August 2014 Rider of the Month, Sue DeJesus
Despite only owning her ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle for 3 months, Sue has managed to use it to turn in her most successful year of triathlon racing. Avoiding the injuries that have plagued her over the years enabled her to qualify for two world championships and she’s only getting faster with age! Best of luck in your races, Sue – we look forward to hearing your results!
Quick Facts About Sue
1. How long have you been riding an ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle and what model do you ride?
I have been riding the ElliptiGO 11R since June 2014, just a few months.
2. Why did you start riding your ElliptiGO bike?
I got interested in the ElliptiGO bike because I had been having problems with resiliency in my running. For many years, every time I increased my running intensity or volume I got injured. I’ve had stress fractures, shin splints, and piriformis syndrome that has troubled me for the last six years. For the past few years I’ve been competing at the world level in triathlons at the Half Ironman distance and needed a way to safely increase my intensity and volume to compete with the best at this level of competition. I approached my triathlon coach about using the ElliptiGO bike to supplement my running and he was open and on board and agrees that it’s been an asset to my triathlon training.
3. Have you done any events since you started using the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle?
This year has been my best so far in the 14 years I have been competing in triathlons! Since the addition of the ElliptiGO elliptical bike to my training, I qualified to compete in two world championships. In August I won a spot on Team USA that will hold its Olympic Distance World Championships next September 2015. I came in 6th of 75 ladies in my age group (60-64) and there are only 18 in my age group that qualified for the team.
In July, I qualified to race in the Half Ironman World Championship race to be held September 7, 2014 in Mont Temblant, Canada. In the 60-64 age group, the WTC (World Triathlon Corporation) allots only one world spot per 70.3 Half Ironman race, worldwide! So it’s been quite an honor to qualify to race this race! I couldn’t be more thrilled! In my qualifying race I had the second best run split which I attribute to the work on the ElliptiGO bike! At 63, contrary to what most people think is possible, I keep getting better and faster. And I’m not done yet!
4. What’s your most memorable experience related to the ElliptiGO bicycle?
My most memorable experience has been riding in my neighborhood and hearing the kids and teenagers yell out to me as I pass, “Hey! That’s a really cool bike!” and having adults stop me to take a picture and ask me “What is that?”
5. What are your ElliptiGO-related goals for the next year?
I will continue to use the ElliptiGO elliptical bicycle for cross-training to continue to improve my run as I pursue being at my very best to place at the top of my age group at the Olympic distance triathlon World Championships in Chicago, Illinois. I’m counting on it being my secret weapon to help me be fast and resilient in my training!