Zumbathon Brigantine, New Jersey: June 10, 2017

In spite of high foot arches and trouble with balance, Joy von Werder of Winter Springs, FL has always been a runner and cyclist. She was also eager to participate in a triathlon. “The training and racing aspects really appeal to me,” she explained. There was one huge problem though. Joy didn’t know how to swim. “So there I was, 39 years old, taking swimming lessons from the boy who gave my little kids lessons,” Joy laughs, but her voice changes quickly as she describes her first race.