I come from a little island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called Oahu, where aloha means hello and goodbye, and where your long training rides on the weekends consist of going around the island clockwise on Saturday and counter clockwise on Sunday. This is the little island where , for me, it all began.

It was my first year in college and I was on a full scholarship for cross-country. One day, one of the guys on my team told me about a local triathlon and that I should do it. Since I didn’t own a bike and I didn’t know what a triathlon was, I figured I couldn’t , but he offered his mom’s bike and helmet and there was no stopping me. On race day, I showed up in my little black outfit, my bright orange shoes, my dreaded hair that my mom braided the night before, and, of course, my purple ten speed with cages on the pedals along with the pink helmet. My mom told me that I would atleast look good if I didn’t go fast. Well, I ended up finishing first in my age group and 16th female overall. Needless to say, from that moment on, I never got off the bike.

My parents bought me my first second-hand bike and the rest is history. I can remember one of my very first group rides, It was a 50-miler with a few of the top guys on the island. I was so nervous. I made it, but with two flats and holding up the group. I figured these guys would never want to ride with me again. Our rides continued regularly and because I got no sympathy for being a girl, it didn’t take long until I was waiting for them.

My racing in road, triathlon, swimming and running continued for a few years, but it didn’t take long for island fever to hit. My desire for more began to grow. I wanted more competition, adventure and space. Within a few months, I was off on a plane to California and left my little island behind. It was two months after residing in California that I met my training partner and best friend on a mountain bike ride. I never would have dreamt that one ride would make me become a mountain biker or a wife, but with time, that is what this ride did.

After a year that was filled with epic adventures, unforgettable journeys and a few races we decided to focus on the dirt and mountain bike racing. When NORBA introduced the marathon, I could not have been more excited. Endurance is what I love and this could not have fit me more.

I came out of my first year with a National series title, a few records, a ton of experience and many new friendships. It is a year that I will never forget and will always treasure. Since then, I have been able to gain three more National titles, share my experiences with others, touch the lives of our future generations and the toughest of all was to come back after a horrible crash in 2006. I now go into every new year with a new love for the bike and a new fire that could never be put out.