CNN Fit Nation Lucky Seven Recap: Adrienne Forgette

“I always thought exercise was a luxury. I would fit it in if I had time. Now it’s a necessity. It’s a way of life.”

Photo: Amanda Sloane/CNN

Published November 13, 2012 02:13PM

Every year, CNN assembles a group of “iReporters” to train for a key triathlon and hopefully make healthy lifestyle changes along the way. This year’s group was known as the “Lucky Seven” and took on the 2012 Nautica Malibu Triathlon on Sept. 16. We’re taking this opportunity to introduce you to each member of the team and tell you a little bit about what he/she learned along the way. Today we profile Adrienne Forgette. (Read the other profiles here.)

“I always thought exercise was a luxury. I would fit it in if I had time. Now it’s a necessity. It’s a way of life.”

Memorable Race Moments:

“The steepest downhill in the bike portion was where the turnaround was, so we had to make a hairpin turn. Right after I finagled that and turned around onto PCH [Pacific Coast Highway] to finish the second half of the race, I felt like I was home free. I could enjoy myself; I could smile. I looked around at PCH. The turnaround of the actual racecourse was one of the high points because I could just release and think, ‘I got this. It’s done.'”

“When I crossed the finish line, there was Chrissie Wellington and she just had open arms. She said, ‘You did it! You looked fear in the face and you conquered it.’ She kept saying, ‘You did it! You did it!’ And then I looked for Chris [her husband], and he was there on the sidelines. That was awesome.”

“And then running Glenn in at the end. When I was on the bike portion of the race, Glenn was up in front of me a little bit, and I could see him teetering and then he fell. He crashed right in front of me because he dropped his chain. I found out later that he fell four times. There were just gouges in his skin, but he kept going.”

Training Triumphs

“At the beginning, I felt like I needed a plan to start. Then I realized I was 90 percent of the plan. I found out that losing weight is 90 percent diet and 10 percent exercise. I decided to give no meat and no dairy a try, and the weight started falling off. My workouts felt more energized.”

“Family scheduling was really important as well. I have seven-year-old twins, so we would make workouts a family affair. We had rituals on Saturday morning and Sundays. My extra time is now more focused on fitness. My kids see me more as an athlete now. One time I had to fill in as a soccer coach, and one of my girls said, ‘Mommy, you can’t be a coach. You don’t look like one.’ I wanted them to see me as a role model.”

Typical Training Schedule:

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Pilates
Wednesday: 1-hour bike, swim
Thursday: 45 min. run
Friday: 1600-meter swim
Saturday: Brick- 18-mile bike, 4-mile run
Sunday: Strength training, run, spin class, 1600-meter swim

Personal Lessons:

“Anything is possible. I never thought I could run for an hour. I had never run more than a mile before. The limits are in your head. I have a poster with a photo montage of the Fit Nation Challenge in my classroom at school to remind kids of what’s possible. It’s not about who wins. It’s about the journey and appreciating people along the way and racing with others. It’s such a community experience.”

Lucky Seven Camaraderie:

“Each person contributed their own piece to the puzzle. We’re family now. Denise and Nancy were bridesmaids at my wedding because we just got so close. We’re all going to try to get together and race at least once a year.“

Inspiration:

“The night before the race, Caitlin, one of our producers, told us that seven million people read our blogs. It amazed me that so many people had been inspired by us. I realized I was not just racing for me, but I was also racing for others. It was an amazing feeling, people counting on us.”

Next Year’s Challenge:

2013 Ironman 70.3 in Augusta, Ga.

Advice for Triathlon Newbies:

“Assess where you are now. Don’t go too far too fast. Start where you are. Set mini goals. Make a spreadsheet, weigh yourself and take pictures so you can see measurable improvement.”

Want to be a member of the 2013 CNN Fit Nation team, or know someone who would be a good fit? Visit Cnn.com to learn how to be considered.

CNN Fit Nation CNN Fit Nation Lucky 7