THE HOLDENS

To say these are busy days in the Holden family would be to completely understate the situation. In April, Terri Holden was chosen via the lottery to compete in the Hawaii Ironman. In September, cyclist daughter Mari traveled to Sydney to represent the U.S. in the Olympics, where she won a silver medal in the women’s time trial. Of course Terri and husband Jim were there, along with daughter Tami. Next week Mari will compete in the World Championships in Plouay, France, and her mother will be making her way through the lava fields of Kona. The frequent-flier miles have been stacking up for everybody, not the least for proud husband and father, Jim Holden.

Terri Holden, 54, lives in Ventura, California, and has been competing in triathlons since daughter Mari urged her to try one in 1991. Mari, 29, now lives and trains in Boulder, Colo. After enjoying early success as a triathlete, she switched to cycling in 1993 and has never looked back, racking up five national time-trial championships, one national road-race title and numerous top-tier finishes in international events. Terri, who claims no athletic background until she took up triathlon, has found success in the sport, winning her age group in several Southern California races and, most recently, logging a 6:31 at the Keauhou-Kona half-ironman this year. Her previous best was 6:26 at age 50 on a flat course.

On the eve of the Ironman, Slowtwitch copy editor Amy White thought it was high time to talk to these women about training, racing and family.

AMY WHITE: Terri, I hear that the whole reason you got into this triathlon business was Mari. Can you explain how this happened? I hear it's a good story.

TERRI HOLDEN: I vividly recall watching Mari participate in her first triathlon in Oxnard—part of the Bud Light Series in the late ’80s. I had never heard of triathlon and could not even fathom what her friend was telling her about the "transition area," etc. She had only just completed her first ocean swim, and I didn't know she could run, but she ran away with an age group win—and we were all hooked! She talked me into doing a local little tri with her in Ojai—she did the swim and bike, and I did the "run" because I couldn't swim or bike, but I knew I could at least jog/walk three miles. We were the first place women's team, and it was so much fun! After that, I decided to try to shed some of my "matronly" bulges and get into some kind of exercise program. When I suggested water aerobics, Mari told me that I should just SWIM—but I had all kinds of excuses not to do it. She didn't listen and, instead, took me shopping for a bathing suit, cap and goggles. Role reversal!

AW: Mari, let's hear your version of it!

MARI HOLDEN: I had been racing triathlons, and I really wanted to get my mom more involved in an active lifestyle. I took her to the pool, and also her first ocean swim. She took the ball from there, and has never looked back!

AW: Terri, you were chosen for Kona via the lottery. I know that you told no one when you sent off the application. Was this the first time? What made you decide to enter this year, and how did you feel when you heard the news? How many years have you been in triathlon?

TH: You're right—I told NO ONE (not even my husband) that I had sent off my application for the lottery. It is, to me, a very personal decision. This was the first time I had even considered it, and it just seemed like the time was right for the new millennium. I did my first tri at age 45 in 1991 and spent the remainder of the 45-49 age group just doing sprints. When I aged up in 1996, I decided to go for the longer events—I did my first Olympic distance, half-ironman, half-marathon, and marathon, and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery by the time I was 51. I will soon be aging up again (January 2001) and decided it would be very special to finish off this age group, and start the new millennium, by participating in the ultimate triathlon. A good friend called me at work the day the lottery results were announced via the Internet. I had not yet seen them and when he said, "Congratulations," I didn't know what he was talking about! When he told me, I was so excited that I left work immediately to 1) confirm his statement, and 2) run around the house saying "ohmigod" so much that I had to take a nap. I was excited and scared and knew that I had a lot of work ahead of me! But I welcomed the challenge to have the opportunity of a lifetime!

AW: Mari, you enjoyed athletic success first as a triathlete. When did you start racing, and what prompted you to switch from triathlon to cycling?

MH: I started tris in ’89. I switched to cycling in ’93. I had found some success in triathlons, and raced well as a junior and then as a pro for a year, but I never really could figure out how to train for all three sports. I tried to train at each like I was racing it as an individual sport. When I moved to Colorado, I started to train with the national cycling team to work on my cycling. I found that I really enjoyed the training, and also the support. The cycling federation took me on as a developmental rider in my first year, and I raced the Tour Feminin (Women's Tour de France) my first year.

AW: Terri, I know you're a proud mom. How do you think you'll feel in Sydney? What do you think of Mari's athletic achievements?

TH: Proud is putting it mildly! Mari is my inspiration, and I am constantly amazed by her athletic achievements. We were more focused on the academic pursuits while the kids were in school and did not really push them towards athletics, so she has pursued this on her own. Her drive comes from within, as I think it needs to in order to compete at the international level. I know that I will be nervous during the races in Sydney. Last year at
World's in Italy, I was a nervous wreck. This time, I plan to try to remain a little more calm and know that she will do her best, as always. I also plan to wave that flag a lot! [Ed. Note: Mari gave her mom a lot to wave the flag about, coming home with a silver medal in the women’s time trial in Sydney.]

AW: Mari, I also know you're a proud daughter. What do you think of your mother's achievements as an athlete?

MH: I am so very proud of my mom. Her generation didn't grow up with sports like mine did. I don't think she ever thought of herself as an athlete. Now, I have her calling me and casually telling me how she rode for 112 miles, or ran 20 miles. She doesn't see it as amazing, but I can remember when she thought the beach was too far from our house, and it was only five miles away! I want to tell everyone that my mom is in the Ironman!

AW: Do you two ever give each other advice about training and racing, especially the mental aspects of competition? Furthermore, do you think there are any family traits that you both share?

TH: Mari gives me advice when I ask for it, and it's always good advice. My only advice to her is "do your best." I cannot even imagine what it must be like to compete at her level, or what it must be like to train (physically and mentally) at that level, so I just remain on the receiving end of advice. It's really special for me to be able to ask her opinion, since I know she has no ulterior motives and will tell me what she REALLY thinks and why. I trust her. Shared family traits? Well, we both started relatively
"late" as athletes but we seem to share a drive to work for what we want. I'd like to
think I share her strength, her focus, her ability to push herself to the limit, and her high pain threshold, and I guess I'll see how much of that we really share on October 14! We are both doing what we love.

MH: I think that we both share the trait of determination. We both work hard to achieve our goals. I also think that maybe we were blessed with high VO2s and high pain thresholds! I try to give my mom advice about training, but she is moving into uncharted territories, so maybe she'll have to help me out when I finally decide to do an Ironman.

AW: Terri, I know you have gotten at least one hand-me-down bike. That must give you some good karma. Can you comment?

TH: I love the hand-me-downs that I get from Mari! There's good karma all around. It's pretty special to know that I'm riding the bike she rode to her national championship! Makes me feel good, anyway, and that's all that matters. At my stage, I do not need to win—I just need to be happy where I am, and I'm VERY happy on a cool Mari bike!

AW: Terri, if you could give Mari one piece of wisdom before she races in Sydney, what would it be?

TH: Relax and do your best. I know she will.

AW: Mari, what words of advice will you tell your mom before she toes the line in Kona?

MH: I would tell her to keep it steady and enjoy the day. She knows how proud of
her I am, and I don't want her to get all teary-eyed right before the start!

AW: Has being involved in athletics strengthened your mother-daughter relationship? Do you feel it gives you something in common?

TH: It has absolutely strengthened our relationship, especially because there is major role reversal when we are talking about athletics. Mari has brought a whole new dimension into our lives, and we are much better for it. We have learned a lot from her and continue to listen and learn. If I am feeling down because I'm tired, she knows what to say to me. It's really nice to communicate my feelings about training and racing and have her
understand exactly.

MH: I'm sure that sports have strengthened our relationship. It is great to have a common love. I think I'm even starting to look like my mom! I showed up at the Olympics and we even had the same hairstyle!

AW: Now, talk to me about the big cheerleader in the family, Jim [Holden, proud husband and father]. These are a busy few weeks for him.

TH: The big cheerleader has been very understanding during these long training days leading up to Ironman, especially when I tell him, "I won't be in the office today," or ask, "Where shall we go for dinner?" I could not ask for a more supportive husband. Whenever I race and see him on the course with his big smile, his big voice and his camera...what a morale-booster! It makes me very happy to know that he is involved, and the pride in his face shines through.

MH: My dad is my biggest fan, and it is a great feeling to have him out there. My family has always been a big part of my life, and to have them be able to be there for my important races makes me feel good. Sometimes the results are good, and sometimes they are really bad, but I always feel loved, and I know that they care no matter what.