Race of the Week
Lifetime Fitness
This week, take it easy and run a little 5K/1M run at White Rock that starts at Winfrey Point. The Whataburger Dash for Dignity benefits Citizens Development Center, which helps adults with mental, physical and developmental disabilities find work. Online registration is closed, but you can register at Run On! or on race day.
However, the real Race of the Week is one you would have been training for - the Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon at Joe Pool Lake and Reunion Arena. I had the chance to talk with Emma Snowsill (right), one of the world's top triathletes. Here's what she had to say about her sport:
Q: What’s your favorite sport of the three?
A: I’d have to say probably swimming is the most familiar, so that’s what’s most comfortable. That’s what I’ve grown up doing. I like all three — that’s the beauty of what we do.
Q: You recently talked to students at a Dallas elementary school. What do you tell kids?
A: Just the fact that [you need to be] active and healthy. With the increasing amount of child obesity, you need to be educated from a young age. When I was young you learned those things. I think in this day and age, there are so many distractions and deterrents from learning about those basic issues. … It’s obviously a passion of mine and it’s a job that I enjoy.
Q: What music do you listen to when you train?
A: I guess a good one to go off of is AC/DC. I like to listen to things you don’t necessarily hear or know the words to. Something loud that’s got some aggression to it, fast-paced.
Q: Are you dating anyone, here or back home?
A: My partner [Craig Walton]. He’s a pro triathlete as well. He’ll be racing in Dallas. We’ve been together four years.
Q: Are you friends with any of your competitors, and do you train with anyone?
A: Yeah, Craig obviously. It’s great to have somebody who understands what you do and how you feel. Back in Australia I have another friend who races for Great Britain. We’re competitors, but extremely good friends as well. You know when racing’s racing and how to turn that switch off, become normal friends, talk about anything but triathlon.
Q: If you weren’t a triathlete, what would you be doing instead?
A: Definitely something not inside or sitting down or anything like that. I think professional surfing would be pretty cool. I’m no good at it whatsoever, but it sounds great, doesn’t it?
Q: Do you ever get nervous before an event?
A: Everyone gets nervous to some degree, it’s how you harness it. … I think you just have to look at it when race day comes, once you’re on that starting line, there’s nothing you can change now. That’s the attitude I take into races now.
Q: What do you love about this sport?
A: I’ve always wanted to achieve at the highest level. Once I found triathlon, the same has applied but the diversity of the three disciplines — there’s always this balancing act to get all three going at one time. In some respects it’s really fun and part of the challenge, but it feels like there’s that dangling carrot you’re not always quite getting, and I enjoy that challenge.
Q: Do you have any good luck charms or superstitions?
A: I always race with this pair of gold Mickey Mouse earrings. They were given to me by one of my first triathlon coaches, a great mentor who taught me a lot of great things. It always reminds you of where you’ve come from.
Q: What are your chances Sunday?
A: To be honest, I really don’t know. I’ve been sick, so it’s definitely not the time I would like to encounter sickness, but like I said, I just have to deal with it and do what I can with what I’ve got.
