1. Who are you?/Age/Occupation

Dana Hansen 54 (in April yikkkes) Information Technology – Business Analyst. I’ve been very lucky over the past 10 years to have traveled to over 60 countries for my work and to have lived in Shanghai for almost a year. I am actually taking this year off to start a consulting business and decide the next chapter in my life.

3. Favorite Quote:

“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action” – Benjamine Disraeli

4. Favorite Sport:

To watch: Hockey followed closely by cycling. I love the speed, strength and it may sound odd but also the grace and finesse of both sports.

To participate: Triathlon by far is my favorite, in the past it was rowing and swimming but now Tri tops everything.

5. Favorite Healthy Food:

Scrambled egg whites, Spinach and Salsa along with blueberries my breakfast about 360 days per year. – Easy to make at home and easy to order on the road.

Favorite indulgent Food:

Hmmmmmmmmmmm toss up between CHOCOLATE and super sweet thick espresso. Pizza runs a close third.

6. Are you training for your first triathlon? If not, which ones have you done?

The Olympic Distance LA Triathlon in 2003 was my first race and I do it every year. Since then I’ve done Long Beach, Nautica Malibu, San Diego Wells Fargo, Chung King Newport. All a number of times. Long Beach is by far my favorite not because it is a sprint but because I can sleep in, it’s a quick bike ride or a short drive and it’s a well organized fun nice little race I LOVE it. This year I am tackling the Honu 70.3 in June as my first distance race.

7. What inspires you to do triathlons?

My trainer originally pushed me to do my first one. He literally took me to the bike shop to buy my first bike and that was in late July 2003 and in September I did LA as an Olympic distance race. I made every mistake possible and had a miserable day BUT finished. Woke up the next morning sore and absolutely hooked. It’s a mix of three sports so you are never bored, the people you meet are fantastic and you are always working to improve yourself. It is a way to stay vibrant and active and to hopefully stave off that feeling of “being old”. I didn’t start until I was 50 and to be honest I don’t feel my age and I think participating in an activity like triathlon is one of the key reasons.

8. WHO inspires you?

Lance Armstrong – without a doubt! His focus, determination, skill and now willingness to give back are remarkable. Whenever I hurt and my arthritis is getting to me I think of him and what he had to overcome and suddenly it really does not bother me. I have LIVESTRONG tattooed on my back as a reminder …oops!

9. What is your biggest challenge/fear?

Arthritis, it’s in my knees, left hip and lower back and it’s not going away. When I first found out my doctor told me two very important things. First I would never hurt less than I did at that moment and second that if I gave into it and stopped moving I would only hurt more…………so I move and it has good days and bad days but it will never get the better of me.

10. Any advice for future TriDivas?

HAVE FUN! Kelly and the Divas are great. In the picture Kelly used I’m wearing LATri Club but with a pink Diva Lei – when Kelly handed it to me as I crossed the finish line in Long Beach I felt so good and knew that there was always support. So this year it’s pink and black. The best thing about Triathlon is it is an individual sport and you are really competing against yourself and challenging yourself to be better. The Diva’s go a long way is providing the support to push yourself to be your best.

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

The support and acceptance. With my travel schedule I was hit and miss at practices but there was always that feeling of being welcomed. It just makes it easy.

12. What are your future goals?

This year with the time off my focus is on the once in a lifetime chance to really train and race:

April Diva camp in Kona and the Newport Beach Triathlon later in the month June the Honu 70.3 back in Kona

An Olympic distance in July or August

September my three favorite races Los Angeles, Malibu and finishing with Long Beach.

IF and it is a big IF I finish and feel good about my Kona race I really want to do one Ironman late in the year or early 2008 – if you don’t dream you will never make it happen.