View from the Pros
Tara Martine is a 30-year-old aspiring pro triathlete living in Greensboro, N.C. Martine, a registered dietitian, works part-time at an adult day health facility, where she plans the menus and snacks and provides nutrition education. In 2010, she was the first overall female at the Beach2Battleship Half Iron. Here’s what she has to say about the triathlon scene in the Triad and North Carolina:
“Two great races that should be on the national map for quality, organization, and level of competition are Beach2Battleship Half Iron and Over the Mountain Oly Tri. B2B is a blast – the course rocks, volunteers are amazing, venue is fantastic, and the swim, bike, and run courses are great. Over the Mountain is a challenging and rewarding course. Competition is always high and the course is so pretty and scenic! The whole town of Kings Mountain always rallies around this race and comes out to support all the athletes. The post-race party is tons of fun and there is always great food and lots of things for kids to do! The Triad also has many great races, including the NC Marathon & Half Marathon, Cannonball Half Marathon, Mistletoe Half Marathon, Triple Lakes Trail Marathon & Ultra, Belew’s Lake Triathlons (Oly & sprint), and numerous cycling events (both road and mountain).
“The Triad is one of the best places for triathletes to live because of all the training opportunities that it offers. There are 30-plus miles of paved greenways for running and over 40 miles of running trails. The terrain is varied and challenging. The cycling opportunities are endless; one could ride 200-plus miles straight out the front door. Caraway, Pilot, and Hanging Rock mountains are all within riding distance, and Boone and the Blue Ridge Parkway are only a short drive away. The new addition of the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) provides a state-of-the-art facility for swimming and offers a masters training program.
“Being a dietitian blends perfectly with being a competitive triathlete. At the top level of the sport, small things can be the difference between you and another competitor, and I believe nutrition is one of those things. Eating the right foods and the right amount of these foods is key to reaching one’s full potential in any sport. I have seen some dramatic improvements in clients’ race times after making some tweaks in pre-, during-, and post-race nutrition plans.”
