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Before she was a cyclist, Kristin Armstrong, was a tri-athlete. Most of her training involved hours of perfecting her strokes in the pool. Kristin was the Director of Aquatics at the YMCA in Boise ID. In 2003 Kristin, won the Bronze Women's Time Trial in the Pan American Games. Two years later she returned to the Pam American Games and took 1st place in the Continental Woman's Time Trial Champion.

Kristin Armstrong, 34, is often confused with Lance Armstrong's ex-wife. Kristin Armstrong, is making her own way, just as she always has. Before she turned eighteen she was a Junior Olympian in swimming. She also loved to run, and she excelled at it. Kristin was competing as a tri-athlete when she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthritis caused by the breakdown and loss of cartilage in the joints. It is a common condition that affects almost 20 million Americans. The standard recommendation after diagnosis is to lose weight and avoid any activity that would exert stress on the cartilage. Kristin is 5'8'' and 128 pounds. As a tri-athelete, she was being told her days as a runner were over. Her doctors advised she try a less strenuous sport like cycling because exercise would prevent her joints from "locking up" and help maintain their mobility.

Kristin Armstrong-surprised everyone including herself by making a quick jump from tri-athlete to full time cyclist. She has only been a competitive cyclist for a few years but she has risen quickly. In 2002 she competed in one of the most competitive women's road races in her hometown of Boise ID. The year 2004 was a turning point for Kristin-she studied the tactical side of racing. She was rewarded for her strategy and won the US National Road Race Women's Championship. The next summer she followed up the victory by attending the World's Time Trial Championships and winning a bronze medal. 2006 is the year she joined Team Lipton and won gold at the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

According to her interview in USATODAY, when she is asked how osteoarthritis is affecting her cycling today, Kristin said,"

"Surprisingly enough, very rarely do I have issues with my osteoarthritis. There are definitely those days when my hips ache and feel inflamed. Normally this is after a time trial or consecutive days of hard climbing. It helps that I take Vioxx daily. For now, this is the only way I can control the inflammation while living the active life I do."

Kristin Armstrong is still currently with Team Lipton. As she prepares to compete in the Olympic 2008 Beijing games she feels like she is on familiar ground. In a recent interview with NBC Kristin said when she was in the second grade her classmates voted her "Mostly likely to grow up to be an Olympian." On January 22nd of 2008-those childhood dreams came true. USA Cycling named Kristin Armstrong as one of the five athletes meeting the automatic nomination criteria for woman's road cycling in the 2008 Olympic Trials.

She earned her nomination by winning a silver medal for a time trial September 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany. Kristin describes herself as competitive-and in she rides 25 hours a week. She opts for lighter 90 minute workout on a flat course-in lieu of a day off. Her coach believes she should build strength to train for the Olympics and Armstrong stresses the importance of trusting his advice. Currently she is training in Boise, ID by skiing, cycling and practicing yoga.

Learn more about this author, R. Warner.
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