Kim Tuck, W30-34

phoenix, arizona

 How long have you been competing in multi-sport races? My first race was in 2004.

What is your favorite product available at TriSports.com? Kaiman Jr. Swim Goggles

How did you get your start in Triathlons?  moved from Waterloo, Ontario to Dallas, Texas and was looking to make some friends that had something in common with me.  I was not really into running, cycling or swimming, but it seemed like a good activity that I could do to hang out with this group of nice people I had met at the gym.   I could barely keep up with them running in the beginning and they all felt so badly for me. I kept trying harder and harder because I really enjoyed these friends and wanted to keep up.  In a short time I got the nickname “monstruito” which is Spanish for “little monster” because I improved my speed very quickly to be able to keep up with even the fast guys in the group. The group shortly after started cycling. Everyone had fancy road bikes and I had my old mountain bike that I used to get me to and from school when I was in university.  I did well to keep up with them on my mountain bike. I actually had no idea how much easier it is to ride a road bike than my old mountain bike. I assumed it was natural to pedal super hard and figured everyone else was obviously working as hard as me while we were riding.  I never really questioned why I was in a puddle of sweat at the end of the rides and everyone else looked dry.  I assumed being the Canadian I was not acclimatized to the warmer weather.  By the time I bought a time trial bike I was so surprised at the difference in resistance. I joined the OAS group in the Plano Bicycling Association and began cycling with a group that really taught me how to ride hard. My gym group then also got into swimming, but this was at a different gym, so I paid the extra money to join the other club where there was a pool. I really didn’t want to be left out and was glad they kept inviting me to workout with them all the time.  One of the guy’s in the group is an amazing swimmer and after he gave me some guidance my swimming improved tremendously.  We all were quickly becoming very good friends since we spent time together almost every morning.  We shared many aspects of our lives together.

What is your favorite workout? My favorite workout is running in the cool clean air in Thunder Bay in July enjoying the scenery of the trees and clouds and hearing the birds. It’s very peaceful and a huge change of scenery from Phoenix. I get oxygen overload from all the trees!

“When I’m not training/racing, I enjoy reading a good book, traveling to see family and friends and relaxing to watch a good movie.

If you could train for a week with one other triathlete who would it be and why? I would train with any one of my best friends’ who I met at the Bally’s gym in Richardson, Texas.  I miss the camaraderie, the funny stories we’d share, the adventures we went on and all the crazy challenging workouts that we did together from running in the dark through a cob webby forest area in Galatyn Park to running bleachers at the track until I couldn’t walk the next day my calves were like solid rocks, all the races we did together, the funny stories while running in the dark. If you’ve never tried to run while laughing it’s really tough.   Somehow all that hard work and sweat can really bond you together and it makes it so motivating and fun!

If you could do any triathlon in the World (regardless of monetary restrictions) which one would you do? I would probably want to do an Olympic distance or Half Ironman race with friends over in Australia or perhaps in Europe, a place I’ve never been to, but that I’ve always wanted to go.

Describe your biggest race disaster. Fortunately I haven’t had any races that I’d call a disaster, but I’ve been in a race where I got totally disoriented in the water from the sun and swam out way too far in the wrong direction and had the lifeguard come over to me and point in the direction that I should be going. I had swam for about 5 minutes in the opposite direction that I needed to be going. I’ve also blown my legs up to the point where I couldn’t run very well. I felt like I’d been hit in the thighs with a sledgehammer.

Do you have a non-negotiable pre-race ritual? I try to make sure I have everything I need organized and ready. There’s a lot of equipment for 3 events.

What culinary indulgence do you allow yourself after a big race (that you don’t normally partake of)?  I don’t do anything special.

Have you ever accidentally destroyed a very expensive piece of gear? (For example, have you driven into the garage with a bike on the roof, run over race wheels, etc.) Fortunately No.

What is the worst job you’ve ever had? Either tree planting in the cold rain until my hands wouldn’t open, or dealing with the cold while delivering the huge newspapers on the weekends as a kid in the winter time having my hands freeze. Fortunately Arizona is nice and warm all the time, so these experiences are now only memories.

What adjective describes you best? Determined

Finally, do you have any advice for athletes new to multi-sport competition? Don’t let yourself get too competitive that you forget about the real reason why you love triathlon—that it’s a lot of FUN! Be really happy that you are capable to be a triathlete.  Always try your best, whatever that might be.  You will feel good if you know you did your best regardless of how others do.