Team B*REAL

A family of endurance athletes where every BODY is accepted

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Meet The Team

I never thought of myself as an “athlete” but always felt I had an untapped potential for endurance sports.

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Gina
Hopkinton, MA

Siobhan
Quincy,MA

As a lifelong athlete I knew what I wanted, but wasn’t sure how to get there. Adina took out the guesswork. She worked with me to create an individualized plan that allows me to focus on my "why": I will not let MS hold me back.

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Letty defines herself as a revived learner athlete, reconnecting with the athleticism and activity that was prominent in her youth and learning from the more knowledgeable athletes she prefers to surround herself with.

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Letty
New River, AZ

Susan
Milan, MI

Susan describes herself as an older, stubborn athlete who races to finish. She is unphased by outside condescending opinions or judgments and self-assured in her ability and accomplishments as a triathlete. She races to prove her capabilities and is steadfast and adamant on never giving up until she crosses the finish line.

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Marci is a seasoned triathlete of 20 years who is living proof of what undying passion, devotion, and perseverance looks like in an athlete. She admits that she has not always been the strongest, fastest, or most decorated triathlete but is confident in the truth that this does not define her as any less of a triathlete or endurance athlete.

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Marci
Silver Springs, MD

Carlee
Gardner, MA

I never thought I was an athlete until I was 41 years old and I heard a trainer tell me that anyone with a body can be an athlete. It blew my mind! All these stories I had told myself since I was a child, that I was "too fat", "too tall", "a girl", "a musician" "a nerd"...I had convinced myself that meant I couldn't BE an athlete. Man was I wrong.

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Being an introvert by nature, I was never into the ”team scene”. I’m usually doing sports alone – me against me. I’ve been an active athlete for 30+ years and have been competing in events for over 20 years. I’m a triathlete, ultra runner, cyclist, surfer, open water swimmer, snowboarder, skateboarder.

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Cheryl
Placerville CA

Ann
Easton, MD

I love triathlon because I can switch to a different discipline instead of racing in one sport the entire race which, to me, is much more interesting than a single sport race. I’ve reached the podium, raced in heavy downpours, finished last and even found myself on television when Outdoors Delmarva filmed our race.

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Monthly Team Membership

open enrollment year round
$ 25
  • Online Community Support
  • LIVE Weekly coaching on topics including training, nutrition, strength, injury prevention
  • Monthly Motivation Meetings with expert guests
  • Team Challenges (and prizes 😊) to stay consistent with your training
  • Training and Motivational Tools and Resources
  • Virtual Group Training Sessions
  • Sponsor Discounts
  • Discounts on B*REAL Events (Winter Warrior, September Streak, VIrtual Triathlon)
  • A certified coach to guide you
Select This Membership

Annual Team Membership

open enrollment through February 28, 2025
$ 197
  • Online Community Support
  • LIVE Weekly coaching on topics including training, nutrition, strength, injury prevention
  • Monthly Motivation Meetings with expert guests
  • Team Challenges (and prizes 😊) to stay consistent with your training
  • Training and Motivational Tools and Resources
  • Virtual Group Training Sessions
  • Sponsor Discounts
  • Discounts on B*REAL Events (Winter Warrior, September Streak, VIrtual Triathlon)
  • Discounted lodging at Select Team B*REAL Races
  • Initial Performance Assessment
  • 10% off Private Triathlon and Swim Coaching
  • A certified coach to guide you
Select This Membership

Gina
Hopkinton, MA

I never thought of myself as an “athlete” but always felt I had an untapped potential for endurance sports. I love coach Adina and the energy on Team B*Real because we are real women who are passionate about sports and fitness. I went from ice dipping and yoga to help my immune and nervous system to swimming, biking and my first triathlon. I’m so thankful for the strength, support and encouragement I receive at Team B*REAL. I’m excited to continue challenging myself. 

Siobhan
Quincy, MA

As a lifelong athlete I knew what I wanted, but wasn’t sure how to get there. My goal was to do a triathlon and eventually try a half IRONMAN, despite my fear of open water swimming and crazy lack-of-time life. Adina took out the guesswork. She worked with me to create an individualized plan that allows me to focus on my “why”: I will not let MS hold me back. She encourages me with her infectious enthusiasm and gives honest feedback when it’s time to push harder or slow down. Adina literally held my hand and coached me step by step until I found comfort in the water. She believed in me until I was able to believe in myself. With Adina’s constant support I know I can make my big dream come true.  

Letty
New River, AZ

Letty grew up as a lover of swimming. Though she never really did it competitively, swimming was always one of her favorite things to do. Around 2010, she was introduced to triathlon, inspired by the sport’s test on your endurance and mental physicality. She followed triathlon for years, talking about it so much until doing a triathlon turned into a personal dream, but she just couldn’t stay consistent with her training. In years to come, she completed numerous 5ks and even ran the Disney 10k with her daughter in 2013 but remained distant from triathlon. She signed up for a couple pre-pandemic but never saw it through out of fear. 

Everything changed in 2023 when her mindset shifted from seeing triathlon as a daunting competition to a personal feat and test of her own mental and physical power. Before, the thought of not being able to keep up with other racers had terrified her, but now she determined that finishing was her only goal, even if she was the very last to do it. She completed her first triathlon, crossing the finish line despite being the very last finisher past the time limit, and nonetheless felt the indelible pride of accomplishing a long-time dream, assured that that race would not be her last.

Now Letty defines herself as a revived learner athlete, reconnecting with the athleticism and activity that was prominent in her youth and learning from the more knowledgeable athletes she prefers to surround herself with. She finds that BReal offers her so many resources to learn and she knows just where to go when she has questions, always settled in this feeling of being surrounded by knowledge and a potential for growth. 

She describes BReal as “an ultra inclusive, loving environment”, stating that “every single person in the group is thoughtful and helpful and encouraging”, making her feel like part of the team and that everyone wants you to succeed just as much as you want to succeed yourself. She is an individual set apart by her unwavering determination, positive attitude, and the joy she brings and circulates throughout the Team. 

Susan
Milan, MI

Susan is an athlete defined by her righteousness and eagerness to promote love and inclusion. Her story with triathlon started when she was 230 pounds, working with impaired preschool children and realized that weight, fitness levels, and size were negatively impacting her health and professional life. One day, she struggled to support herself while picking up a child, in turn almost dropping the child. She decided then and there to sign up for races, holding herself accountable to do right by herself and the preschool students she worked with and genuinely cared about. 

Susan describes herself as an older, stubborn athlete who races to finish. She is unphased by outside condescending opinions or judgments and self-assured in her ability and accomplishments as a triathlete. She races to prove her capabilities and is steadfast and adamant on never giving up until she crosses the finish line. On top of this, Susan is also defined by her tenderness and appreciation for the togetherness that triathlon and its related activities promote. 

Her favorite race this past year was the Turkey Trot with her family, deeply touched by how purely fun it was for everyone, how it united her family across their various ages, and allowed everyone to connect to a sense of pride for themselves and for each other. She is an athlete that values connection, stating that her favorite part of B*Real are the Saturday zoom rides where she can interact with other team members – something that does not come as easily during busy work weeks. 

For Susan, B*Real is unlike any other club. She explains that her experience in other clubs is “you go, you show up, you do your workouts, people go, they do their things, whatever”, whereas with Team BReal, “there’s actual tips and ideas and sharing… and real conversations without the condescending comments”. She characterizes other Tri Clubs as less personal, difficult to connect with and communicate within, but firmly maintains that BReal is not just a Tri Club, it’s a family. 

Marci
Silver Springs, MD

Marci is a seasoned triathlete of 20 years who has found true support, engagement, and encouragement with Team BReal. She swam throughout her childhood but it wasn’t until an interest meeting at the University of North Texas where she was introduced to her true calling: triathlon! Just like any beginner triathlete, Marci had no idea what she was doing when she ran her first triathlon in March 2004, but it was the culmination of inspiration, reassurance, and encouragement among other racers that pushed her to be one of the fastest finishers of the day. Immediately, she was hooked. Since her first triathlon almost 20 years ago, Marci went on to surpass what she believed to be her limits, completing several Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons as well as ten half iron distance, three full iron distance triathlons, and 20 marathons! 

Marci is living proof of what undying passion, devotion, and perseverance looks like in an athlete. She admits that she has not always been the strongest, fastest, or most decorated triathlete but is confident in the truth that this does not define her as any less of a triathlete or endurance athlete. Throughout her extensive experience in the world of triathlon, she’s encountered the sweeping mentality that the overwhelming support – which made her fall in love with the sport in the first place – is repeatedly targeted toward champions and winners. She recalls being enticed by the promised support offered by triathlon groups, only to realize that her meaningful accomplishments were not valued and merited less acknowledgement than those of members who were winning or qualifying for big races. 

What Marci has come to love about BReal is that everyone is treated like a champion, every member and accomplishment is worth celebrating, and every part of her journey as a triathlete is seen as worthwhile because it is important to her. In an interview with B*Real founder Adina O’Neill, she says about triathlon “I am passionate. If there’s something that I really love, something that makes me happy, I am passionate about continuing to do what I love, even if there are others – which I’ve obviously experienced in the past few years – that have told me that you don’t belong. I’m passionate. I love it. It makes me happy”. 

Triathlon has enabled her to ease her struggles with depression and anxiety and she defines her proudest accomplishment as showing up and making it through the 2023 season despite her own personal struggles. This year, she looks forward to completing her first open water 5k swim, a goal in the making for the past 12 years. Marci is tenacious and dedicated, finding that Team BReal has given her a family with which she can share and preserve her love for the sport.

Carlee
Gardner, MA

I never thought I was an athlete until I was 41 years old and I heard a trainer tell me that anyone with a body can be an athlete. It blew my mind! All these stories I had told myself since I was a child, that I was “too fat”, “too tall”, “a girl”, “a musician” “a nerd”…I had convinced myself that meant I couldn’t BE an athlete. 

Man was I wrong! 

About a year later I met Adina through social media and was blown away by her intense compassion and courage to stick up for those of us who didn’t fit this strange societal norm of what athletes were. Adina is fun, caring, adventurous and knowledgeable about many things, especially being a triathlete.  I never even thought of this as something I would do until I met her…and now it is a goal of mine to achieve! 

I am currently a health coach and am finishing up my yoga teacher training to be a certified yoga instructor this year. I am an avid explorer of the great outdoors and love to hike,  kayak, swim, ride my stationary bike, workout to my fitness programs in my home and practice mindfulness. 

I am excited to see where this next year takes me and to see what Adina has planned for all of us at Team B*REAL!!

Cheryl
Placerville, CA

Being an introvert by nature, I was never into the ”team scene”. I’m usually doing sports alone – me against me. I’ve been an active athlete for 30+ years and have been competing in events for over 20 years. I’m a triathlete, ultra runner, cyclist, surfer, open water swimmer, snowboarder, skateboarder.

I met coach Adina on social media a couple of years ago. She was starting a Tri team. I didn’t really think I needed a coach, but decided to check it out.

Team B*REAL is soooo much like a family. Everyone is so supportive of everyone else. I feel like I can be me. Since being on Team B*REAL I’ve become more connected. I started coming out of my box and sharing my adventures; not feeling like I’m being judged. I love that everyone is involved. I love that everyone talks and shares info.  I feel like I’m part of something.

I’m excited to watch my teammates reach their goals. I’ll be the loudest cheerleader out there for each and every one of them. All while I’m working towards my finish lines.

Thank you coach Adina for bringing me out of my box and for being more than a coach, for being my friend. Let’s Go Team B*REAL!!!

Ann
Easton, MD

I’m honored to be a featured athlete on Team B*Real.  I love triathlon because I can switch to a different discipline instead of racing in one sport the entire race which, to me, is much more interesting than a single sport race.  The gym had been my second home since my dad first took me to one in 1980. I have a 31-year running, 40-year cycling and 39-year swimming background.  I was cross-training a lot because it was less boring than doing the same routine repeatedly every day.  That was the precursor to discovering triathlon.  

In 2017, an opportunity arose to combine my love of swimming, biking and running into one sport and I started racing triathlons.  I have done 14 events of varying distances from 69.1 to super sprint.  I’ve reached the podium, raced in heavy downpours, finished last and even found myself on television when Outdoors Delmarva filmed our race.  These experiences caused me to adopt the perspective that triathlon is an adventure and to believe that anything can happen on race day.  You can train hard and be as prepared as possible on race day but if weather conditions turn brutal or your bike breaks down, you might wind up not finishing the race.  These unexpected situations have nothing to do with your athletic skills or fitness.  The best way to deal with it is to put your chin up and realize tomorrow is another opportunity to race.  Take it!

Coach Adina has been amazing, not just to me, but the rest of our team.  She is accustomed to successfully coaching a diverse background of athletes and has the patience and temperament to help us succeed, even when our individual goals may be different.  She fosters an environment of respect and camaraderie in our team, which is invaluable.  She also gives wonderful pointers on how to improve one’s performance and fitness.  I’m excited to see what the future holds for us! “