Her Story

Because nothing motivates us to stay healthy more than meeting other athletic women who do it all, Her Sports brings you the stories of women just like you. If they can do it, so can you!

Name: Nicole von Germeten

Sports: Running (racing 800 meters to marathon), sprint triathlon

Age: 32

Occupation: History professor, Oregon State University

Where I live and play: The San Francisco Bay Area and Corvallis, Ore.

Marital status: Married

Kids? No

Animals: One cat, Goblin

First love: Classical ballet. I danced from age 7 until I was 18. I performed in children's roles with the Boston Ballet and during the summer in Vermont.

Favorite place to be active: The trails of the Bay Area

Role model and why: I have met a few women in my field who are famous for their work, have published well-received books, but also stay very fit and active. They are my role models.

Ideal active weekend: Camping on the beach in Santa Cruz, Calif., and then running the Wharf-to-Wharf race on Sunday morning.

Proudest active moment: Placing in the top 10 in the Triple Crown Trail Championship. This includes three challenging races in the East Bay - the Tilden Tough 10-miler, Lake Chabot Trail Challenge Half Marathon, and the Dick Houston Memorial 9-Mile X-C Race.

Best training tip: Get your workout done first thing in the morning

Gear I can't live without: Running shoes and a radio with earphones

Favorite pre-workout/race meal: Hot chocolate

Sport I'd most like to try: Surfing

When I'm not running I'm: Teaching, preparing for classes, reading fiction from Latin America or New Zealand, watching foreign movies (especially Chinese-language ones), translating a Spanish book written in 1627.