Member: Susan Norman

All of us at the Wave House Athletic club would like to congratulate our very own Susan Norman. Given her recent successes at the Las Vegas half-Ironman and then again at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii Susan hardly needs an introduction, but for those of us who don’t take Spin class or read newspapers, here is why we chose Susan Norman as our Member of the Month.

Susan Norman, now 71 years old and a grandmother of four joined the club back in 2007. She was immediately enticed by the variety of classes and how knowledgeable the instructors are in what they teach. You can find Susan at Spin Class every morning, or doing weight training with Jon Akers. In addition to working out at Wave House 8 hours a week, Susan normally runs 28 miles, swims 5 miles in Mission Bay and bikes for 5 hours each week. Her list of accomplishments is constantly growing but so far she has completed many runs ranging from 10k – full marathons, including one on the Great Wall of China. She also likes to complete the annual rough water swim in La Jolla cove. At the age of 57 Susan took things up a notch and began competing in triathlons to keep up with her husband. She started off doing sprints, and then moved on to Olympic distances. In September she took first place in her age group at the Las Vegas Half-Ironman. One month later she took top prize once again at the Full-Ironman World Championships on Kona, Hawaii.

If you think that a 2.4-mile swim followed by a 112-mile bike ride ending in a 26.2-mile run is a great place to stop, Susan is doing quite the opposite. Her fitness regimen has picked up right where she left off prior to becoming only one of two women in the world over the age of 70 to hold both half and full Ironman titles within the same year. Her objectives of 2012 include the 70.3 Ironman, The Full Ironman World Championships, The N.Y.C Marathon, The ITU Olympic distance, and the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon.

Good luck Susan, and Thanks for being a tremendous role model to all of us looking for incentive to stay in shape and enthusiastic about our fitness goals, especially as we approach a New Year!

What's your background? How did you get so involved with working out and staying in such great shape?
I always liked to run as a kid. When I was 38 I heard about the marathon clinic on East Mission Bay. This was a large group that would meet every Sunday at 8:00am and run different distances. This clinic really got me interested in running.

What is the most challenging thing you deal with about consistently staying in top shape?
Just trying to make the time to work out is a challenge. As the competitions get closer, your training takes longer. I like to start off at 6:00am so that I still have the afternoons to do whatever I want.

What is the #1 thing you like best most about being into fitness?
Working out makes me feel strong and young. My weight now is the same as it was in high school. I have never had the need to diet, If I feel heavier than I run longer.

Please describe a typical day for you. What is your daily routine like?
I start my day off every day at 5:30am. I take the spin class from 6:00-7:00am and then follow that up with a weight training class from 7:00-8:00am with Jon Akers. After leaving the Wave House Athletic Club, I run 7 or so miles and then swim or paddle for an hour every other day.

What type of exercises do you include in your routine to stay in shape?
Spinning, Biking on the road, Swimming, Paddling, Running

Many athletes today are taking advantage of the wide variety of supplements that have become readily available. What supplements if any do you use?
Vitamin E, Calcium, Vitamin D3, CoQ10, Fish Oil, Acai, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Hammer™ Gel and Fizz

Staying motivated with a fitness plan in today’s busy world is clearly a challenge for many of us. What tips do you recommend for staying motivated on a fitness plan and truly making a healthy lifestyle change?
Just like we all make time for eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You need to fit in your exercise regime the same way. We will die if we don’t eat and if we don’t exercise we will not be healthy, alert, or happy

It seems like you live an extremely active lifestyle. What do you do when you are not training to unwind and relax?
I take one day off from exercising each week and pay bills, run errands, etc. I also take weekend trips, but I always involve running, cycling, or swimming on all of my trips

Do you have a guilty pleasure? If so, what is it?
Hershey’s™ Chocolate, The big bag that they sell at Costco and also the muffins at the North shore café at the Wave House.

Obviously you have accomplished many fitness goals since you began on your endeavors. Which one would you consider to be your greatest and most memorable and why?
The Ironman World Championship in Kona Hawaii triathlon is the king of all triathlons. Every triathlete wants to compete there.

What are your favorite classes here at Wave House Athletic Club?
Spin and weight training with Jon now, but in the past I have taken yoga and Aqualogix™ as well.

What type of music do you listen to while working out?
I never workout to music. Don’t ask me why, I’m just not interested in music while I do my workouts

What are your goals for 2012?
I plan on competing in the 70.3 and full Ironman world championships. I also qualified for the N.Y. Marathon. I am doing the ITU Olympic distance 5/12 and the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon in June.

When will you stop competing?
I will stop competing when I can no longer run, swim, and bike. I am not sure when that will be.