We were floored when we came across Winter’s story. This 11-year-old lost her father to prostate cancer almost two years ago. But instead of wallowing, she got working. Now, she’s an ambassador for the IronKids triathlon series, runs a non-profit called Team Winter and, oh yeah, tears it up regularly in her competitions. Winter chatted with GL about how she stays so fast.

True Dedication. “My typical morning starts at the gym at 5 a.m., training with my mom. We usually spin, do treadmill workouts or weights for an hour-and-a-half before school. After school, I have either track practice or cross-country practice depending on the season. Every weekday, I train on a competitive swim team. Training is the easy part—it’s managing all the other stuff in my life that can be difficult.”

Give it a Tri! “Triathlon gives you such a sense of accomplishment as you cross the finish line, and it really promotes a healthy lifestyle. It teaches you to be independent and strong and not to be dependent on friends and teammates. You’ll be hooked!” Check out ironkids.com to learn more.

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