Q. What are you reading?

A. I just finished reading "Dreams from my Father" (the biography of Barack Obama) ... I'm not a political person, so I'm trying to get more knowledgeable before the next elections. I also have a book that lives in my car, that's my bible, called "Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes" by Monique Ryan. With all my kids' activities, I have little moments, like a half hour, to read while someone is at sports. I've never read it cover to cover, but it's a good reminder of what I should be doing for my body with Ironman and other training.

Q. How did you discover them?

A. My coach gave me the sports nutrition book because I was training like a full-time endurance athlete and racing like one, but not eating like one. Barack's I took from the library recycling shelf. We spend a lot of time there — my kids are at that age, so we're at the library once a week. And I went to Punahou and Barack went to Punahou, so I thought I'd read about him.

Q. You didn't start out wanting to be a triathlete, as Obama wanted to be a leader, but does his passion for politics resonate with your own for athletics?

A. I definitely relate to his drive. People ask me how I do what I do. You decide you love something and you have to see how far you can go with it, and that's a parallel that I see. ... What I'm doing is personal, but he's changing lives — so I'm certainly not doing things as big as he does. I'm just enjoying what I do and pushing myself, and hoping to motivate people and women along the way.