Meet Ellen Berge, AG 40-45
(Berge rhymes with turkey)
Interviewed by J. Finch, 11/25/03

So, you were quoted in the paper the other day. How did you become so famous?
    Remember when we were getting emails from that guy, the running guy-he's probably running out of ideas for his column-Hey! I don't even get the paper. A friend at work said, "You're in the paper."
What was the article about?
    Successful strategies for maintaining your fitness routine.
Why did you become obsessed with triathlon?
    I'm not obsessed. What are you insinuating?
    I guess I am a little bit, except for the swimming thing. I'm not swimming right now, but I will. A year ago, I wanted to do the LowCountry Splash and Mark Rutledge said I would be able to do that with no problem if I could swim 3000 yards. In the summer of 2001, I already ran and I was biking. After the Splash a brick dropped on my head and I said, "Duh, you can put all three together."
What kind of bike do you have?
    I have a used Cannondale R400, that was fixed up by Marshall. No one is sponsoring me yet, by the way (Jannette suggested I get a sponsor :)). I tried with my parents...
    In '97 and '98 I did the Stono Ferry Biathlon. I placed in my age group.
    I guess I'm obsessed with biking.
I have to do a century soon, maybe in April and I'd like to do a faster marathon.
Why do you want to do a century and a marathon?
    I just did 80 miles at Givhans Ferry; I was supposed to do the metric century and we missed the turn. If I did 80, I might as well do 100.
Why a marathon?
    To do it faster. I've done one, but it was slow.
How slow?
    I'm not going to tell you.
It might be inspirational for people reading it...
    No. It was really slow.
What quality do you think you have that allowed you to race in the SC Criterium ?(bike races)
    Obviously, I have no idea or I would never have done it. My cousin said, "Oh no, it's much too dangerous for you and especially the other people."
    But I didn't hurt anybody! I was too far behind.Now that I know how to draft I could do them. I was in way over my head.
Do your parents worry about you?
    What? No, we don't worry about each other. My mother is 78 and she's a downhill ski racer with the 70+ ski club. She also swims competitively in the Senior Games and plays USTA tennis. My mother was a swimming instructor so I learned to swim when I was little but my stroke is not great. I haven't made a commitment to swimming.
Do you have any advice for new triathletes?
    Wear the right shoes. (Ellen is a Physical Therapist)
    Stretching and strengthening the appropriate muscle groups. Ice even if you think you don't need it. Sooner of later, you're going to get hurt. In triathlon, you always have something to do. Even if you can't run, you can do something else.
What is your least favorite part of a triathlon?
    That would be the transition. It takes too long...for me.
What is most fun for you?
    Oh, I guess the biking.
What are your future goals?
    Do another marathon, a century and a Half Ironman.

Thanks, Ellen!