FEATURES
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Sheila Taormina (pronounced
Tar-meena), 39, is already making history even before competing at the
2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing for which she has qualified in pentathlon. She
is the only woman in Olympic history to qualify for the Olympic Games in three
different sports. In 1996, she competed as a swimmer winning a gold medal in the 800m freestyle relay. Then in
2000 (6th place finish) and 2004 (23rd place), she
competed in triathlon. Now, in 2008, she will compete in the unique sport of
pentathlon that is comprised of five disciplines: running, swimming, shooting,
fencing and equestrian.
It wasn’t the footbaths and free massages that set the GORE-TEX TransRockies Run apart from other endurance events. It wasn’t the complimentary Timex watches handed out at the finish or even the semi trailer full of hot showers at the end of the five days of competition. But it was the hot chocolate and marshmallows served around a roaring campfire, to the accompaniment of an acoustic guitar.
photos by Dan Hudson, Courtesy TransRockies
When the publishers of Competitor Magazine told me that, along with “Off-Road”, there was an “Organic” theme slated for the August issue, I had to really think about what topics we could cover and what exactly organic is. My idea was to focus on companies in Texas that produce organic foods or products and to let the readers know more about these companies that are in our own backyard. Companies such as Sweet Leaf Tea, Chomp! Cookies, SOS from Texas T-shirts and a few others made the list.
With everything on the line, Hunter Kemper came up HUGE.
Hills. Heat. Injuries. Bad nutritional decisions. Flat tires. Getting old. Tough competition. There are plenty of things that stand between you and your arrival at the finish line. But there’s a silent, invisible foe that most of us don’t think about. And it could prove to be your biggest challenge ever.
Former Xterra World Champ Jamie Whitmore continues as the eternal optimist as she fights to regain her life and active lifestyle following the discovery and removal of a cancerous tumor.
Olya Perevalova has come a long way from her humble life in Russia. Now, the amateur marathoner is aiming for a goal she never thought she'd reach, the U.S. women's Olympic team.
David Bailey and Ricky James are side-by-side and the wind is howling. They are on their handcycles and both of these athletes certainly understand the ups and downs of life more than most.
When women come together for sport, great things can happen.