Member Spotlight – Paige Wooden

Paige Wooden

Have you lived or traveled in a foreign country?

Studied abroad in Madrid in 2003 (Spanish language was my minor in college). I just went back to Spain for the first time since then to bike Mallorca (one of the Balearic islands off coast of Spain). I also went to Rotterdam, Netherlands last year to represent USAT’s Team USA, which I qualified for at USAT Nationals in 2016.

Have you ever faced any obstacles in your life/career/fitness journey and what did you do to get over them?

I think one of my strengths is not seeing things as setbacks or obstacles, but instead as opportunities. Knock on wood, I’ve never experienced any major injuries. But in triathlon, if I get an minor niggle and have to not do a few things for a few weeks, I always look at it as opportunity to work on an area I’ve neglected (like strength, mobility, nutrition, or swimming). In work, I always see problems or setbacks as opportunities to step up and lead with a good example–it makes me and my team members stronger for for having gone through challenging times and perhaps learned new ways of approaching problems.

What are you involved with or passionate about? Is there any other side businesses or philanthropies that you are involved in?

I’m pretty passionate about nutrition and the environment. I gave up meat 12 years ago after learning about factory farming’s effects on the environment and animal welfare, and since then have learned more and more the many benefits that a vegetarian lifestyle has on our health.