Congratulations to Colleen Dolan, June's T3 Athlete of the Month! Although Colleen is fairly new to triathlon, she has embraced the lifestyle and treats every single workout as an opportunity to grow, both as an athlete and person. Her TrainingPeaks account reads like a sea of GREEN. Consistency and detail have become second nature to her. She has learned to remain process oriented throughout her training, doing a great job taking ownership of the things she can control, and adjusting well for bumps and curveballs thrown along the journey. Colleen has a fighting attitude and a tender demeanor, making her an absolute pleasure to coach! We’re looking forward to watching her surprise herself as she navigates through the 2017 tri season. Congratulations, Colleen. . .this honor is well deserved!

A:   Colleen Dolan-VanZandt; Athens, NY

A:   47

A:   Compliance Manager

A:   2 years

A:   5 months (Coach Fran)

A:   Tupper Lake Tinman is a great race, not too big but not too small. It is a fun day for friends and family who want to come out and support. The bike course is a beautiful ride through the Adirondacks. I would recommend it as a great race to introduce yourself into the sport.

A:   My Garmin heart monitor. It has really helped me improve my training and I have learned ways to control my blood sugar with monitoring my heart rate.

A:   Finishing a half marathon without any issues was a big turning point for me. It gave me the confidence to do a 70.3. Up until that point just finishing events was a struggle trying to keep my Type1 diabetes under control. Then finishing the Tinman and having my son run me across the line, still brings tears to my eyes!!!!

A:   To finish Ironman Lake Placid

A:   To continue training with my family and just enjoying every opportunity we get to do this together, from kids races and relays, to the Black Fly Challenge, maybe even doing a bigger race all together.

A:   Eggs; pasta; beans

A:   I have a very wide variety. My go to favorite is Korn and Breaking Benjamin but there are days I want slower stuff

A:   Be flexible somedays things just don’t go the way you planned. Remember that is okay because every day we train we learn more about ourselves and our bodies and mind.

A:   When I have bad days or get overwhelmed I go back to a basic workout that just makes me feel good, it can be anything just to remind myself why I do this; just relax and enjoy.

A:   On a trainer - tempo rides and when on the road I love any long ride, I enjoy being out there. I am finding that I enjoy my “sweet spot” runs, I always feel a sense of accomplishment when finished.

A:   This sport is such a great way to build strength of mind and body. It really pushes you out of your comfort zone and at least for me has made me realize that I can do more than I ever thought. It is also something that can and should be shared with your family and friends. I am so enjoying this journey!!!!