Anna Rivera
San Bernardino, CA

TC: Where were you born and where did you grow up?
Anna: I was born in Visalia Ca. and raised in Ontario and Upland.

TC: How and why did you want to become a triathlete?
Anna: I cant even remember about 12 yr ago, My friends Jim and Katy Sleptski ask me to do a triathlon in Lompoc Ca. in Santa Maria Area and it was so much fun I got hooked.  I loved the cross training of the sport.

TC: What started you on the tri- kick?
Anna: I love to run and swim.  A friend of mine said I could never do the Rosario 50-mile bike ride just because I can run. Don’t mean I can ride, he said it’s not the same, and that I would not be able to do it.  So I showed him! And after that I kept riding.  So when asked to do a Triathlon I said I can do that.  Just had to put all 3 together.      

TC: How many triathlons have you competed in?
Anna: I don’t know it started in 1996 or so?  Lots of sprints and Olympics distant and 1 attempt to a 1/2 Ironman and you know the story...

TC: What were your feelings going into that first Triathlon?
Anna: Probably Good, I was 12 yr younger than I am now so I must have been pump!  You ask me now and I will say, “pray all my body parts work”.

TC: What event is your strongest? Your weakest? And your favorite?
Anna: My weakest is riding.  My favorite is running and swimming.  Strongest Hmmmm in the past 12 yr. I don’t feel as strong as I did, its was running.  I’ve got the endurance, but the speed I will have to always work on from now on.

TC: What are you goals in the sport of triathlon?
Anna: To complete a 1/2 ironman at wildflower or anywhere! But wildflower would be my dream (Continue to for another 12yrs doing triathlons.

TC: How has your health/fitness changed through triathlon?
Anna: Well?  If I had never started to run I would have been a pretty cubby mommy.  Because of my fitness, my daughter Lorraine became a cross-country runner in HS and college.  And my son a wrestler in HS and they all understand the important of health and what it is to work hard to achieve a goal so it was good for all of us. Changed our lives to have a healthy prospective in health and fitness.  

TC: Before you were a triathlete, you did something else that filled the time that you now put into training. What was it?
Anna: I had been running for 25 yrs.  My first 10k was the LA Zoo in 1984 my baby was 5 month old I nurse her and gave her to my husband (Randy) and told him I will be right back.  I had 4 kids and if I could do it back then any one can.

TC: What kind of jobs have you held and which was your least favorite?
Anna: I work for a Clinical Research, here in Upland.  I run the laboratory.  My least favorite I would say was microbiology at San Antonio Hospital loved my job but sometimes I had to culture some pretty nasty body fluids I wont get into what fluids.

TC: What would be your best guilt free dinner?
Anna: Olive Gardens Chicken Scampi all you can eat bread! Cold Stone, which I Hadley get.

TC: What gets you pumped up on race day?
Anna: Just all the people, Happy to be able to do what I do.

TC: What is your favorite activity on non-training rest days?
Anna: Hiking with my husband, just hanging out with all my kids

TC: What is your favorite way to relax and recharge just before the race?
Anna: Watching a good movie at home with nothing to do.  And getting my stuff ready and not have to do it late the night before.

TC: Favorite Athlete?
Anna: Joan Benoit Samuelson, Lynn Jennings.  And that girl with the great smile. I can remember her name she smiles the whole race and at the end of the finish line she still smiling.

TC: Favorite Food?
Anna: Italian

TC: Favorite Book?
Anna: Bible, Triathlons for women

TC: Favorite Quote/Philosophy?  
Anna: Edith always tell me “ Just DO IT”