Wow, what a surprise to see Susan Bartholomew Williams in Culpeper !   Susan  was the USA’s triathlon Bronze Medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics. When I first found out that Susan would be racing in Culpeper   I couldn’t help thinking when we first met years ago. …maybe 6 years ago  .. In any case it was before she was picked for the US Olympic Team to Athens .   Our daughter, Caren had just graduated from Culpeper County HS and we decided to take our first ever Carnival Cruise with the family.

There’s something you should know…  Randy had been trying to get me to take a cruise trip for over 5 years… but some history with motion sickness just kept delaying this… however this time I gave in and meeting the Williams helped  change my attitude – …  we would meet on a catamaran excursion to one of the islands.  Susan was vacationing with her siblings and their spouses .  It was the Ironman hat her brother in law, Mike was wearing that caught my family’s  attention !   She and her husband , Tim, were going to get a short swim  workout in before lunch and I would join them….well at least for a short while… Tim is also a great triathlete  by the way -  It just doesn’t happen  to most of us when we  travel for fun – and as I get older, I tend to be less inhibited when certain  opportunities present themselves -   I’m reminded alot how we should live our days as if they were  our last …… They are a sweet couple no doubt and Susan has since shared her Olympic experience many times with Triathletes around the country.

Susan today, is a Level II  Certified Triathlon Coach, and still a member of the USAT National Team.   In 2004  she started Commitment to Excellence Triathlon Coaching (C2Ecoaching.com) and  more recently in 2008 partnered up with former coach Bob Seebohar  coaching others through  Elite MultiSport Coaching Check out her website.

If only we’d known sooner about her visit  more of Culpeper could have met Susan   We’ll post a  interview Randy did with her recently at the race.     Thanks for visiting Culpeper and Congratulations on your awesome win !               Culpeper  Sprint Women’s Results

Susan and daughter Sydney in Athens