> report filed August 15, 2004 by Dave White
In an effort to shine a light on rising triathletes and other unsung heroes of our sport, it's our pleasure to continue the Triathlon Informer interview series Undercovered. The spotlight here is on Melanie Mociun, a Mill Valley triathlete and member of the Golden Gate Triathlon Club. She completed her first Ironman this year, at New Zealand. A consistent high placer in her age group, she inspires all of those who know her with her dedication to training, racing, and making a better life for herself and for others.
The Triathlon Informer caught up with this busy triathlete to find out more about her and her experiences.
Triathlon Informer: How long have you been racing? How many races do you do a year? Do you do some of the same races every year? If so, what races do you look forward to every year?
Melanie Mociun: I have been racing as an adult for the past 18 years. I started out racing in swim meets, then open water swims, then running races, and then triathlons and marathons. I kept looking for bigger challenges. I do about 20 races per year. I do have favorites that I enter over and over. My first triathlon was the Donner Lake Olympic distance. It's still one of my favorites. Except for the three seasons in which I was healing broken bones, I've raced there every year. Other races that I look forward to year after year are the Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon, Santa Barbara Long Course, Boston Marathon, and the San Diego Triathlon Challenge (Challenged Athletes Foundation).
TI: What motivates you to train? Is it getting away from work and/or family? Is it enjoying the great outdoors? Is it trying to improve yourself? What is it?
MM: I am motivated to train because it makes me feel good. It grounds me and it has really been a life-long habit. I have been getting up early in the morning and working out for a very long time. In junior high school, I used to swim before walking to school every morning. My bike was my primary transportation while growing up in Manhattan Beach, California. I delivered mail for a little while there in the '70s. I used to ride my bike to the post office, go deliver the mail and then ride back home to my vegetable garden. When I started to swim as an adult, my motivation came from wanting to move very quickly through the water. I liked the rush. I also loved placing in my races. My first running race was a 3.95-mile run in Sausalito. All I really wanted to do was finish the thing...I ended up coming home with a trophy for being first in my age-group....I was hooked!
TI: What do you do when you're not training?
MM: I work as the sound effects librarian and intranet webmaster at Skywalker Sound in Marin County. Work, along with home improvement projects, cooking, and sleeping takes up most of my time. I also play the piano, and I hope to get back into painting at some point in my life.
TI: Whom do you admire among the people you know? Why?
MM: I admire so many people, that's a hard question. On the work front, I admire the very talented people with whom I work, the people who have spent their time creating excellence in sound for film. On the triathlon front, I have deep admiration for anyone who gets themselves to a triathlon and competes. I admire all of the challenged athletes with whom I have had the honor to race in San Diego.
TI: Whom do you admire among the people you do not know? In other words, who do you look up to and why?
MM: I admire Karen Smyers for overcoming so many obstacles, yet keeping her sense of homor and focus. I admire Robin Williams for giving so sincerely and freely of himself to the worlds of triathlon and biking with his participation and support of so many worthy causes. I admire people like Sister Madonna Buder and Bill Bell for simply getting out there and excelling in the sport while living through the relentless march of time.
TI: If you could say one thing to all the triathletes reading this right now, what would it be?
MM: Race your own race and have fun!
TI: What is your ultimate goal in triathlon?
MM: Remain healthy, injury-free, and to keep racing for as long as I can.
TI: What is your favorite workout? Why?
MM: One of my favorite workouts is to ride to Aquatic Park in San Francisco, then swim, then ride back home to Mill Valley. It's a great workout with great scenery. Another favorite is to take off trail running from my house. I live in Mill Valley, so I have easy access to the trails on Mount Tamalpais....and I really consider myself lucky in that regard!
TI: Please share a funny story or two about racing, training, etc.
MM: The race that pops into my mind is an Alcatraz swim, a few years ago. I didn't really look when I grabbed my wetsuit to go to the swim. I'm kind of a wimp about cold water, so I usually wear a full suit plus neoprene cap when I swim in San Francisco Bay. I had picked up my sleeveless suit inadvertently. When I discovered my mistake, I took a deep breath and talked myself into doing the swim in the sleeveless. I rode the ferry over, went to stand at the door to jump in with everyone else...and just stood there. I couldn't do it. I thought I would freeze! I ended up riding the ferry back to San Francisco and checking in with Wendy Horning of Enviroports as the first person in...she just laughed and said, "uh huh, yeah, right!"