Meet our April Athlete Spotlight, Sanaa Cody! Sanaa has an incredible journey of finding and excelling at triathlon. She juggles all three sports, in addition to an overall active life around the water, work as a CPA, and caring for animals. Sanaa has a big heart, extending to fellow triathletes, stray dogs, chickens, and beyond.
Age: 43
Occupation: CPA (Tax Compliance hence why I can't ever do Galveston 70.3)
How long have you been swimming, cycling, running, and/or doing triathlons?
I've been running the longest. I moved to the states at the age of 17 and I vividly remember the first time I went for a run outside in short shorts and it was just normal, not something I could do in the country, Morocco, where I grew up. I'd never seen a lap pool until I was 26 years old, and I bought my first bike ever at the age of 30. About a couple of years later, I signed up for the Small Texan triathlon and the rest is history :-)
What aspects of triathlon do you enjoy most?
I love the challenge of juggling three sports and I love that it is a continuous learning endeavor; but what I love most about triathlon is that I find it is a really good metaphor for life. You have to constantly grind, you will have good days and bad days, good races and bad races, but the ultimate beauty of the journey is the people you meet along the way and the friendships that grow from it and I've been lucky to have a very rich experience in this front.
What has been your favorite training or racing event, and why?
Austin Half Marathon. I love the vibe Austin has on race weekend, I love the course, and it is the last race my dear friend Shelley and I did together before she passed. I will always do that race in Shelley's memory.
What is your favorite post-workout or race meal?
Nothing ever tastes good after a race, other than fruit; on long training days, what I really want is all the cupcakes and apple turnovers and cherry strudels but I stick to a healthy bowl of old fashioned oats with apples and bananas for something sweet or a bowl of curried chickpeas over brown rice for something savory.
What is one recent accomplishment you are proud of?
Finding a stray dog a loving home, this gives me the most joy in life.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A professional mountain biker.
What is something no one knows about you?
At one point in my life, I was fluent in 5 different languages.
