When you arrive to a Masters’ workout at 5:30 a.m., you’ll
know Will Fuqua right away. He’s the guy that’s always smiling.
He’s excited to be swimming again.
Will joined MTSC Masters at the urging of his friends, Greg
Hines and Shaun Hollinsworth. As a triathlete, he loves to compete
and the Thursday night open water workout has quickly become
one of his favorites.
“Swimming is the most physically challenging sport I've ever
done, yet it's the easiest on my body.”
Fitness isn’t the only benefit Will has realized from the
sport of swimming. He met his wife Aimee when they swam together
on the team at Indian Lake as children. The family tradition
continues through their six year old son, Jack, who just completed
his first season swimming for Indian Lake. Little sister Abbie,
who is 3, is still taking lessons at Sea Star and hopes to learn
how to swim just like her brother.
Will enjoys being a part of MTSC Masters, especially the people.
“I wish I would have discovered the MTSC Masters team much
sooner!” he said.
“This is a great group of people that is focused on fitness
and having fun. Coach Ron has created an environment that helps
people to accomplish their individual goals as well as the team
goals. Regardless of your level of fitness - there is a lane
for you.”
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Susan Taplin took
a leap of faith when she began training in open water for her
first triathlon. Panic set in after about 200 yards.
“Ron let me hold on to the kayak and then I decided
I just needed to get back to the dock. It was a very scary experience
for me and I really did not want to try it again,” she related.
But this former Marine is no quitter. She persevered,
and now she finds the open water exhilarating.
“I continued going to the open water swims and
I am so grateful to Coach Ron (Chlasta). He just rode in the kayak
beside me the whole way telling me not to worry about anything.”
Susan’s competitive nature and her profession
as a nurse practitioner and instructor of nursing at Belmont have
earned her the nickname “Nurse Shark”. Her husband, Chas, is an
avid runner, having completed several marathons and his first
triathlon. Her sons, Tyler and Zane, have also been bitten by
the triathlon bug. Both have completed the Hendersonville Kids’
Triathlon.
Susan loves the spirit of the team and having
a coached workout as part of her training plan.
“I love the Masters group and I love having a
coach that understands each of us. He knows our strengths, our
weaknesses and our limitations. He also understands our goals
and works with us as a group while working with us as individuals.
It is a really special place and I am very grateful to be able
to participate in this group.”
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