Brenda completes the Great Floridian Ironman!

Brenda Pamperin is a native of West Bend, Wisconsin, and moved to Culpeper in 2007. Brenda was not an athlete growing up, but on her 10th birthday, Brenda and her Dad did a 10 mile bike ride to Grandma’s house that began a lifelong passion with cycling. In 1997, she took up running as cross-training during the cold winters, and in 1998, completed the Lakefront Marathon in WI and discovered her first Bike VA. Her biking adventures have taken her to over 20 states with Virginia, Colorado and Maine as her favorites. In 2002, she completed a solo bike trip from Virginia to Wisconsin in 25 days. A founding member of the Two Tall Blonde Running Club(ask me about membership requirements), she has competed in 5 marathons, and will be running the Shamrock Marathon on Sunday, March 16th (and hopefully qualify for Boston). Always looking for a new adventure, Brenda began racing in triathlons, which lead her to do the Great Floridian Ironman in 2006, where she surprisingly finished 8th in her division. Oh yeah, in her real world, Brenda is a professional fire fighter for Fairfax County. In addition, Brenda is a certified massage therapist. She has a massage room set up in her house, and also does home visits.

1. What shoes do you run in

- Asics

2. Your favorite pre-race meal, you favorite healthy snack -
- A bagel and a banana for running, but peanut butter and jelly taste unbelievably good on bike rides (A coke after a long run really hit’s the spot)

3. What events do you prefer - ie: sprint distance..long distance ,
- I definitely like long distance, but lately have been trying more sprint work.

4. Why do you like to run? What do you get back from it?
- Let’s face it, I exercise so I can eat.

5. What gifts/talents/skills are you willing share with the run club -?
- I am an organizer, and would be willing to lead a run and meet at my house afterwards for a dinner / party. I would also do massage at events, once I figure out a way to do both massage and participate in the run.

6 . finally, your favorite ever run race and/or triathlon competed in and why!!

- Certainly the most rewarding experiences were completing the Ironman and riding cross country from here to Wisconsin. My mantra is that it’s not about getting from A to B, but the journey along the way. If you have faith in the journey and believe, it will all work it. Plus, I had an unbelievable amount of support and encouragement from family and friends.