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| Bree Wee Q&A |
       A beach bum, mom, and a professional female triathlete, she enjoys the surf of the Hawaiian Islands and rubbing elbows with the worlds best triathletes. Watch out because she is already is waiting for October to get here. That's right she already has that coveted Ironman World Championship spot locked in for 2009. Ladies and Gentlemen meet: Bree Wee
KK: Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself, where did you grow up and what was your sports background growing up? BW: The Sunshine state, a total Florida beach bum. My childhood was spent on speedboats getting pulled on a hydro-slide or inner tube, a sailboat at night under the stars, camping on the beach. As I got older the hydro slide turned to a wake-board, snorkeling got pretty cool because it was a fun way to get a tan without being a beach bunny (the girls that laid on towels) we would hike our swim suits up our bums and nobody on shore could see... Sometime in middle school I joined the local swim team, but the pool just about killed the beach bum in me and I eventually had to end that chlorinated mess. BUT it did give me a lot of discipline, some wonderful friends, taught me about making goals, and prepared me to wake up at 4:30am. My sophomore year of high school a couple of the surfer guys all chipped in and bought me a surfboard for my birthday. It was the coolest thing ever! I slept with it that night! And before long I was addicted to surfing, it became my entire life. My heart totally belongs in the ocean still to this day. KK: How did you get involved with triathlon? When did you start? Why? BW: Literally, I think I fell off my surfboard and landed in triathlon. It just happened. Moved to Hawaii January 2003 with my surfboard, $900, and a job teaching 2nd grade at Kahakai Elementary. My roommate suggested I try running, so everyday after school I would run to the beach and check the waves. Then she said do a marathon! Then she invited me to a local biathlon. Then it was try outrigger canoe paddling, she was always trying to get me into more sports. That October we watched Ironman come passing through our back yard and I said, "I have to do that!" She helped me get a bike and that was that... KK: What is your favorite event? Why? BW: The run. Something about running is special to me, maybe because it's simplicity (like surfing) you just need shoes to do it (unless you are fortunate enough to run barefoot on a beach). KK: What is your least favorite event? Why? BW: Oh I like it all... The swim gives me the biggest butterflies though. I try to ignore the fact it is a "swim race" and I just pretend I am taking a splash in the ocean with a bunch of people all yanking on my goggles and feet. Maybe because of the passion I have for the ocean it helps a bit...
KK: What are some of your major accomplishments as a triathlete? BW: Just getting to the finish line. There has been one race (IM Canada) that I did not make it to the finish and it broke my heart, so now I really appreciate finishing. Being able to have something I love so much be my career is also really special. I try to never take it for granted and I want to show my son that it really is possible to do what you love as a way to make ends meet. Of course being able to give back and see others get involved with sport is an accomplishment too. Most of my family has all completed a triathlon now and it is wonderful to see them getting involved. KK: Have you ever had to overcome any major setbacks or injuries in your sporting career? If so how did you overcome them? BW: 2006 was a season off, for the better... I had my son, Kainoa. Most of 2008 was spent with an injury too, more of a broken heart. I thought it would make me run faster or bike harder using that pain for motivation, but the truth is that completely did the opposite, physical pain is easier for me to manage than emotional pain.
KK: What is the funniest thing you have ever heard or done, while in a race? BW: Oh this is hilarious! At IM Kentucky I was so sick on the run, like barfing sick. There was one of those guys on the mountain bike escorting me and leading the way. Huge chunks of stuff started coming out and he turned back to check out the action, hit the curb, flew over his handle bars, and landed smack on the ground! I ran to help him up and they told KK: In 2007 you broke Kate Majors overall amateur rookie record; what was that like? During the event, did you know that you were on pace to break this record? BW: I had no idea there was such a thing as an amateur record, my goal was to finish and hopefully faster than my delivery time. Kona was just something I wanted to try because it was a local race in my back yard. Near K-Mart hill everyone started screaming for me to move it. My watch was broke of course, I had no idea what time it was.
BW: After IM Kentucky I rank nutrition and hydration nearly as important as the training itself! KK: One of the most important things in life is "balance." How do you balance family, friends, training, and career? BW: Everything I ever wanted to know about balance I learned from a children's book "The Three Questions" by Jon J. Muth. The principal of Kahakai Elementary gave me this book when I moved to Hawaii and gave me a Hawaiian lesson on Kina'ole.... Read the book, it is fabulous! Pretty much where you are in life is where you need to be, who you are with is who needs you at that time, and what you are doing in that moment is what needs to be done at that time... I translate that to my life. BW: When I am with my son Kainoa it is ALL about him and I indulge in our time laughing or playing, no thought of sport. When I am training it is all about swim/bike/run, and when I am surfing you better believe my mind is NOT on my bike... it is such a good book, I wish I could buy you a copy for Christmas!!!! KK: Here at Finishline-Multisport.com, our goal is to help our sports keep growing. If you would, what are some tips that you would give to someone just starting off in triathlon? BW: Celebrate SMALL victories. Like running a little further before needing to walk, going just a few seconds faster, or swimming even a little more than the time before. The little things add up. Find support, a coach, family, or friend to help keep you accountable to your goals. And don't be afraid to laugh at yourself, everyone has started at the bottom. KK: As competitive as racing is, there are times when athletes are faced with uncontrollable obstacles. Getting a DNF or having to quit is a hard thing to have to face, when is the right time to pull out off a race? BW: Oh my goodness, this question is so hard to answer, it is totally personal... I understand that pros sometimes quit because they are out of the money contention so they need to save their bodies for another race that will hopefully pay some bills, I also understand that an injury is sometimes so bad it forces us to stop, and there are those just really bad days that you have no choice but to stop. For me, I have always admired Hillary Biscay, she was someone I looked up to before I even knew the distance of an Ironman and she has this "never quit even though my leg is broke" attitude, I like that... For me the right time to quit is if you can live with that choice. If you know in your heart that stepping off the course won't cause you to hate yourself or regret your decision then it's okay. If you think you won't be able to look in the mirror you better finish the thing... KK: If there were one thing you could change, to help the advancement or growth of the sport, what would it be? What could be done to make it better? BW: I wish there was a way to make it more affordable to those that want the opportunity for those in 3rd world countries that might have the ability to be great but never even get the chance because they can't even afford shoes! It breaks my heart... with rising costs of race fees and travel it sure will stop a lot of people from participating too. It's a shame sometimes that something so fun costs such a price. I know I would not be able to do sport without the support I receive, no way would owning a bike even be possible for me without my supporters. KK: In every sport there are a lot of heart-warming stories and there are so many amazing people out there. Is there a specific story or person that you would like to tell us about? BW: My sister Brooke is my "heart warming" story... she was in a horrible car accident and when I received the call doctors said she would not make it. She pulled through and ended up living in the hospital for a few months. Then they said she would not walk again, she was in a wheel chair at this time. Last year we ran a marathon together. I was on the way back and she was on the way out. This is going to sound all "Godly" but honestly, when we passed each other I looked over at her and it looked like there was an angel on each side of her holding her up so she could run. I started crying so hard right there at mile 22 and from that point on she really showed me that you just can't give up... KK: What is the ultimate goal for your professional triathlon career? BW: Here is a little quote to sum it up... " When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me." Erma Bomback KK: How do you like to spend your off season? BW: Building sand castles at the beach with Kainoa, surfing, playing on the beaches of Playa Hermosa, eating burritos, dancing salsa, and laughing with friends.
BW: I write Kainoa on my left hand and right shoe. His name means "strong" in Hawaiian and it reminds me of him when the day gets long... KK: Congratulations, you won a pro slot for Kona 2009. What are some of your goals for the Kona and the rest of the race season? What are you going to differently to prepare for Kona? BW: Hey, thanks! About time I got that slot huh? My Kona goal...keep up with Chrissie Wellington, not a problem right? ha ha! Sorry, had to make myself laugh... I think she will crack top 10 men this year! Prepare differently...hmmm... you gotta ask Coach Paul that one. KK: When people think of Bree Wee, what do you want them to know most about you? BW: "Worlds Best Mom"... I don't know, people gotta make up their minds for themselves... hmmm, Oh I got it, "Man she has a nice bike!" Talking about my new Argon 18! Thanks a heap Kevin! Bree
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 March 2009 14:10 ) |
KK: How important is nutrition and hydration to you while training and racing?
KK: I know a lot of athletes can be a little superstitious. What do you do before the big race; do you listen to a song, read a quote, eat a special breakfast/lunch/dinner and/or meditate?