My sincerest thanks to:

 
(It's all smiles after completing our first triathlon in 2000.  Keri Stanley(l), Susan Kane (r))

Keri Stanley, my 10 years younger sister-in-law, who first challenged me to join her in doing a triathlon.  She had been a high school All-State athlete-I couldn’t walk and chew gum.  Why she thought I could do a triathlon, I’ll never know.  If not for Keri, I may never have discovered The Danskin Women’s Triathlon Series and all the ways I’ve grown because of it.  


Sally Edwards and Susan riding, after riding to the top of Mt. Constitution in the San Juan Islands near Seattle, WA.

Sally Edwards, friend and mentor to me and so many other women.   Founder and President of Heart Zones Inc.  CEO of The Sally Edwards Co.  Inspiration to tens of thousands of women as the National Spokewoman for the Danskin Triathlon series.  Well aware that I would always be a “middle of the packer”, she recognized something in me and encouraged me to Fly.  

Joy Hermson, President of Heart Zones Training, with whom I immediately “clicked” when Sally first introduced us.  So generously shared her contact database of Team Danskin coaches through whom I reached out for stories.  

All the Heart Zones Team Danskin Training coaches who encouraged members of their training teams to share their stories.  Some I’ve met, others not.  I thank you all.

The dozens of women who have taken the time from their demanding schedules to share their triathlon stories and pictures with a total stranger based on an email request or phone call with the hope that their stories would somehow help someone else.   

                                     
            (Jean Spiegelhalter, Peggy Olson, Karen Seibert, Susan (l-r))

The friends who have accepted the challenge to join me in a triathlon or two:  Peggy Olson (my longest, best friend), Jean Spiegelhalter (who always keeps me challenged on our bike rides), Karen Siebert (who set the pace on our runs), Christine Cantarino (the far too busy business executive who amazingly found the time to tri).  I hope to find each of you at a start line again with me!

Vickie Driver, who one of the days will join me in tri-ing.  In the meantime, however, she was a great resource in first developing ideas for the book.

Ruth Kaminski, my “book angel”.  After Ruth submitted her story, we connected via email and became friends—though we’ve never met.  When life got complicated or the going got tough, amazing Ruth was always there, believing in me and my project, offering encouragement to keep moving forward.

Last, but not least, my family.  For Mom (Rosemary Satinover) who has meticulously proof-read all my chapter drafts and book proposals.  To Mom and Dad (Elliott Satinover) for a lifetime of love and support and belief that I could do anything I set my mind to.  My children, Gregg, Matt and Carly, who sometimes didn't get my full attention as I sat at my computer and typed away.  And, finally, Mark Kane, my husband of 27 years.  How grateful I am for his support of me and this project, accepting it would take away from the time I worked with him at our construction business and understanding that it was something I needed to do, even if I never sold more than a handful of books.