ending my marriage. I decided to take the summer off for some “me” time before finding a job in my new career. My cycling coach Bjoern Ossenbrink suggested I try this Half Ironman distance triathlon thing, so I got back into the pool and hit the trails and track for some runs. I really didn’t know what to expect for my first race at this distance, but I certainly didn’t expect to win the race by a whopping 24 minutes and post a time that would have put me in the top-10 in the professional field of the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. So at age 32, I decided if I was going to take the risk of professional athletics, it was now or never!

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