San Martin
– San Martin’s accomplished Tri-Athlete Sue Robinson is racing
against the most challenging opponent of her life: stage four
ovarian cancer.
By Angie Young
San Martin – San Martin’s accomplished Tri-Athlete Sue Robinson is racing against the most challenging opponent of her life: stage four ovarian cancer.
But for the renowned tri-athlete, it’s not a story of defeat, but one of victory.
Robinson’s ordeal has knitted the South County athletic communities together from different parts of the country. Through their efforts, they raised $10,000 to donate to ovarian cancer research – hoping that soon the silent killer can be detected through screening. This is Robinson’s desire for future generations of women.
In November 2004, Robinson accomplished an impressive 10:44 personal record in the Ironman, while, unbeknownst to her, the stealth-like cancer was secretly growing inside her ovaries. The Ironman race comprises of three segments: swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, then running 26.2 miles, in the roughest conditions against the clock. One notable event is the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships in Kona last month. Robinson competed in eight Ironmans, including the World Championships in 2002 and 2003.
Scott Robinson recounts his wife’s progress before diagnosis in June 2005.
“Just four-weeks prior, Sue won her age group at the South Bay Triathlon, her time was slower and she wasn’t feeling well, but she never guessed that what was making her sick was an advanced stage of cancer,” he said. “A month prior we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary by both racing in the Ironman New Zealand.”
Despite her struggle, Robinson imparts encouraging words.
“Get out and live your dreams,” she said. “Never, never, never give up. Deep in my soul I believe I will race Ironman again, I try to see it in my head everyday. I see my husband and kids at the finish line, my chemo nurse there and my surgeon too.”
“Her amazing attitude, will to win, and love of others helps her through the rough times,” her husband said. “She simply amazes me.”
Gilroy’s Kelly Ramirez trained with Robinson and is indebted to her for her inspiration in helping Ramirez become a better athlete and person.
“A few years ago I found myself floundering in terms of training . . . I was about ready to give up on competing,” Ramirez said. “However, Sue would not hear of it. She took me under her wing.”
And now Ramirez wants to give back to Robinson for all that she did for her.
“Now as Sue faces her biggest challenge, I want to support her . . . I want to bring her to as many training sessions and competitions as I can.”
With Barbara Voss and Luanne Giacalone, she came up with the idea of Team Sue.
Denise Tuminaro and family spent nights creating the “TEAM SUE” embroidery with the date of diagnosis and colored emblem of Ovarian Cancer on jerseys, which the athletes wore in triathlons and marathons in California, Washington and Hawaii.
Zoot Clothing, one of the Triathlon sport’s top international clothiers, manufactured the jerseys. They are designing a line of active apparel with the purpose of giving the proceeds to ovarian cancer research.
Team Sue’s fifty-one members are spread throughout the South Valley and even as far as the east coast.
The team most recently made an appearance in the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco on Oct. 23 and will race again at the New York City Marathon in November.
