In this issue of Rockstar Runner, I’m super-excited to profile Krista Henderson of Born to Reign Athletics! Krista has been featured on the Today Show, Huffington Post and Cosmopolitan, just to name a few. She is a true leader in the body-positive athletic world and is one of my own personal She-roes. So without further ado, here’s Krista!
What is Born to Reign Athletics?
I created Born to Reign Athletics, because I wanted a place for plus size women to connect and be motivated, educated and celebrated for embracing their inner athlete. Too many women feel they need to fix themselves, and can’t see beyond that including being athletic. I’m an advocate of the athletic lifestyle because it gives me a greater purpose to live my life with built in positive behaviours and a positive mental attitude that keep me on track for becoming healthier, stronger and fitter.
How/why did you decide to do a triathlon?
I saw a flyer at my gym advertising the triathlon club. I was intrigued because I had the perception that doing a triathlon was hard. And at that time, I still had a lot of ego and attitude, wanting to prove to others that just because I was plus size, didn’t mean I wasn’t active.
Unsure if I could do a triathlon, I decided I would do the 25km Becel Ride for Heart event, as having something to train for was a good motivator, especially since I was very focused on losing weight. I had been regularly attending spinning classes and had built up a degree of fitness and endurance so when the day came, I successfully completed the charity event. And came away thinking “I know how to swim, I’ve proven I can ride at least 25km, and know I can walk the run portion. I’m doing it, I’m signing up for a try-a-tri”.
I choose the last race of the season to maximize my training time and on September 5, 2004, I became a triathlete. For days after I was exhausted. I think it was a combination of the racing and the adrenaline that ran through my body as I never had experienced anything like that. I remember when the swim started, I couldn’t stop laughing uncontrollably thinking to myself “I can’t believe I’m doing this!!”.
I was hooked and from there got a coach and became fully immersed in the sport.
What do you love about it – what keeps you coming back time after time?
There are many things that I love about triathlon. For one, the community. Regardless of experience and skill level, everyone is very supportive because we all know what it means to train, show up and complete the race. It takes commitment, dedication and hard work. It’s not about how fast you go, just getting across the finish line, happy.
I also have the advantage of training at a gym that runs a tri-club, so I am constantly surrounded by people who all have similar daily goals of getting their workouts in. What kept me coming back year after year was having a sport that I could excel at. Being part of a team sport wasn’t really conducive to my athletic abilities and what I can contribute. I weigh a lot and am just not fast on my feet to keep up with other team members. I learned that the hard way when I joined an ultimate frisbee team. That lasted one day 😐
As much as I love triathlon, I needed a break from it and did that a few years ago. I was mentally burnt out, had a bad case of plantar fasciitis and other injuries that really needed to be taken care of. Plus I wanted to change my athletic focus to other sports. Overall, my goal was to start branching out to become a more well-rounded athlete. Remember when you were in high school and every year there was the “Athlete of the Year” award? I strive to be fit and healthy so I can participate in any sport I want. Since then I’ve gone longer in racing doing a 10km, a half marathon and learned to play squash. I still swim and ride, but now I’m putting a greater emphasis on strength training. I have my eye on CrossFit. I know I’m not done with triathlon, just taking a break and focusing on other athletics for now.
How do you get yourself out the door on days when you’re just not ‘feeling it’?
In the beginning, having a coach helped with accountability. I didn’t want to have a big blank spot on my training program with no data feedback from my heart rate monitor. Then after awhile, it was the the desire to want to be prepared for the race season. Looking back, I sometimes wonder if that came from a place of fear, not wanting to fail or is that a positive thing? I still don’t know. Eventually I became very in tune with my body and knew when I needed to back off or just go and do the workout. My workouts are a top priority. I do the majority during lunch time and am very protective of this time. My Outlook calendar is booked M-F at lunch, so co-workers can’t schedule me for meetings unless they negotiate with me up front. I’m entitled to a lunch hour and intend to take one everyday. I’m ruthless about this.
Do you have an inspirational and/or funny triathlon story (or stories!) to share with us?
I remember one year, my friend and I signed up to the first race. It’s an open mass start with men going first and women second about 10 minutes apart. I’m a BOP (back of pack) swimmer but am very strong on the bike and can move up to the middle of the back in a race. I caught up to my friend during the bike portion of the race, and for the back half, we played a game of cat and mouse as we changed positions a couple of times on the course. Before heading into the final turn, I passed a guy from my gym and said “Hi Ray”. I don’t know for sure what he was thinking but his look appeared to be “holy shit, how did you make up all that time, am I slow or are you that fast”. It was both things Ray, it was both. LOL. Coming down the final stretch of a flat course, I put myself into my biggest gear and hammered it. I remember looking at the speedometer and I was gong at 33 km/hour. I passed my friend and gave her the famous over the shoulder Lance Armstrong – Jan Ulrich look, as I passed her and beat her to T2.
How has triathlon changed your life?
While there are health and fitness benefits, it’s the mental changes I’ve made that I appreciate. Being comfortable getting out of my comfort zone, learning what it means to be an athlete (I’m racing against me and not everyone else) and facing my body image issues. The bumpy moments were not about the training, but transitioning from a weight loss mind set to a healthy mind set has been the most liberating experience.
What words of wisdom do you have for brand new triathletes?
There are tons of racing plans out there to teach you how to train, plus I have some I can share (just email me). My biggest advice is don’t pick the last race of the year. If you love it, you’ll want to do another one, and won’t want to wait another 8 months.
What are your favorite inspirational blogs to follow?
I prefer to belong to Facebook groups for the conversation and read other peoples experiences. Running with Curves, Body Positive Athletes and Athena Triathletes are my top three.
Have you ever been injured training or during an event, and how did you recover?
I was training for the Sporting Life 10km and injured my hamstring and had to pull out. It was a May race and triathlon season was only about 6 weeks away. It sucked. I was angry and frustrated especially since I had to switch to water running and do it in the middle of a day during none lane swim times, with all the kiddies screaming in the pool. It’s not like you can put on an iPod and drown out the noise.
Even today I still have some little injury issues I haven’t resolved. I have tight calves and that’s impacting the tendons in my left foot. This last year has been very busy for me and the thought of coming home and doing my rehab just starts to feel like a 3rd job (managing the Born to Reign website is my 2nd job). I can be whiny about it, so I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask.
Bottom line, usually backing off is what has helped me overcome my injuries, giving my body a rest but that doesn’t work 100% of the time. Do what your sports doctor tells you to do.
What gear do you think you can’t live without?
My Polar Heart rate monitor.
What was your favorite race?
I have so many great memories, but I think the Lakeside race in 2006. I had my best bike split ever and won 1st place in the Athena category. I still remember what it felt like to tell my coach I won hardware.
What are your top 3 songs to listen to when you run?
Thunderstruck / ACDC
Dreamer, CK & Supreme Dream Team
Television Rules the Nation / Daft Punk
Treadmill/spin class or outdoors?
I’m a true urban athlete who has no car, so it’s actually more convenient from a training perspective doing my shorting cycling workouts indoors, which is why I love spin class. But for anything longer than 45 min, it’s better outside. I have been known to rent a car and get out into the country where it’s quieter. Once I was cycling with some friends in Milton, and was struggling. I think I was low on nutrition and starting to get crabby and got off my bike to start walking. Someone pulled up and asked if I was o.k. and if needed a ride. I passed, but was appreciative of the smaller town hospitality. The funny thing is I ran into that same woman the following week at a triathlon race. She recognized me HA!
How can we find/follow you on social media?
In addition to my site, BornToReignAthletics.com, you can find me on Facebook (facebook.com/borntoreignathletics) and Instagram (instagram.com/borntoreignathletics).
Such a great story! Please check out Krista’s website for more inspiration as well as lots of great information on how to be a body-positive athlete.
If you’d like to read about other Rockstar Runners, click HERE!
