Joanna Zeiger

TRIATHLETE: OLYMPIC, 70.3, IRONMAN
70.3 WORLD CHAMPION, IRONMAN CHAMPION

PERSONAL DATA

Birthdate 5/4/1970
Hometown San Diego, CA
Resides Boulder, CO
Height 5’5”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2010, 1st Place, Boulder Peak Triathlon
• 2010, 3rd Place, San Dieguito ½ Marathon, San Diego, CA
• 2009, 1st Place, Longhorn Ironman 70.3, Austin, TX
• 2008, Winner, 70.3 World Championships
• 2008, 4th Place, Accenture Chicago Triathlon
• 2008, Winner 5430 Long Course Triathlon
• 2008, Winner Vineman 70.3
• 2008, 2nd Place, Buffalo Springs Half-Ironman
• 2008, Winner Eagleman 70.3,
• 2008, 4th Place, Olympic Trials
• 2008, Winner Desert Classic Duathlon
• 2007, 2nd Place, 5430 Long Course Triathlon
• 2007 10th Place Richards Bay World Cup
• 2007, 2ND Place Ironman Arizona
• 2007 Winner Santo Domingo Triathlon
• 2007 Winner Bay Islands Triathlon
• 2007 2nd Place Palm Springs Half-Marathon
• 2006 Winner North American Women’s Ironman Champion, Coeur D’Alene
• 2006 Winner 5430 Long Course Triathlon
• 2005 Winner Ironman Brazil
• 2005 Winner St. Croix Half-Ironman
• 2005 2nd Place Life Time Fitness Triathlon
• 2005 3rd Place ITU World Cup
• 2004 2nd Place Ironman Canada
• 2004 2nd Place Pan American Championship
• 2004 2nd Place ITU World Cup
• 2003 Winner Buffalo Springs Half-Ironman
• 2002 Winner Vineman Half-Ironman
• 2002 Winner St. Croix Half-Ironman
• 2001 Bronze Medalist ITU World Championship
• 2001 Winner St. Croix Half Ironman
• 2001 Winner Buffalo Springs Half-Ironman
• 2001 Winner Mrs. T’s Chicago Triathlon
• 2001 2nd Place ITU World Cup - St. Anthony's Triathlon
• 2000 4th Place Sydney Olympics
• 2000 5th Place Ironman Hawaii Championship
• 2000 2nd Place ITU World Cup
• 2000 Winner Buffalo Springs Half-Ironman
• 2000 Winner St. Croix International Triathlon
• 2000 Winner USTS Pro National Champion Chicago Triathlon
• 1999 6th Place Ironman Hawaii Championship
• 1999 Winner Memphis in May Triathlon
• 1998 Winner Mrs. T’s Chicago Triathlon
• 1997 Winner Blackwater Eagleman Half-Ironman

BACKGROUND

Joanna is an accomplished triathlete excelling at all 3 distances in the sport, winning races in the Olympic, Half Ironman, and Ironman distances. She is an Olympic trial qualifier in 3 sports – marathon, triathlon and swimming.

Joanna's love for athletics began in the pool. Growing up in San Diego, CA Joanna quickly joined a local swim team at the age of 7 and remained on one until college. In gradual steps, Joanna improved her swimming skills to the extent that she was able to participate in US Olympic Swimming Trials in 1988 and again qualified for the Olympic Swimming Trials in 1992.

Joanna turned to running in 1992 after being hampered with temporary swimming injuries in order to provide herself a much-needed athletic release. It was a terrific fit and just what the doctor ordered. A year later, cycling found its way into Joanna's heart with a borrowed bike. With enthusiastic training, the three disciplines jelled shortly thereafter, leading to an age-group win at the Muncie Endurathon and a slot at the Hawaii Ironman Championship. Success at several triathlons including a 9th place finish at Hawaii Ironman earned Joanna Amateur Triathlete of the Year honors in 1997, providing her the confidence to turn pro the following year.

Joanna turned pro in 1998 and was recognized as USAT Rookie of the Year after demonstrating her triathlon versatility by excelling at both the longer Ironman distance races (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) and the shorter Olympic distance (.93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run).

In 2000, Joanna won Triathlete of the Year honors for her 4th place finish in the Olympics in Sydney, captured a 5th place finish 6 weeks later at the Hawaii Ironman Championship and a USA Pro Champion victory. In 2001 Joanna became a bronze medalist at the ITU World Championship in Edmonton. She has been a multiple winner at St. Croix, Mrs. T's and Buffalo Springs.

With a new goal of becoming the first woman at age 40 to win a World Championship, Zeiger has decided to take her preparations for the 2010 season to another level, launching her “Fast at 40” campaign. Targeted at women of a similar age, the campaign will teach and inspire novice athletes how to get active and excel at any age. Anyone can log online to follow Joanna’s blog, which will highlight her personal experiences in rehabilitation, training and competing, as well learn from a variety of professional contributors who will give regular tips, tricks and facts on anything from running and biking to biomechanics.

Joanna has dealt with significant exercise-induced asthma triggered by pollen allergy and pollution often prominent during triathlon training and competition. Her asthma requires her to take asthma controller medication regularly to prevent interfering acute episodes.

Near career-ending chronic back injuries interfered with her triathlon competing in 2004. Dedicated and extensive rehabilitation led to recovery and ability to compete at the elite level, shortly thereafter, Joanna placed 2nd at Ironman Canada and at ITU World Cup Cancun. Now fully recovered, Joanna relishes competing at world class levels at both the Olympic and Ironman distances.

Joanna has been successful academically while pursuing her athletic dreams. After receiving a B.A. in Psychology (1992) at Brown University Providence, RI, she went on to Northwestern University Chicago, IL to earn her M.S. in Genetic Counseling (1995). Motivated by the excitement of independent research, Joanna earned her Ph.D. in Genetic Epidemiology (2001) at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. She continued her education as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the same institution where she published 5 manuscripts in prestigious genetic journals on the gene-environmental interactions in cleft palate, cranial diseases, and cardiac disorders.

Joanna continues her genetics research activities as a Research Associate at the Institute for Behavioral Genetics (IBG) at the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, where she has also published research papers.

RELATED POSTS

Joanna Zeiger and other triathletes overcome lack of training sites to post personal triumphs

7.12.10 | by stantoncompany

Thanks to Boulder's Alan Villavicencio, a multisport training facility in Boulder is in the planning stages. In May, the Boulder City Council agreed to study the merits of the proposed Boulder Multisport Training Center, a $100 million project. "There's a current need in Boulder which is unmet," said Villavicencio, a neurosurgeon and triathlete who finished second in the (read more)

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Clients, Joanna Zeiger, Press, Sports, Triathlon |

O`Donnell repeats while Zeiger reclaims women’s crown at Boulder Peak Triathlon

7.11.10 | by stantoncompany

Two familiar faces earned victories at the Boulder Peak Triathlon on Sunday morning at the Boulder Reservoir. Tim O`Donnell won the men`s race for the second year in a row with a time of 1 hour and 54 minutes. Ken Reed came in second (1:57:24) and Matt Reed finished in third place (1:58:12), a day after winning the Life Time Fitness (read more)

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Clients, Joanna Zeiger, Press, Sports, Triathlon |

Fast at 40: Joanna Zeiger

4.26.10 | by stantoncompany

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Clients, Joanna Zeiger, Press, Sports, Triathlon |

Revolution 3 Radio chats Joanna Zeiger

4.7.10 | by stantoncompany

Join Stu and Heather as they chat live with Joanna Zeiger on BlogTalkRadio.com!

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Clients, Joanna Zeiger, Press, Sports, Triathlon |

Oceanside 70.3 Gear Tips From The Pros

3.26.10 | by stantoncompany

Every racecourse presents a unique set of challenges that can throw a wrench in the most meticulously planned race strategy.  The first major long course race of the season, Rohto Ironman 70.3 California, is tomorrow in Oceanside and the course boasts its own set of problems that will greet the racers on Saturday. Some of triathlon’s most (read more)

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Clients, Joanna Zeiger, Press, Sports, Triathlon |

« Previous Entries