A:  Christine McKnight, Gansevoort, N.Y., which is just outside of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

A:  66

A:  I retired eight years ago from the University at Albany, State University of New York, where I worked 25 years in public relations and publications. I currently have a seasonal, very part-time position at a bicycle shop in Saratoga Springs called Blue Sky Bicycles. I am the shop's resident "triathlon" expert.

A:  I completed my first triathlon 16 years ago, at the age of 50.

A:  This is my fifth season with Kevin, and the relationship has yielded big dividends for me.

A:  It's a tie between the Fronhofer Tool Triathlon and the Lake George Triathlon (in both cases, the Olympic races). They are both locally organized and superbly managed by individuals who are triathletes themselves, and they just have a nice "hometown" flavor to them. The venues are unique, and the courses offer beautiful settings.

A:  My Trek 9-5 Speed Concept racing bike, with Cycle Ops Power Tap

A:  Kevin has helped me achieve a number of goals and dreams since we started working together in triathlon. They include:
2010, 2011, 2012: Top 10 age group finishes at USAT National Age Group Championships
2011: Finally cracked three hours in an Olympic distance triathlon, the Fronhofer Tool Triathlon – and at the age of 63
2012: Completed my first-ever Ironman, at age 64, in Lake Placid
2013: Qualified for the Ironman World Championships, held in Kona, Hawaii last October, by posting a personal-best 70.3 race time at 2013 Eagleman 70.3.
2014: In June of this year, returned to Eagleman and won my age group to claim a berth in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, which will be held Sept. 7 in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Also qualified for a Kona slot again this year, but declined. (Hey, you can't go to Kona every year!)

A:  Crossing the finish line on Ali'I Drive, to the cheers of the crowds, after a long day battling the wind and the heat, and realizing that I had achieved something that most triathletes only dream of. Was I happy!

A:  First, to qualify for, and compete in the70.3 World Championships in Mont Tremblant. At Tremblant, I am certainly going to enjoy the moment, but I also want to perform well against my age-group competitors on this international stage. My second goal is to return to my roots as an Olympic-distance and sprint triathlete, and race well as a veteran at races where I first "learned the ropes" of this demanding and rewarding sport. I still think I have a few more personal best efforts in me, although those times have eluded me so far this season.

A:  First, to continue to live the triathlete's lifestyle, which embraces self-discipline, focus, perseverance, and a belief that you can accomplish almost anything that you set your mind to. Second, assuming I stay healthy and continue to perform well, I think it would be rewarding to try for another Kona slot when I age up to the 70-74 age group in three years. That would be making a statement!

A:  Fresh salad greens, steel cut oatmeal, fresh salmon (at least once a week).

A:  Some of my favorite artists are Tina Turner, Pointer Sisters, Dixie Chicks, Billy Joel, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Motown greats like Diana Ross and the Supremes. More generally, I'm very ecumenical in my music tastes, which range from jazz to classical to bluegrass.

A:  It can mean the difference between winning and losing! As an example, at the Eagleman last June 8, I won my age group by about two minutes. My transition times totaled about four minutes, the fastest of all of the women in my age group. The second-place finisher took almost twice as long as I did in transition, even though she was much faster on the run. If she had been able to match my transition times, she would probably have been able to catch me late in the race for the win. The lesson: practice those transitions!

A:  Keep training, stay focused, and don't give up. Cultivate friendships with other triathletes. Remember to say thanks to those who have helped you. Remain gracious and steady under pressure. If you take yourself seriously, get a coach.

A:  Strength train, strength train, strength train! Take nutrition seriously.

A:  Here's one of my favorites as I was preparing for Eagleman this year. It got me ready for long stretches of flat terrain in the aero position:

Medium-Long Brick:

Training on West River Road:

5 miles warm-up. Get HR up a little.

20 miles consistent POWER (90-100)

10 miles with goal of Higher Power (110wts)

5 miles best effort (Over 110)

5 mile c/d

Run 1 mile at 10' mile pace. 30 sec speed walk. 1 mile run at 10:30 pace.

A:  The most successful triathletes, I have found, all have one thing in common: they have created an environment in which they can train and flourish in their sport. How do they do this? They make choices to give themselves an advantage over the competition. They set priorities and think carefully about their goals. They keep their lives simple, focused and balanced. They gives themselves plenty of rest and time for recovery between hard workouts. They have healthy eating habits. They take advantage of technology (such as Garmins) to measure their progress. They seek out expert help, such as coaches, strength trainers, nutritionists, massage therapists. They're well organized and pay attention to details. This is what it means to be a triathlete.