www.barbarasessa.com

"Success rests in having the courage and endurance,
and above all, the will to become the person you are..."
                                                       -George Sheehan





DIAMOND GIRL 2009
Here we all are ready to do the first annual Diamond Girl All Women's Triathlon.  We had a great time with over 13 women in the group competing.  It was Lori and Nancy's first triathlon and it was a blast! 
  
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This is Deb racing at the HVTC club race this past summer.  This was Deb's first year racing triathlons and boy did she do awesome!  Coming from a background that consisted of some 5K running and little to no swimming or biking, Deb did an outstanding job.  She placed in her age group a few times and with another year of training plans on ripping it up next year.  Deb is affectionately known as "Torp" and is everybody's favorite athlete to train with!! (including me)  She always has a story to tell and makes training fun and always interesting.  Thanks Torp!

                                                          

HVTC OVERALL CHAMPION BARBARA FERRANTE                                                                                              With just one year of triathlon training under her belt Barb goes on to become the 2009 HVTC Triathlon Champ!  We started training together about 2 1/2 years ago and in that time Barb has piled up some hardware!  Not only did she win the HVTC series she also took 1st in her age group in the ORC (orange runners club)  Grand Prix event.  Barb doesn't plan on slowing down any time soon.  She recently purchased a new Cervelo P2 and plans on hitting the 40 - 45 age group in top form.  Barb will be setting her sights on the olympic distance this summer but will also compete in many sprint races.  Look for her at the Toga biathlon, West Point Tri and the Diamond Girl OD triathlon this coming summer.  You can read more about Barb in the October 2009 HVTC newsletter at www.hvtc.net.

MEET ALICIA!!      I started working with Alicia about 2 years ago.  She came to me with very little experience but with lots of enthusiasm and a very good work ethic.  In just 2 years Alicia has conquered her fear of the water and placed in her age group in my races.  She has gone from beginner triathlete to a top age group athlete.  Her dedication and hard work have paid off for her.  She has raced in numerous sprint to half ironman races.  This year she has taken the leap to Ironman!  She is going to race the Florida Ironman in November.   She also has a pretty booked schedule including 2 more half ironman races and 2 olympic distance races.  Alicia possesses many great gifts but I believe her greatest gift is her kindness and true love of people.   It is a pleasure working with such a wonderful women!  She also has a PR of 195lbs in the deadlift!!

Nancy recently joined our training group last year.  She came to us as a runner but as you can see from the pictures above she quickly became a triathlete.  Nancy ran a marathon PR of 4:16 this past year at the Steamtown Marathon.  She also learned to swim!  As a non swimmer knows this is a huge accomplishment.  She is looking to continue to train for triathlons and also run the NYC marathon this fall.  As you can tell from her beautiful smile Nancy loves to train and we LOVE to have her in our group.  Nancy is known as the nicest athlete you will ever meet.  Don't let the niceness fool you though, she will run right past you in a race!