love on the swim, bike & run

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80 triathlete.com | February 2011 February 2011 | triathl

love tS, Bkd Ru

the challenge of merging love wih mlispor hasinspire a Faceboo page (“ow o dae an nrance

hlee”), a boo (“ow o dae a triahlee”) anconless o-color joes. training an compeing

cerainly can ae a oll on one’s energy sores, leavinglile for relaionships, family, sex an romance. Ye

nmeros riahlon-loving coples mae i wor jsbeaiflly. n he spiri of S. Valenine’s day, we chaewih a half ozen well-nown pairs o learn wha maes

hese rie an re riahlon wosomes ic.By Holly Bennett

Luke McKenzie didn’t mak

frst impression on Amanda The setting was a 2006 training

Cairns, Australia, and Luke had b

Seeing him on the side o the roa

thought, “There’s always one idio

intriguing heart-to-heart conver

days later let them both dizzy w

ation. They’ve traveled the world

training and racing, ever since—

their commitment with wedding

October.

Luke: Immediately ater the cam

apart or several weeks. I e-mail

constantly. It allowed us to get to

other, minus the physical part. A

had been single or quite some tim

interested in settling down or ch

my liestyle. But Luke was so simboth love to train hard, race hard

and travel the world. We’re spon

maybe even a little crazy. I knew

match. Luke: We’ve dealt with in

misortune in our careers, as we

Being in it together, being there

other has been incredible. Aman

physically strong and mentally t

he’s also emotionally sensitive. I

weapon o support! Plus our un

through the roo. We work ourse

bone, but we have a bloody good

it. Luke: We don’t let training and

our lives, but rather share a pure

sport, the people in our lives and

we lead because o it. We’re luck

totally on the same page. Amanddrawbacks? Intimacy is somethi

every day, but sex is sometimes

We’re just too smashed rom tra

de l l y c a r r



82 triathlete.com | February 2011 February 2011 | triathl

At Caulfeld Grammar School in Melbourne,

Australia, SarahandChris Legh’s

parent-teacher conerences ocused on how

to handle the two high schoolers’ obvious

attraction. But Sarah was dating a college

guy, and it took Chris three years to win

her away. When they fnally got together,it was almost a oregone conclusion the

connection would last a li etime. Nineteen

years later, they share a marriage, business,

homes on two continents and a pair o gor-

geous daughters.

Chris: Even though I’m the proessional ath-

lete, Sarah was a competitive swimmer in

school, so she understands what it takes to

succeed. We’ve been in this together since

day one. Sarah: We’ve always shared the

same goals. And not just in triathlon—we

have similar amilies, similar backgrounds,

we know everything imaginable about

each other. Chris:Our involvement in the

sport is pretty broad. I race, but we both

work with our sponsors; we run a triathlondistribution business in Australia. We’ve

built a lie around the sport. Sarah: Early

on, we chose to travel together. The longest

we’ve ever been apart is three and a hal

weeks. Yet we never begrudge each other

our independence. Chris goes o with the

guys and I take time with my girlriends.

He’s also amazing with our daughters—he

loves hanging out with them, no matter

how hard a day he’s had. Chris: In April,

Sarah’s running the Paris Marathon with

her girlriends. She just started running and

cycling in the past year—I think her race ca-

reer may take o while mine nears its end!

Sarah: It’s really cool, actually. For the frst

time in our relationship, we’re running and

riding together. Those are some o our best

dates!Chris: In terms o intimacy, I can see

how you might be in trouble balancing a

regular ull-time job, amily and training.

But or us? Not at all. I mean, what else is

there to do in the a ternoon?Sarah: It’s

true! We’re always super busy, but we also

have an amazing amount o exibility, so

it’s easy to make each other a priority.

Leanda Cave andTorsten Abel frst caught each other’s eye at a triathlon in Portugal. Inspired by a note Leanda let w

hotel concierge, Torsten ollowed her, frst back to training camp in Munich and, later, overseas to Australia . That was 1999; th

married in the summer o 2010 and recently settled into a new home in Tucson, Ariz.

Torsten: I grew up in the Bavarian Alps. It was idyllic, sheltered. I never intended to leave. But now I’m a world traveler.Leanda:

beginning, Torsten talked with his eyes a nd hands, his engaging smile. Outside o Germany he struggled. He was very depende

Torsten: I’ve tried to repay her over the years as a coach and training partner—it was something I could give back to her. Back

dependent on her fnancially, also. But we wanted to be together. I I stayed home, where I could work, we would be separated

long. Leanda: I disagree with people who say, “Love is all you need.” It’s not always enough—not i the stress over whelms the r

There was a time we had only my income and a mortgage and a ton o fnancial pressure. I fnally cracked and walked away o

Then Torsten was invited to the States to become a coach. I saw him take a big risk, going outside his comort zone and putting

sporting career on hold, to build toward our uture. Torsten: I ought or us! Things are easier now—we’ve learned money mana

skills, we’ve built a oundation. We’ve learned to communicate and become best riends. But we also have intense passion and

or each other. Leanda: Granted, during heavy training blocks we’re rarely intimate, but during our easier weeks and o-seaso

The o-season or training is defnitely the on-season or romance.Torsten: We’re both very romantic. We’d rather savor it wh

ully connect. I you love chocolate and eat it every day, at some point you reach saturation. But i you push it away, wait just a

then when you indulge you think, “Wow, I’ve never tasted c hocolate like that beore!” n i l s n i l s e n



84 triathlete.com | February 2011 February 2011 | triathle

Nerida andCraig Alexander frst met as 17-year-olds on a

beach in New South Wales, Australia. Their summer romance was

initially short-lived, as a term abroad took Nerida overseas and Craig

remained in Australia. Four years later, Nerida accepted an invitation

to Craig’s 21st birthday party, and their connection was rekindled. The

couple now boasts a 17-year history and two beautiul children, with

hopes or a third.

Craig: At the moment, my career is what we’re building our lie

around, as it i s fnite. However, the well-being o our children and

amily is a priority with every decision. I I saw Neri melting down

every day—struggling with the kids, home schooling, managing allmy career logistics—I would retire, without question. Family comes

frst. Nerida: Sometimes when I’m having a bad day, he suggests the

liestyle is too hard on us. I always tell him to ask me again tomorrow.

So ar, we’re still going! Craig: Money was tight when we were frst

together. Neri worked ull-time as a nurse to suppor t us. I r emember

one race where I was really hurting with about 6K to run. But I couldn’t

stop thinking about our broken heater and ridge. I buckled down and

won. Nerida: He’s always perormed under pressure, racing or our

survival. We never argue about money. Granted, it’s not a huge issue

now, but we still have the same spending habits as 10 years ago. I’m a

bargain shopper.Craig: I think it’s harder on me when I’m racing. Neri

pretty much goes on with lie, but I’m the one missing home. I try to

make my trips only a ew days, unless she and the kids can join me.

Nerida: But I also think it’s good or him to have that ocused time

away. And as oten as he travels, as much as he’s in the spotlight,

jealousy has never been an issue or me. Honestly, I think Craig is

oblivious. Sure, women adore him, but he has blinders on. We’re solid.

We love each other. It’s that simple, really.

A decade ago, CanadianMelanie MmetRoss Taylor at a riend’s birthd

Ross slipped a clever note in her purse,

ceeded to play hard-to-get when she ph

the couple fnally connected and on the

date, Melanie moved right into Ross’ tin

pad with her eet o muddy mountain

Melanie: He was a baggy-pants downh

when we met. Now he shaves his legs a

spandex. He’s a super strong cyclist, bu

he’s not a triathlete. I don’t want a colle

a partner. Ross: I’m a high-end urnitur

designer/retailer/entrepreneur. I love w

We’re both extremely busy, successul

we admire that in each other. I’ve seen

hard or what she wants. Remember th

tent? Melanie: I sold my car to buy an atent. A majority o the Xterra tour was

and back then I couldn’t aord to train

home. That was kind o a trying time in

tionship—Ross and I sleeping in there t

sweating our asses o! But he was all in

both all-in people. He’s also taught me

time and reect on things beore react

a bit o a hothead.Ross: We both have s

sonalities. We were kind o rash in the

and we went through a ew rough patc

sorted things out. Now I think that’s pa

makes us a great match.Melanie: It’s im

that our relationship doesn’t revolve ju

me. I try to be a triathlete during work

a normal person the rest o the time. M

closest riends are not involved in racin

the No. 1 topic around the dinner table.

have a ton o common ground, but we a

dierent interests and talents. We love

We ride bikes all over the world togethe

avid skier, and Mel wants to get more in

that when she retires. She’s an amazing

gourmet. Plus she’s developed an intere

lecting fne wines. Melanie: And Ross is

eat and drink, so it’s a good balance!

Hillary Biscay andMaik

Twelsiek’s frst date kicked o whenHillary was stranded without a ride home

ater a race in Noosa, Australia—ater

she coyly asked her riends to leave. Their

ride detoured or ice cream and later,

dinner. Several weeks o stall tactics—a

lost passport, a missed ight—later, and

the two had cemented their connection,

agreeing to spend summer 2009 together

at Maik’s home in Germany. Fast-orward a

year, and the couple was engaged.

Hillary:It helps when you’re eeling the

same way about one another. We were

at a training camp in Kona when I came

to the conclusion he was the one. Two

weeks later, he proposed. Obviously we

were on the same page! Maik:Hillaryknows what she wants, always, and I’m

pretty exible—so it works. Hillary: I’m

defnitely the intense one, so his calmness

is a good balance. But he’s also incredibly

dedicated and tough. He’ll do whatever it

takes on a daily basis, which makes me

respect him not only as an athlete but as

a partner. Maik: I only race a ew times a

year, so she is always there or me. I go to

her important races, but can’t be at every

one. I sometimes worry about her racing

as much as she does—getting so tired. But

her body seems to handle it. Hillary:We

raced Ironman Lake Placid together last

summer. Maik won, and I had a horrible

day. I was determined not to talk about my

race and instead ocus on celebrating his

victory. I reused to put a cloud over what

he had achieved. Maik:But a week later

she dragged me to a 50-mile trail run.Hill-

ary: That was what I needed to eel better

about my Ironman—a new adventure.

Poor guy, he ended up pacing me or 27

miles, through the middle o the night. It

must be love! n i l s n i l s e n , t

a r a m i n t o

love on the swim, bike & run

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