Finding "Me Time" with Triathlon: Meet Nikki

Why I Tri: Nikki’s Story

As the Global Brand Manager for Liv Cycling, Nikki Jan is a busy woman! Part of the global team in Taiwan, she has helped Liv grow from the company’s humble beginnings as Giant for Women to what it is today: a globally recognized, comprehensive woman’s cycling brand that is dedicated to the female rider. She is one of the women behind Liv that make this brand tick. But more than that, she is a cyclist, a wife, a mother and a triathlete. This is her story.

Five years ago, I would have called myself a weekend cyclist. But, I had the opportunity to complete a triathlon as a relay with my two sisters that year, in 2010. I did cycling, Amy did swimming and Serena did running. We even had a team name: NASers (using capital letter of our English names). It was such a good race and we won 4th place! The experience was such great fun, from practicing and training with my sisters, all the way through completing the race. Our mom and dad, as well as many friends, were our best supporters and made the race easier and more fun.

I would call this relay my first triathlon experience, and it was beautiful. It made me realize that triathlon is about comradery, team work and making time for yourself. I loved the feeling of preparing for the race, not to go out and beat the competition, but to conquer an internal devil.

Taitung Flowing Lake Triathlon

After several years of loving cycling (but no more triathlons), I got married, became pregnant and gave birth to my baby boy. Restoring your body to what it was before child birth isn’t always easy for a working mom. Add in breast feeding, business travels and the run-around of everyday life and somehow getting fit gets put on the back-burner. Therefore, I decided to sign myself up for a sprint distance triathlon to meet my personal health goal in early 2015. I signed up as a challenge for myself. I needed balance in my life between all my different roles: mother, wife and working woman.  

The triathlon I choose to complete started with a lake swim, instead of a swim in the ocean. I thought this would limit the fear of swimming. However, when it came to the day of the race, it was windy. Really windy. There was a sandstorm in the nearby river. When I start swimming, it was 6 am and I felt the urge to swim toward to sun, just trying to survive. Then, a lot of self-talk happened. Luckily, I was able to talk myself into positive mental direction and finished the swim. Cycling wasn’t too difficult for me, but running surely was! I could barely move my legs. It took so much energy and they were already burning from the swim and bike. Again, self-encouragement works. I told myself: “It’s not as bad as the pain of childbirth!” and “I can do this, Justin (my husband) is waiting at the finish line.” Every little bit of encouragement helps.

Why I Tri

During the race, even just a little smile and head nodding from other racers and spectators meant so much to me. When you are fighting with yourself, all the people around suddenly became your helping warriors.

I finished the race and, looking forward, I will certainly do another triathlon. I know I can take on the challenge of an Olympic, half or full distance triathlon. Maybe I will even race in the ocean!

Triathlon allowed me to bond even more with my sisters. They both completed the triathlon with me, both of them had podium finishes and are committed to doing it again. Because I was training for a triathlon, I was able to gain back my fitness after pregnancy and become even stronger than I was before. I also fell in love with swimming, even though it was scary and difficult, I loved it.

If you are thinking about taking the leap and Trying a Tri, my advice is to commit! Signing up for the race is the most difficult part. After that, you will make it happen, believe me!

First Triathlon Finish