Interview with Amy Horowitz

When Amy Horowitz decided to enter the September Danskin Triathlon in New Jersey, she was only beginning to help her self and a world of others. It was an all-woman, entry-level triathlon with proceeds going to support the fight against breast cancer. Considered to be a somewhat smaller event, about 1,200 women participated, all working toward one goal in honor and memory of the women their lives. It consisted of a half-mile swim, eleven-mile bike ride and a three-mile run.

When her friends hounded her to sign up for the ride early in the summer, Amy wasn't so sure about it until finally she gave in- not making any promises, of course. She had to make sure she'd be able to finish it before she started. Motivated to begin training, she went for a two mile walk the first day and then a four mile bike ride the next, finding herself in immediate soreness. However, after making the commitment to purchase a racing bike, she found herself completing the triathlon distance within just one month of training! Since she had been very athletic as a younger woman, it was gratifying to know that she could be back where she had once been. The Danskin website actually had suggestions to prepare women for the big race and Amy decided to go beyond. She began daily training, achieving distances greater than the actual triathlon would require. Her athletic mindset had been awakened.

While it may seem as though Amy had only training to think about this last summer, it isn't quite so. Somehow, Amy managed to continue to work, take care of her three kids, ages 12, 8 and 4, and successfully prepare her body for a challenging feat. Before the kids got up in the morning, Amy would go for a walk with the dog. Then the trick was being just to find one additional time during the day to workout. Since they all enjoyed biking, the four of them would often take rides together, combining training with quality family time, or she'd bike with her 8 year old while her 12 year old took care of her youngest.

On a perfect day to go for a nice swim, Amy would head down to the lake within a few miles from her house. However, she was sometimes left without anyone to watch her not yet swimming four year old. Nevertheless, Amy found a way to get her training in. She was so determined; she'd use the dog's leash to clip her swimsuit to her child's lifejacket! They buoyed along, any passer-bys certainly entertained.

While her family was supportive of her getting back into shape with her kids pushing her on bike routes and her husband helping on weekends, Amy's friends also provided a wonderful support system. They were also getting ready for the great race, training together whenever possible. Before entering the triathlon, a lot of their time together was spent getting lunch and talking about books. But after the training began, they started to get together for activities like hiking and swimming. "I just love getting together with them. The camaraderie is a big part of it for me."

It is quite clear, however, that a lot of Amy's achievement grew from her intense self-motivation. Her work as a photographer initially encouraged her to begin keeping a web log. While she had planned on focusing her writing on her professional life, it quickly turned to a personal outlet. So, when she began training, she used the web log as another way to push herself to work harder.

Many plus size women participate in the triathlon. As Junonia customers know, the active woman comes in all sizes. However, when Danskin handed out smaller t-shirts for the triathlon, Amy decided the only thing she'd be able to do with hers was get it framed. She turned to Junonia for the appropriate activewear clothing she would need for the big day. She learned about the different fabrics offered and ordered several bras, tops and bike shorts for the remainder of her training and the triathlon.

Finally, the day came. Amy hardly slept the night before, nerves and excitement overwhelming her. Some of her friends had a hard time as well, arriving at her home earlier than planned. They drove up to Sandy Hook together, their families following later. The sun was just coming up when they began taking their bikes off the racks. Amy soon realized she wasn't afraid at all, "I just wanted to start, to tackle that course. I was ready to go!"

When she first jumped into the water, the salt and waves shocked her. "I just have to focus," she thought, keeping her eyes on the finish line. When that part was over, she knew she'd be fine. The biking, she said, was a piece of cake. And the running, well, she thought, "I could always walk." With all of her determination, though, it is doubtful she let it get to that point. The course was beautiful, and set up in a way that people were lined up along most of it, women cheering other women on, their families waiting at the finish line.

When Amy got to the end of it, she was alone, people far ahead of her and far behind. She could hear her friends and family yelling, encouraging her to finish. People around them started yelling, too, and soon enough, 200 people were yelling her name, the majority of them complete strangers! Her children noticed her smile; "how could I not smile with all those people yelling my name? It was a great feeling."

Amy wasn't worried about her time, only that she was determined to actually finish. During the mock triathlon, she completed it in 2 ½ hours, a time she was happy to finish with in the final race. When she finished, she found she had completed it 20 minutes faster. She decided that without a doubt she's sign up again for next year. "I'm just going to focus on finishing next year, but if I do it faster, then wonderful. For me, though, it's about cleaning my house and realizing how much better I feel this year than last. I turned 40 this year, so I had that going for me, too."

Today, Amy still acts as though she'd in training. She takes her dog with her on walks, swims twice a week and bikes when it isn't snowing. It isn't about competition, just about keeping her healthy. She has lost over 44 pounds and her blood pressure is at an athlete's level.

"I'm walking around with a proud attitude now. People are always saying now, 'oh my God you look fabulous!' Everyone wants to know my secret; I say I train for a triathlon."