Despite being only 10 years old, this student and triathlete living in Chapel Hill, N.C., has been doing Ramblin’ Rose triathlons for years. Not too many kids Zoe’s age can talk about the triathlon they did “a few years ago,” but Zoe remembers a Ramblin’ Rose at the Meadowmont Center in Chapel Hill in 2011. “My grandmother raced, my mother raced, and I raced. So we called our team ‘LiLaZo,’ which is a mix of all three of our names: Linda, Laura, Zoe,” she says. They team had T-shirts made that said “3 Generations Racing Together.” It was the first triathlon for Zoe’s grandmother, who actually hoped to get last place, says Zoe. “But she got second to last! It was a blast!” Zoe’s favorite workouts are in the summer, when she can bike and swim outside. She also likes indoor bike training with coach Suzie Hosman. “She has taught me how to ride my bike better without going anywhere,” adds Zoe.
What Zoe says about the Ramblin’ Rose Women’s Triathon:
“I liked that it is only a women’s race. It gives women a chance to be themselves. When I first participated in a Ramblin’ Rose race, I was 8 years old. I completed the Chapel Hill event and was the youngest participant that year. I was on the ThunderCats Youth Triathlon team, and had participated in a handful of youth races. This was my first ‘long one.’ I loved it after that, so I kept on doing them. The Chapel Hill race last year was my seventh Ramblin’ Rose event, and I’m still going strong!”
