A Letter From Dorette L. Sommer, Run and Triathlon Coach

Photo: Dorette L. Sommer

Dear Mitch,

You and your photographers nailed it head on and I am completely moved by your acknowledgement of “The Power of Thought”…I was so moved, it brought me to tears. I am Dorette Sommer, the woman on Page 16 of the August issue of Triathlete Magazine. Your story speaks volumes and brings validity to the values I hold on mindful training/racing, something that can not be measured by a power tap, heart rate monitor or calorimeter. If a random photo of myself could be partnered with any athletic article, this is the exact message I hope that this photo could bring. Here I am at the California ½, bonking and facing my first DNF, a very, very difficult day.

I consider myself one of those Upper-Middle-Class-Age-Group racers: sometimes in the top ten and sometimes in the top twenty. My annual “Annual Training Plan” goal is to be faster and stronger (or more specifically, to have a :34 min ½ mi. swim or sub 1:50 ½ marathon). I have an exceptional coach and training plan, but the question for me on race day is “how well can I hold it together? What will I reach for or fall back on when my body or mental toughness begins to fall apart? How do I keep it together when I’m heading for top 10 or PR?” Mindfulness. I tell my athletes to “Hold their line,” a tool taught to me by my meditation teacher prior to my second Ironman distance race, where I nailed 1st in division and 3rd overall, shaving 1:28 off my previous time. Mindfulness.

Between my boyfriend (Duane Franks) and I, we as coaches teach our athletes the physical and spiritual in training/racing. Duane, an age group winner and Kona Finisher as well, has an exceptional background in with a Master's in Kinesiology, leading such age group greats at Kathy Winker and Jeri Howland, and I, completing my BS in Dietetics, a compelling background in meditation and spirit.

Thank you. THANK YOU, Mitch. Your message reached hundreds of thousands of athletes while hitting home for me and calling true to what I long to share with other endurance athletes. It’s a great honor to be the photo girl in your story.

Namaste,

Dorette L. Sommer

Run and Triathlon Coach

USAT Level 1 & USATF Certified

East Peak Sports

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