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: : Carol Rivadeneyra

Sports: Running, triathlon, road and mountain biking, scuba diving, skiing

Age: 40

Occupation: Police officer, Suffolk County, N.Y.

Where I live and play: Long Island, N.Y.

Marital status: Married

Kids? Sara, 10; Regina, 8; and Raul, 6; and stepdaughter Jessie, 17; and stepson Carlos, 19.

Animals: Spirit, my 2-year-old golden retriever and running partner; two cats, Simba and Sugar; a hamster, Thunder; and lots of freshwater fish.

First love: Running—there's nothing like it to clear your head and put life in perspective.

Favorite place to be active: Fire trails across the street from my home, a pine barren Long Island has been very pro-active about preserving. I also love running barefoot on the beach in summer

Role model and why: Joan Benoit-Samuelson. I thought it was so awesome when she won the gold in 1984 in L.A., the first women's marathon in the Olympics.

Ideal active weekend: Doing a cycling tour with my husband or a group tour in Vermont or on Long Island. Ideal winter weekend would be skiing, with slope-side accommodations as the icing on the cake!

Proudest active moment: Finishing the Boston Marathon in 3:22. Also, completing Ironman Florida (didn't know at the time, but I was pregnant with my third child).

Best training tip: Don't overdo it. Listen to your body, and figure out what works for you. I was able to run 3:30 and under marathons with high weeks of no more than 50 miles.

Gear I can't live without: Nothing except the dog. I'm a minimalist.

Favorite pre-workout/race meal: The night before a marathon I eat pasta with marinara sauce and some veggies, and an energy bar the morning of the race.

Sport I'd most like to try: Windsurfing. I also tried snowboarding and loved it. Wish I lived closer to the slopes to get some more snow time in.

When I'm not running, I'm: Working or taking the kids to their activities.