When you hear the word “athlete”, you most likely don’t picture a high school physics teacher. Yet, Bellaire’s very own AP and CP physics teacher Anastasia Warren has been competing in triathlons for over four years. Coming from a background of competitive swimming, Warren has been racing almost her whole life. She started out doing sprint distance triathlons, which is 16 miles of swimming, biking, and running combined. But she decided that was too frenetic, and she moved up a level and began participating in Olympic distances, which are over 30 miles. Warren has also completed four half-iron man competitions, which is the second highest stamina level with 70.3 miles to cover.

The beginning of Warren’s journey began at an unsuspecting moment.

“I was in a really bad marriage, and then I saw a sign for triathlon training,” Warren said. “I said well, I can swim and I can bike, and I want to get into running. My father told me I could do anything I put my mind to.”

To prepare for the races, Warren first began training with a coach, but later decided to train on her own to maintain her level.

“It’s the biking I have to work on, so I bike about once or twice a week about 15 to 30 miles each time.” Warren said. “I live right by a park, so I’ll do that trail. It gives me some hills so it’s not just flat, and I don’t have to dodge cars quite so much.”

All that training leads up to one moment: race day.

“I spent so many years swimming competitively that no matter what kind of race I’m doing, I don’t think about it until the day I wake up,” Warren said. “That’s kind of when I get nervous.”

All thoughts of doubt vanish as soon as the gun goes off, and at that moment, Warren said, she knows exactly why she races.

“You get to the end, and even if it’s short, it’s such an accomplishment,” Warren said.

Warren’s journey meant more to her than how she places in races; all she wants is to do better than her previous race, as she isn’t a competitive type.

“I’m not the fastest, but I’m not the slowest,” Warren said. “There was one race I actually finished last in. I was so excited because I didn’t quit. Knowing I had the personal integrity and fortitude to finish really makes me happy and makes me comfortable within my own skin.”

She has competed in triathlons through rough times in her life.

“I did a race five days after my mom died, because I know she’d kill me if I dropped out,” Warren said. “That one had a lot of emotion.”

Triathlons have greatly impacted her life, as they have given her a better self-image.

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Provided by Anastasia Warren