#MyTri: Lisa Laws
“It was the most amazing moment,” Laws says of her 2014 finish at Ironman Lake Placid. “It’s my favorite triathlon moment to date.”
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Lisa Laws
New York, NY
54 year-old Lisa Laws was looking for a challenge beyond “just running” when she signed up for her first triathlon, the 2013 Long Island Mighty Mini Man. Just one year later, she was crossing the finish line of her first Ironman.
“It was the most amazing moment,” Laws says of her 2014 finish at Ironman Lake Placid. “It’s my favorite triathlon moment to date.”
Her enthusiasm for swim, bike, and run is infectious, making her an ideal role model for new triathletes. “Lisa has been my role model since our first interaction,” says friend and training partner Shekera, who nominated Laws for the 2018 Triathlete Cover Contest. “She has shown me that not only is this sport open to diversity but that African-American women can and do excel in the world of triathlon.”
It’s a role Laws takes seriously, mentoring new athletes in the sport in a way that sets them up for success in all aspects of life. Some of her most important lessons go beyond swim-bike-run. “Triathlon has helped me manage my time better,” says Laws. “Everything I do is on a schedule. My work/training/life balance is more manageable, because each has to be given the same amount of attention.”
“She teaches not only physical endurance but mental endurance as well. She lives the triathlon life and is more than happy to show others how to do the same,” says Shekera. “She leads by example. She calls herself the Lone Wolf, but she truly leads a pack of women who have come to love the sport and compete at every level.”