Ironsmith Turns Colvin on to Triathlons

By Lisa Lynam

Five years ago, three-time Grammy award winner Shawn Colvin sought coaching advice from triathlon trainer Sarah Scott, owner of Ironsmith, Inc. in Austin, Texas and changed her life.

Colvin, an Austin-based singer-songwriter, made her debut at the Danskin Women's Triathlon in Austin, Texas on June 4. Her performance - a fifth place finish in her age group out of 196 for the .75 km swim, 20 km bike and 5 km run - was certainly one to applaud. It represented several years of hard work, commitment and lifestyle changes.

Scott was there every step of the way to fine tune the talented musician's 
racing and training program and create lasting effects on Colvin's life.

"Somehow this idea of a triathlon crept in," Colvin said. With Scott's guidance she decided she wanted to do the Danskin. "I was running and weight training and didn't have interest in swimming - I thought it was boring. I didn't branch out until I made the goal to do the Danskin. It's been a surprising outcome. I've learned how to perform these sports in a whole different way. I've watched myself get more efficient and it has really been fun."

After 25 years in the music business, the 44-year-old mom said she had begun to lose sight of what was fun. "My twenties I spent paying my dues and living in New York. I struggled. In my thirties I experienced a higher level of success, but I was on the road constantly, really having no time to enjoy anything. It was exhausting," said Colvin, who produced four albums over 10 years, with "A Few Small Repairs" going platinum in 1997. "You get caught up in making your dream reality."

Balancing the demands of work on her fifth album, her 2-year old daughter Callie, and training was a challenge, Colvin admits - "but it can be done. I've had the motivation to follow through and I didn't come up with excuses."

Colvin trained with Scott's Team Ironsmith - for up to two hours a day.

"This is really the first thing in a long time that I've really been excited about. It's really changed my life," Colvin said. "I've quit smoking and enjoyed the spirit of camaraderie and healthy competition."

Despite her popularity on the stage, Colvin admits triathlon has struck a chord that drives her to succeed. "It's built my ego. I've never ever in my life competed. I'm not used to pushing myself through physical pain.but that is the interesting thing about it for me - pushing your body to get better. That's where the ego kicks in. It's just my nature to want to do well at it. I want to be good."

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