DS PRO APPAREL

Amber Toro

Cycling

Comfort and functionality. The Bibs have to be comfortable for long-distance riding, I rode 200+ likes in the Essential Cycling Bib Shorts. The jersey has to be comfortable and the pockets have to be large enough to carry bike tools and nutrition. Of course, it helps if they are also cute, but comfort and functionality come first 😉

Coffee, I love starting the day off with a nice hot cup of coffee and some time with my family before the day starts.

Cycling after work. No matter how the day goes I always look forward to getting out the door and into the mountains on my bike. It’s time for me to clear my head and enjoy!

Besides triathlon, I love coding, reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, and playing with my kids.

Being able to do what we do is a privilege, make sure that you approach training with that in mind. We should enjoy what we do, we “get to” go out and ride our bikes, we don’t “have to.” Be sure you are taking time to enjoy the ride.

One of my most challenging and memorable races was LOTOJA this year. It is a 200+ mile bike race that starts in Logan Utah and ends in Jackson Wyoming. Throughout the ride you pass through three states, climb 3 mountain summits and total over 8,000ft of elevation gained. It is an incredible experience to spend your entire day on a bike riding such a beautiful and punishing course. With such a long race it is not just about your physical endurance but your mental endurance as well. There are times when I just wanted to finish so I could be done and never have to do LOTOJA again, but by the next morning, I was already putting together my game plan for 2022. If you haven’t done LOTOJA you should absolutely put it on your bucket list, I have never experienced anything like it.

I started racing triathlons in 2008 and fell in love with the sport. I love pushing beyond my limits and finding out that I am stronger than I ever imagined. I spend most of my time on the bike now because I love it! To me, cycling feels like freedom. I get to go out every day and enjoy the beautiful nature that is right out my front door. No matter the day I am having cycling always makes me feel happy.

Consistency. Consistency will trump any other fitness habit in my book. It’s important to show up every day, even on the days you don’t feel like it.

Habit, I like to make my fitness routine a habit, not a decision. If it is a habit then it is easy to show up, you don’t have to rely on willpower to get you there.

I ride after work most days for an hour and a half to two hours. I will take one to two days a week as a rest day when I need them. I ride long on Saturdays 3-6 hours and usually a fun two-hour recovery ride with a cafe stop on Sundays. I incorporate 30min swim sessions and strength sessions into my mornings before work and take my dog out for a walk or run at lunch. I try to make training fun and low-pressure. The whole focus for me is to enjoy and make sure my body is feeling good. My diet is focused on gluten-free real foods. For breakfast, I will eat eggs and veggies or oatmeal and a blueberry protein shake. For lunch, I like salads and bowls. For dinners we will mix it up, some of my favorites are curries, tacos, and red lentil pasta. I also love fermented foods like kombucha, sauerkraut, and pickles.

I typically listen to electronic music when training.

When my kids were little we went through a really difficult time. I was laid off while I was pregnant with my second child, we were living in a cheap place in a bad neighborhood, we paid bills on prayers and miracles, we hit a real low and it felt like there was no way to fix the situation. But, over the past five years I changed careers, I went back to school for my BS in Computer Science and I took on the biggest physical challenges of my life which included a full 140.6 triathlon and LOTOJA. I built myself up from nothing and I am really proud of what I have accomplished as well as humbled and honored to be able to do the things that I love.