Tri Team PDX strives to create an inclusive community where all

athletes feel welcome. We strive to build a community that embraces diversity in all its beautiful forms. Our goal is that anyone who joins us for a workout will feel comfortable and represented. We also acknowledge that our sport has historically attracted a limited

demographic. We recognize that some athletes of color, athletes who are gender diverse, or athletes who are living in differently sized bodies could feel apprehensive or excluded.

The TTPDX Equity group was formed to explore ways that we might be more intentional about advancing equity practices within our

organization. We are exploring ways to remove barriers to

participation by underrepresented athletes. We will soon support the Black Swimming Initiative’s Juneteenth Learn to Swim event. Another project is to create a gear lending library to reduce the need to invest in expensive equipment in order to try out a group workout or race. We are advocating to create gender non-binary race categories with local race directors. We envision partnering with other local organizations to introduce our sport and perhaps share resources with other communities, especially once COVID restrictions start to lift.

We know that we have a long way to go, but remain dedicated to work toward building a triathlon community that supports all athletes to train, race, and inspire — together!

If you have questions, ideas, or comments, or would like to consider joining us, please feel free to reach out to equity@tripdx.com.

With recent events shining a very stark light on the inequality and systemic racism pervasive in our society, we want to do more to support and include the many BIPOC athletes in our region. The TriTeamPDX board is working to develop a series of initiatives that hopefully result in more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) joining the multisport community – and developing a platform where BIPOC members feel welcome and supported.

TTPDX also honors all sexual orientations and gender identities. Come as you are!

We all benefit from a more diverse membership & leadership body, and each of you can help us shape what that looks like. Together we can make a lasting and significant difference, we are by nature, a very tenacious group of people after all.

For questions and ideas please reach out to info@tripdx.com

Jamie Rogers Rodas

Fun loving human who has fallen in love with the Triathlon sport and is proudly an Ironman class of 2019 (Arizona, 140.6).
Raised in love in a bilingual / bicultural family in Portland, OR & a very proud father of two young men.
I’ll be there for you to listen, help, cheer on and be a supportive & honored teammate of TriTeamPDX.

Emily Lighthipe

I am a Portland native who was raised in a progressive household based on two principals: 1)
well behaved women rarely make history and 2) act on behalf of those who can’t.
But simply “doing the right thing” isn’t good enough anymore. I am constantly challenging myself
and others around me to be aware if our actions and words are covertly racist or sexist.
Together we are holding each other accountable to lift up our BIPOC and LGBTQ+
communities. Being a part of the TTPDX Equity committee is one more way to be an activist and
an advocate for change. Along with the TTPDX Equity committee, I am also involved in the
budding, Portland-based project the Black Swimming Initiative whose vision is to eliminate the
effects of racism in local aquatics.

Liz Torres, RDN

I am a Portland native who was raised in a progressive household based on two principals: 1) well behaved women rarely make history and 2) act on behalf of those who can’t.
But simply “doing the right thing” isn’t good enough anymore. I am constantly challenging myself and others around me to be aware if our actions and words are covertly racist or sexist. Together we are holding each other accountable to lift up our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Being a part of the TTPDX Equity committee is one more way to be an activist and an advocate for change. Along with the TTPDX Equity committee, I am also involved in the budding, Portland-based project the Black Swimming Initiative whose vision is to eliminate the effects of racism in local aquatics.

dj Deaustria

Always  an active kid, sports was a good fit, along with berry picking and paper routes, by 8th grade I had begun to focus on wrestling and the mile, by H.S. I needed a part time so wrestling became the focus and sole sport until my  junior year when I decided to run a couple marathons during the  spring and summer, which lead to a season of cross county my senior year. Wrestling was still the sport that took me to collage,  first at Highline community college than Pacific University.
As an adult athlete, post Peace Corps I bounced around recreationally, mostly running 5K-26.2  then in 2000  I did Blue Lake Olympic, Pac Crest long course. 2000 was also  the year I was diagnosed with  severe osteoarthritis in my left hip and a leg length discrepancy.   I had made a goal to complete an Ironman in college. In 2002 I did 2 ironman triathlons, Bigfoot and Pineman. 03  I did IMLP. 04 IMCDA did me in, and I decided I had checked the box of completing an Ironman. 2007 while running the Wildwood I decided to go to  school to become a License Massage Therapist and be closer to my swim bike and run/walk hobbies. 2009 I met and started being coached by Dave Ciaverella, I began resting more, going slower, and walking.  I PR’d my HIM, and Olympic, but I was still obese.  I still walk all the aid stations 2010 I dropped to overweight but my hip was getting worse, my love of the sport was stronger then eve  and I registered for IMC, 2011 IMC was my worst time to date 14:17, my run was nearly 6 hours. After years of kicking it down the road I scheduled a hip replacement, for  January of 2012. 2012 IMCA  less than 6 months after my hip replacement I finished IMCDA with a 12:06. 2013 I went back to CDA for a PR of 10:54, couple weeks later inspired by the bombing at Bost got my first BQ at Sauvie,  a couple week later I  PR’d my HIM at Lake Stevens. 2014 IMCA moved to Whistler, and to July so the Portland contingent of athletes was huge, a teammate Qualified for Kona,  I had IMAZ in November  a place to stay  on the Big Island, for my big week, I could support Whitney, work the post race massage tent, and get an up close view of the biggest day in the Triathlon  world.  That week I decided to try for a legacy slot. IMAZ a weak PR 10:48. 2015 I PR’d my HIM at St. George going under 5 hours for the first and only time.  2015 I did IMCDA in record heat cracked the top 20 in my AG for the first time, a month later I did IMCA in a cold down pour, the slow bike translated to my only IM run split at sub 9 pace. 7 weeks later I did IM Tahoe, for my 10th IM. 2016 Ironman Vineman and IMAZ, at 12 just had to keep my spot in the legacy line. 2017  a little diversion with HC100 MTB race.  IMCDA( they said it was the final one) 2017 IMAZ was to date my best race ever, highest over all placing  157th/2331 5th in my AG also the shortest gap between me and the over all winner at 10:39 I was  2:46 behind the winner. 2018 Ironman Santa Rosa, meh.  A few month earlier Ironman offered to move my Legacy slot  from 2019 to 2018,  I should not have done it, but I did.  Kona the Ironman World Championships  was  for me so magical pure and simple.  It was my 16th Ironman branded IM my 18th ironman. 2019 I was hit by a trailer being pulled by a pickup in September I walked away but my training for IMAZ became just trying to finish it. It is always a goal of mine to  finish what I start,  in triathlon I’m most proud to have registered, trained for, started and finished 19 Ironman Races, of course with a variety of results.

Karen Smith Mularski

I joined TTPDX in 2019 and was delighted to be elected to the Board in 2020, half a year into a year of utter change, growth, and much pain and suffering. This group of kind, welcoming, and inclusive (and talented!) athletes is something special. I would be honored to give something back to a group who I feel have truly made this past year not only survivable, but full of laughter, joy, and growth.

I participated in many of the Black Lives Matter protests this summer and fall, and new relationships and experiences then prompted me to become more deeply committed to activism toward improving social and racial justice. I also have a child (now young adult) who identifies as gender non-binary, and their experiences of self-discovery have been informative and inspiring to witness. My vision for TTPDX is to continue to grow our membership to include athletes of every age, background, and ability; to continue to provide accessible, frequent, and varied group workouts and training opportunities; and to explore the possibilities of service to the community-at-large, as athletes. This has not been easy in a year of pandemic restrictions, but we must start somewhere.