Meet The Team: Ironman® Maryland 2014

Meet some of Team EN members competing at Ironman® Maryland 2014!

Patricia Rosen (F 60-64)

I live in Austin, Texas. I’ve been doing triathlons since 2001 but did my first Ironman in 2009.

My goal is to finish! have fun, and hopefully do well but I work so much that I’m going with the first goal listed.

Steve Swanlund (M 45-49)

I live in Washington State and have been at this Triathlon Game for 7 years. This will be my 5th Ironman and 2nd of the year. I finished Ironman Couer d’Alene in June with a disappointing time and have dubbed this race as my revenge race.

My training for the past 12 weeks has been the best of my tri career, so hoping for good things on saturday. My race rehearsals have all been Ironman PR’s.

I will joined in Cambridge by my wife- the number 1 tri-fan. and will be doing this race with my older brother who lives near the race course.

Looking forward to meeting those EN members that I haven’t race with yet. Good luck to all!

Catherine Jadot (F 35-39)

Born and raised in Belgium, I moved to the Caribbean about 10 years ago. I did my first tri (sprint) in the Bahamas in 2011, won my AG and got hooked immediately 🙂

IMMD will be my first full IM. I’m very excited and of course a little anxious; not only because it’s my first IM but also because I am coming back after a bad car accident in the Dominican Republic last May; had to fly home for surgery and this put me down for weeks, seriously impeding my training plans.

I’m used to swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, so the swim in the Choptank will be interesting… Got seriously off course when I did HIM Miami in 2012 and DSQ’ed myself in a Oly earlier this year because I missed a buoy turn (officials didn’t see it, I had to tell them…).

I have the best support team/fan club ever: my husband Michael! He will be cheering for me and all of you throughout the day!

Looking forward to meet some EN peeps!

Carol DeFazio (F 60-64)

From Little Silver, NJ. This is my 3rd IM (IMNY/NJ and Kona in 2012). This will be the first time my hubby (Turby Wright) and I will be doing the same Ironman:-) We originally were signed up for IMMT but when Maryland opened up, we decided to transfer.

I want to see what it’s like to race on a FLAT course. I don’t think it gets any flatter than this race! I really hope to PR, even though my training has been hit-and-miss with family obligations this summer.

It will be fun to see Turby and other ENers out there on the 3-loop run course!

Turby Wright (M 60-64)

From Little Silver, NJ. This is my 3rd Ironman (IMFL in 2011 and IMLP in 2012).

My wife and I are both doing this race, which is the first time we are in the same Ironman!

I am in a new age group this year, so I’m going to give it everything!! Looking forward to seeing everyone out there. I love this bike course and the run will be fun with the loops going through the residential areas with lots of spectators.

Best of luck to all the ENers – see you there!!

Paul Takac (M 45-49)

Hi my name is Paul Takac and I live in State College PA with my wife Regan and three kids (17, 12, and 9). I’m 49 years old and this will be my fourth IM, all with EN.
My goals this year are pretty modest. In the past 18 months I’ve dealt with Whooping Cough, a badly dislocated shoulder, and ongoing issues with plantar fasciitis in both feet. I’ve put on quite a bit of weight since my last race (LP 2013) and couldn’t even begin training until about 10 weeks ago.

My goal is to execute to the best of my ability (X/B1), take as much time as I need, and (as always) try to smile all day. I see the race as the reward for the training and so try to enjoy it as much as possible. Not to mention try to get my money’s worth in free Perform, gels, and flat Coke. 😉

I’m really looking forward to meeting and cheering on all the other EN’ers at the race – and chugging along on a flat bike course (something we don’t have much of here in Central Pennsylvania!).

James Barrett (M 50-54)

Hello Peeps..I have been with Endurance Nation since 2010 and love the comraderie it possesses. I love the sport of Ironman and will continue as long as this old body will let it lol.

I come from a running background in high school then moved on to Boxing and Martial arts for the last 20ish years but found my niche when i found EN — thanks guys.
I work for alarge retailer here in Las Vegas and Endurance Nation affords me the efficient training plans due to my regularly 12-14 hour days, have a wife who puts up with my crap (she needs a medal) and have 2 furry cat kids who keep smiles on our faces daily.  Looking forward to racing with my teammates in Maryland!