Meet the unstoppable husband and wife team of Denise and Lou Burgese, members of Williamstown Badgers Tri Club.
Each month, we sit down with some DelMoSports athletes and ask them five questions.
Meet the unstoppable husband and wife team of Denise and Lou Burgese, members of Williamstown Badgers Tri Club. Here we go.
1. What are your race goals this season?
Denise: I plan to start out my season with my first timed trail run on April 9th. 800 feet of elevation = cool! May will be a duathlon, followed by a sprint tri in July, August is TRI AC (FAVE tri ever!) and my 2nd 70.3 at IMAC in September. I will finish with a half marathon at Princeton in the autumn. Hopefully my running and cycling will get faster, and I am looking forward to getting back into the pool for the first time in over 3 months due to disc herniation in my neck. I REALLY enjoy watching others race and am looking forward to volunteering as well as spectating during the race season!
Lou: I am hoping to improve my run. I am signed up for three tris this year, one sprint in early May and the other two are DelMo events…TRI AC (International distance) and IMAC 70.3. My main goal is to beat my time from my first half last year.
2. Best racing advice?
Denise: Focus on each discipline as you are within it. Focus on swimming in the water, cycling on the bike, and running on the course. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Just BE right where you are in time and space and FOCUS. The fun will follow!
Lou: Train hard and on race day trust your training and have fun!
3. Favorite pre-race meal?
Denise: My Shakeology protein drink made with water and some ice, followed by some steel cut oatmeal with banana and nut butter.
Lou: Bacon and eggs and Generation UCAN.
4. Do you pee on the bike?
Denise: I WISH I could pee on the bike! I have tried many times but I cannot seem to master it! I shift to one side of the seat, nothing comes out. I wait another little while and try to shift in the saddle to the other side, still nothing. I wait a bit longer and then try standing to pee – even with a little coasting – nothing. It doesn’t happen. Just a little jealous of those who can!
Lou: NO! I wouldn’t want to have to clean the bike after that. I only had to use the facilities once during the bike portion of a race. It was during my first full distance tri. I used the port-a-potty at the special needs stop.
5. Tell us three things we should know about you.
Denise: I couldn’t swim 3 years ago. I had to take swim lessons to learn how to swim laps in the pool. Sure, those games of marco polo were fine and I could get through the water from the diving board to the ladder, but I had no formal swim training until December 2012.
Knitting is a favorite hobby of mine! I have mastered everything from hats to scarves, sweaters, bags and socks. We have a knitting group that meets once a month here in Williamstown and I look forward to sharing projects and progress with them! We joke that we are knitters with a triathlon ‘problem’ as most of the group seems to be from our local tri club!
I am a fitness instructor and teach both PiYo was well as Indoor Cycling for Triathletes – my husband comes to the cycling classes and I love having him there because it’s always a challenge to push him beyond his limits, and he offers valuable feedback!
Lou: I’ve had nine knee surgeries from age 13 through 43 and have been advised by doctors not to run. I started doing tris when I was 45…I don’t listen to doctors very well. This will be my fourth year of racing and I am having a great time! My knees are hanging in there…for now.
Before deciding to do tris I never swam or ran, in fact, during my first year of racing I swam side stroke for most of the swim at each race.
I love training and racing together with my bride!