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“If you had told me four years ago I was going to be a triathlete, I would have laughed. It was nothing I had an inspiration to do, and quite frankly, it was something that seemed intimidating to me to do.”
This is how northern Michigan runner Deb Kimball described her thoughts on triathlon prior to deciding to go for it and give running-biking-swimming a try in the past couple of years. Being part of a team of new and experienced triathletes—Tri Again Fitness—has made all the difference for this Traverse City athlete. “So much of my love of triathlon is really a love of the people I’m training with. Our team is like a family.”
Deb Kimball and fellow Tri Again Fitness team member Kasha Martin join me on the latest episode of the Michigan Runner Girl Podcast to talk about their evolution as runners-turned-triathletes. Both are training for IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City this Aug. 25. Deb prefers nighttime workouts in the pool, while Kasha is committed to early morning exercise so that she can focus the rest of her day on work and being mom to her four young children.
To listen to this episode, click on the player at the top of this post. Or, download (and subscribe!) using your favorite podcast app.
Both women talk about how they came to love triathlon and what it means to be part of a team. They also share what it’s like to be married to triathletes and how they fit training into their full lives. “Triathlon training is my part-time job…It’s a huge time commitment,” Deb says.

Both Deb and Kasha had to work hard to become swimmers. “I pretty much floundered in the water,” Deb said. “I was not a swimmer. I doggy paddled,” added Kasha.
Having team support is amazing, both women said. “When you go to these events, it’s not just you. It’s a group of people. You’re in it together and they’re cheering you on,” Deb said.

“They’re waiting for you at the finish line,” Kasha said. Her advice? “Go find yourself a team or club or anything because it really makes the world of difference.”
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The Michigan Runner Girl Show is made possible in part by the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
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A special thanks to Mike Moran, Mike Youker and Jonny Tornga of Quarter After Productions in Traverse City, Mich. for producing the show. Check out this studio’s work