About
Who am I? Good question. I’m actually still trying to figure that out myself, but in the meantime this is what I KNOW about myself. I am an active triathlete/runner who is just discovering my potential. I LOVE cycling, running, swimming, rock climbing, yoga, and anything outdoors! I am an environmental scientist. I am also an indoor cycling instructor. My husband and I just moved from Germany after living there for the past 2 and 1/2 years. We are now in Spokane, WA.
I wasn’t always this athletic. When I got out of college, I signed myself up for half marathon in an effort to keep myself healthy when I started my engineering job. I found out later that it is actually one of the most difficult half/full marathons in the states—The Whiskey Row Half/Full Marathon. This is a pic of me right before I ran it!
We had to climb 1600 feet in the first 8 miles! Yikes!! It was soooo hard, and I thought that I was going to die, but I made it through! After I crossed the finish line, I broke down and started crying. I am sure that my friend who ran it with me thought I was a freak. 
I couldn’t believe that I pushed myself through the pain to accomplish running a half marathon. I was hooked after that.
Four years after finishing my first half marathon, I completed my first Ironman. The girl who no one wanted on their team in high school P.E. has come a long way. If I can accomplish all of this, so can YOU!
Why did I start this blog? Wanna know the history behind it? Click here.
This blog will consist of my adventures in triathlon training while chasing faster times. Oh yes, the good, the bad, the ugly…and the embarrassing. Ha!
Please feel free to comment on my posts or email me at geekturnedathlete@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments! I would love to hear what you all think!
Happy Running/Cycling/Swimming! 
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Nicole,
I LOVE your blog! You are totally an inspiration! I am not a runner but honestly after our talk at your house…every single time I think about not running I remember what you told me! Don’t know that I will be running a half marathon anytime soon but one day!!
Thanks! and keep blogging
Nicole, fantastic website! I am going to use your recipies because I need some variety and have no cleverness to put anything together myself.
Hey, I wanted to comment on your tapering week. I’m sure there are lots of techniques out there for tapering, but my coaches and training groups back in Hawaii always did the same…no matter if a sprint or olympic or half/full…so here’s something different for you in the future if you feel like trying a different technique. The intent of the taper is to keep your muscles moving but limit the endurance so as to not fatigue yourself…I’m convinced it’s also a mental issue…since you’ve been training so much you have a tendency to think you’re going to lose muscle, speed, endurance if you don’t work out two days in a row. Ha ha! So, limit the 30 min runs and 1 hour bike rides to about 5 days prior to the race. T-4, do some sprints, 100 meter dashes, but nothing long. Swim as much as you want since its a low-impact sport. T-3 light bikeride – spin only, no hills, 30 mins. T-2 do nothing. T-1 do a 10-10-10 which is 10 min swim, 10 min bike and 10 min run…need to do this to make sure everything is functioning properly. Carbs and a good night rest on T-2 and nothing new to eat / no alcohol the 2 days prior.
Thanks for writing in!!! Yeah, I could use all the help that I can get! What kinds (how long?) of races do you train for?
I loved reading your about me it is so great. I love the name of your blog too…so cute! can’t wait to keep reading! I have found so many amazing blogs lately it is going to be hard to read them all!
natalie
http://www.nono2yoyo.wordpress.com
I bet you cannot wait for your second wedding!! Funnily enough I just checked out your exercise schedule and the “wedding” was the first thing to pop out to me!! I’m such a girl!
Just wanted to say though, that I love how you incorporate many different workouts into your schedule… between yoga, running etc… keeps the body guessing!
Hi Nicole!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I loved reading your “about me” section, it was SO inspiring, you have accomplished so much and should be so proud of yourself!
I look forward to continuing to follow your blog!
xoxo Krissy
Great blog! You are super inspiring.
Great story! Can’t wait to read more!
Just found your blog! I can’t wait to read about what you have to say. I am so jealous that you live in Germany!! I lived in Würzburg this summer and fell in love with the country. My husband and I are looking to move there once I finish my degree. Good luck to you!
Germany is beautiful, isn’t it? I’m going to miss it when we leave!
I’m so glad I found another food blogger in Germany! I’m living in Bonn so if you ever fancy visiting the old capital, let me know; I can show you a few culinary delights in the area! Can’t wait to keep up with your blog!
Hello!
Just found your blog via Twitter. This is awesome! I’m excited to hear that you’re doing so much for yourself and to take care of your body. I don’t know where I’d be without my active lifestyle (hiking, biking, yoga, weights, climbing, snowboarding, and backpacking currently)
I look forward to reading your blog.
I’m so excited I found your blog! It looks like we have a lot in common. I’m looking forward to reading more.
just find your blog and your story is sooo inspirational! You’re so strong! I just started running, my first half is in four weeks… and I am liking everything about running now!!!
I’ll definitely learn a lot from you~~
Nicole,
I love your blog, its truly inspirational. As a former geek and current athlete, I think you’ll love to hear about Clean Bottle. We’d love for you to test out a sample and let your followers know if you like it. It conveniently unscrews at both ends for easy cleaning, is 100% non-toxic and 10% of profits go to charities. They’re only $10 and we also do a deal where you can buy 3 get 1 free at http://www.cleanbottle.com/buy. We got on the map with this hilarious stunt http://www.versus.com/cycling/videos/david-mayer-on-clean-bottle-with-robbie-ventura—stage-18/ and are now in about 500 stores.
Let us know if you’d like a bottle and we’ll get it out to you write away. Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Andrew
Inspiring story . I like your blog
Hi Nicole, I actually thought I had already commented here … (Well, not. Gotta change that.
) Thank you so much for sharing your story, it’s awesome how you turned yourself into an athlete like that! I live in Germany, so it’s funny to read you also have. Where in Germany have you lived?
Kath (My Funny Little Life) recently posted..Almond and Plum Cupcakes
near Kaiserslautern in a village called Steinwenden. Beautiful area!!
hi there! u r such an inspiration and i love ur blog and admire ur way.. i do exercise (walk/swim/dance-yeah i dance my ass off heheh/boxercise/tae-bo…etc) but i still can’t run a whole lot.. i do interval trainings on the treadmill (walk for 5 mins and run for 3 kinda thing..) but a whole 5K or more… hopefully one day…keep posting X oh and u r so organized im jealous hehe
Hey!
Just found you. There aren’t too many of us Washingtonians in the fitness blog world!
(I’m on the other side, tho…) I also love Germany and would love to spend more than the week here, week there that I have in the past…
Bis bald!
Brooke recently posted..Bimonthly Webtacular Wrap-up- Healthy Habits
OMG! I just found your blog through ‘Beth’s Journey’ and I’m totally psyched that you’re in Spokane! I’m in Pullman going to WSU for grad school! I’m doing the Mountain Goat Challenge in Spokane on June 4. Are you? I’d love to chat it up with you sometime.
In the mean time, I will go read your blog!
Just found your blog through the blogosphere, but I look forward to following!
Where in Germany did you live?
Monika @ Powered by Paprika recently posted..Introductions
Welcome!
We lived near Kaiserslautern. 
I just found your blog and it looks great! It’s always fun to find inspirational people that are passionate about what they do.
I’m happy to start following you on your journey.
Welcome.
Thank you!
I am so thrilled I found this blog today. Like you, I was always that girl who nobody ever wanted on their team in school. I am a self confessed nerd, though not in the science sense of the word…though I did like physics. My nerdom is really more from a fandom perspective.
Anyway, I just started running…like ten days ago…and I signed up for 2 5k’s so that I had a goal to reach for. I can’t wait to read more of your blog. Thanks for your inspiration.
Samantha recently posted..Vote Geek in 2012
Thank you so much!! Welcome.
Good luck on your running journey. The beginning is ALWAYS the hardest, but you will learn to be thankful for even your “bad” training days. Those are the times when we grow the most.
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