St. Mary’s PE Teacher Sees Ironman Triathlon

as Opportunity to Set Example for Students

ALISO VIEJO, CA, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008—St. Mary and All Angels PE/Health Teacher Brandy Bounds is preparing for her ultimate challenge—the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, on October 11, 2008. The distance of an Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. The Hawaii Ironman is considered to be the Super Bowl of triathlons.

“I enjoy triathlons because they keep me active and in shape.  I hope my participation will encourage students to see challenges as opportunities to grow and conquer obstacles,” Bounds said. She has been training on average 20-30 hours per week for her preparation of the “Big Dance” this October. 

Bounds, who joined St. Mary’s September 2007, is no stranger to triathlons. She has been competing in triathlons since the age of ten. The sport came fairly easy for her, and it was the beginning of a new adventure. She has always been an athletic person participating in triathlons, mountain biking and road bike racing. She was 13 years old when she was first invited to attend winter and summer camps at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Throughout all of the training and racing, Bounds has competed in 38 states and 7 countries. She has had the honor of traveling in 1996 to the White House in Washington D.C.  and meeting President Bill Clinton.

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