Susan and Carlos were unlikely friends. She was a young, overweight college professor and a bit of a trainwreckjuggling a divorce, a pack-a-day habit, and hiding empty boxes of wine under her bed. He was her boss, an Ironman triathlete, with life figured out. She was a whiner, he was a hard-ass. He had his shit together, she most assuredly did not.

Susan Lacke is a writer, college professor, and adventure junkie. She holds a doctorate in health education and a M.S. in family and community wellness. Her writing has appeared in many national and regional publications including Triathlete, Women’s Running, Competitor, and Salt Lake magazine. She is the author of Life’s Too Short to Go So F*cking Slow and has finished multiple Ironman and marathon races.