Name: Heather Colleran
Age: 42
Occupation: Assistant Professor in Food and Nutritional Sciences at NC A&T SU (AggiePride!)/ Sports Dietician
Years doing triathlon? 18 years. I competed in my first sprint triathlon in 2001.
First Triathlon? Sudbury Spring Sprint Triathlon in Massachusetts 400 yard pool swim, 7 mile bike, and 2.3 mile run
Your favorite triathlon? Fairlee Great Triathlon in Fairlee, VT. Beautiful 1.5k lake swim in Lake Morey, 40k bike (complete with a few climbs) and a “flat” 10k run around the lake. The Lake Morey Inn is a quaint Vermont Inn who caters to triathletes every year for this event. Highly recommend a road trip up there!
Meal the night before race? I keep it simple, grilled chicken with white rice and green beans. Water to drink along with a glass of wine (hydration and carb loading!)
Pre-Race Meal? Plain oatmeal (Old Fashioned Oats) made with water and 6-8 oz of black coffee.
Race Nutrition? Depends on the race distance… sprints (about an hour) – NBS in my bike water bottle. Olympic distance (2 to 3 hours) – NBS on the bike with maybe 1/2 to 1 KIND peanut butter breakfast bar and maybe water or NBS on the run. Half Ironman distance (70.3) – NBS on the bike and 1 KIND peanut butter breakfast bar every 20 miles (roughly) and on the run water, oranges, flatted Coca-a-Cola (it’s the best!), potato chips and really anything that will get me to the finish that the race provides. Vienna fingers were my favorite for on course race nutrition during a half ironman.
Favorite motivational training song? Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
Favorite mantra? After getting to hear COach Carter speak at this years faculty institute, I’ve adopted “Reset your Preset.” It’s a good reminder to change your view/attitude.
Key Workout? For me it is my run workout. This season I’ve focused more on hill and track workouts to improve my run times. But, really any workout is a key workout. I have limited amount of time for training, so I have to make the most of it.
Best Triathlon training or racing tip? To do your best and have fun! Try racing without a watch, you’ll be amazed what your body can do!
Triathlon literature or other sources of information? Joel Friel “The Triathlete’s Training Bible.” It’s what got me into the sport all those years ago. And the occasional read through the USAT magazine.
Who inspires you? My husband and my kids are my inspiration. After a few too many years hiatus from the sport, I was finally able to start racing again two years ago and returned to the half ironman distance in 2017 (almost 8 years since my last one). Chattanooga 70.3 was my toughest race to date. Quad cramps off the bike, I had a hard fought half marathon to finally finish. Knowing my family was waiting for me at the finish kept me moving forward. When I finally made it to the finish line and seeing my family I immediately broke down into tears. I race for them. I race to show them you can do anything you put your mind to. I race to show them it’s not about win or lose it’s about doing your best and giving it your all and having fun! My girls (ages 6 and 4) started racing in the local youth series and have embraced the sport. My son (age 3) keeps asking when he can do a tri, but hasn’t mastered bike riding yet.
Future goal? Challenge Roth or secretly hoping that Ironman 140.6 returns to Wilmington, NC. But first I need to be tenured and all my kids in school… goal date for a full iron 2022!