Member Spotlight – Jeanie Huebner
Meet Breakaway Training member, Jeanie Huebner! Jeanie moved out to San Diego back in 1980 to serve in the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton! Jeanie is a multiple Boston Marathon qualifier and loves some good 80′s music! Read more about Jeanie below…
-What brought you to join Breakaway Training?
I competed in my first race (the Race for Literacy) when I was 41 years old. I had so much fun, I kept on training and did a marathon. Then I set the goal of running the Boston Marathon. After having achieved that goal in 2008, I wanted to work towards completing an Ironman, but I had no idea how to prepare or train for that distance. My best buddy Remmi had just joined Breakaway Training, and I did the same!
-How long have you been a member of Breakaway Training?
I have been a member of Breakaway Training for almost two and a half years.
-What’s your favorite local race?
My favorite local race used to be the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. I’ve done it 15 times, and placed in my age group 10 times! I haven’t done that race for quite a while, though, and I haven’t picked a new favorite yet.
-What’s your favorite non-local race?
My favorite non-local race is the Boston Marathon. I’ve run it three times – 2008, 2009, and 2010. My family and I had three wonderful trips to Boston. It’s a great city to visit, and the whole marathon atmosphere is amazing!
-What’s your favorite type of music?
I love 80s music. My favorite band is the B52s, and I’ve seen them in concert six times!
-What do you do when you’re not training?
I teach third-grade which keeps me really busy! But besides spending time with my family, I love to read nonfiction adventure stories, and I love to sleep!
-What is the food / drink you can’t live without while training?
My favorite pre-workout meal is an almond butter and honey sandwich (with extra honey).
-Do you have a training secret you’d like to share?
This season I am trying to focus on my form in swimming, biking, and running, and to focus on racing within myself and thinking about using “effortless power.” Along with the great advice from our Breakaway coaches, I read the book Zendurance by Shane Eversfield, and I got a lot out of it.
-What is your favorite workout?
I like running through PQ Canyon, and I like Black’s Beach Hill Repeats.
-What is your least favorite workout?
My least favorite workout is anything in ocean waves.
-What is your favorite leg of a triathlon?
My favorite leg of a triathlon is running.
-What training device(s) do you use?
(Nothing special, just a Garmin.)
-What is the worst rookie move you made at a race before you became a “real” triathlete?
My first triathlon was Mission Bay. I borrowed a wetsuit from someone because I didn’t own one. When I put it on, the zipper broke, so I just swam without a wetsuit, and I was really, really cold, but I kept stopping in the water to laugh about it!
-What race are you most proud of?
The first time I qualified for the Boston Marathon, I did it at the Carlsbad Marathon. It was my third attempt to qualify. I was doing well until I hit the wall at Mile 22 and I started to walk, but I didn’t give up, and I kept a walk/jog going for about a mile and a half, and then I was able to pick up the tempo and run again. I crossed the finish line with two minutes to spare!
-What goals would you like to accomplish this year?
First, I have really been working hard on my swimming form, and I would really like to improve my previous swim times. Second, I learned a lot from completing my first Ironman last June, and I would like to have a significantly better time when I do Ironman AZ in November.
-What is your 2011 race schedule?
I am doing about one race per month this year. I am completing the half marathon Triple Crown and beginning the California Dreamin Series with the San Francisco Marathon in July. My two big races this year will be Oceanside 70.3 on April 2 and Ironman AZ in November.
-Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I absolutely love being a part of Breakaway Training! My favorite color used to be blue, but now it is ORANGE (if you haven’t noticed)! I have learned so much about triathlon, and there is so much more to learn! Maybe someday I will be able to beat Madonna Buder’s record of being the oldest woman to complete an Ironman!
Thanks to Jeanie for sharing her story with all of us! -Breakaway Training
