Diva of the Month

1 Who are you?(name/ age/occupation):

Bethel Cope-Vega/27.9/former straight-laced high school English teacher turned deranged law student. Mother-to-be come September.

2 Favorite Athlete:

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who, as a disabled athlete, rode a bike across his country, Ghana, to prove that the disabled are both capable and worth. He now competes with 2 prosthetic legs. Check out the documentary "Emmanuel's Gift."

3 Favorite Quote:

Raise less corn and more hell. - Mary E. Lease

4 Favorite Sport:

I like being on my bike. Swimming is fun. Running... I endure. But there is MAGIC when all three are combined, really. The ante is upped; it is no longer just a workout but a real sport, and your biggest competition is yourself.

5 Favorite Food:

Ice cream always; Lately milk has been a big hit with me. And there was this wierd and brief (thank God) craving for relish last month.

6 First Triathlon? If not, which ones have you done?

Danskin '05. Santa Barbara and L.A. Olympic distance, as well. I've also done a full and several half marathons, but those aren't nearly as exciting.

7 What inspires you to do triathlons?

I started because I though it sounded cool, and because I wondered whether I, a self-proclaimed anti-athlete, could actually do it. I continue for a thousand reasons. Last December I took my first law final. I sat down and read the question and had a mini freak-out in my head. Then I said to myself, "Bethel, HELL no. You've completed an OLYMPIC DISTANCE triathlon. You can handle this exam."

8 WHO inspires you?

My fellow Divas. They're really the reason I get up before 7am on a Sunday morning. Sharing in their successes pushes me toward my own.

9 What is your biggest challenge/fear?

In general, balancing training with the rest of my life/work/school/family is always a challenge. However, more specifically, the answer always changes. You identify a weakness, work on it, improve it, and pick a new one. (And sometimes I'm secretly afraid of taking a big ugly fall on the bike in front of a gaggle of laughing people.)

10 Any advice for future TriDivas?

Do it; it will change the way you approach every other aspect of your life.

11 What do you enjoy most about training with the TriDivas?

Practically speaking, if I didn't have a group of Divas to meet for a workout, I'd find a million reasons to put it off until later. But they're just so fun! I can't wait to see my Divas every week!

12 What are your future goals?

This year: compete in the Danskin sprint distance 6 months pregnant and have a healthy baby. Next year: complete a half ironman. '08: Complete an Ironman, and live to brag about it.

13 Anything else you would like to add?

I came up with a million reasons why I shouldn't join at the beginning. I would be the slowest runner. I didn't want to be caught dead in my swimsuit. I hate cold water. I didn't have a bike. Or a wetsuit. You'd be amazed at what falls away when you start working toward a serious goal. Some issues resolved themselves. Others stopped being issues at all. This sport and this program is for everyone.