I grew up in Nebraska and have always loved sports - soccer, volleyball, running, and swimming.  I also grew up a Huskers fan and wished that I could have played football too.  Swimming was my primary sport for all my younger years, and I specialized in butterfly and hated distance (very helpful in triathlons now).  I never ran seriously when younger, but I broke my elementary school record by running my mile in 5:58 in 6th grade and beat all the boys.  I wish I could beat all the boys now! In high school, I mostly focused on volleyball year round but swam and ran track during the high school season. Since my favorite sport was volleyball, naturally, I decided to play volleyball in college. 

So, I moved to sunny Florida to enjoy living by a beach, having lots of fun out at the dance clubs, and playing volleyball for the University of North Florida. Great years!  We dominated our conference all four years that I was the setter for the team. I didn't get in a pool or sprint more than 10 yds. at a time for 5 years.  I powerlifted alot and ate alot. Alongside my records for highest hitting percentage in a season and most assists in a 3 game match, I also still hold the UNF volleyball team record for most trips to the Southern Sizzlin' buffet bar. Due to my love for food, I needed to make sure to stay in shape and not get fat after college.  I decided to start swimming and running again, and naturally, I ended up doing triathlons because I missed the competition that I had all my life through volleyball and other organized sports. 

As mentioned above, I love food, so I am one of the unhealthiest eaters on the team. I shock most teammates when I try to convince them how delicious and wonderful Taco Bell and Papa Johns are.  And you might be shocked to find out how much I put down at the State Fair this year.  If you are interested, you can find out by reading the blog I wrote about it last year.  Anyway, this year, I have decided to combine my love for endurance competition and eating.  I am competing in the Krispy Kreme Challenge as well as the Doughman Quadrathlon.  The Krispy Kreme challenge will be a 2 mile run, a dozen donuts, and another 2 mile run.  The Doughman is the world’s premiere team relay quadrathlon combining triathlon and competitive eating. My team has proposed that I do the leg that requires 2.5 miles of running with a plate of cheesy-bacon fries in the middle plus a locopop and another mile run to the finish.

When I am not eating or training, I am a research scientist at Duke in the pulmonary division.  But, don’t you dare call me a Dookie!  Last year, I graduated from UNC with my PhD in genetics and molecular biology, so my blood runs Tarheel blu