Junko Bryant
Junko Bryant is the natural-born athlete of the Orca lane. She didn't compete at either the high school or college level. She doesn't ever seem to work out so hard that she is exhausted after a set, she doesn't cross-train, and she only shows up about 3 times a week. Nevertheless, she consistently holds her own with Matt, Courtney, Taylor, Josh, Brian and Hayes. She won't sign up for a short-course meet because "all the events are too hard." Oddly, she will do long course. Over the last year or so, she entered:
Lake Berryessa swim-bike-run-bike
Lake Berryessa 2-mile open water swim
Lake Del Valle 2x1-mile relay (with Matt Robertson)
At the Lake Del Valle relay, Junko turned in a 29:01 time and Matt finished the second mile with 28:48 for a combined time of 57:49.
She was thinking of entering the Arctic Swim, Fish and Hunt Survival Event this winter (remember to bring headlamp and lots of batteries), but then she decided the southern hemisphere would be more comfortable and is planning to loaf around and hike for a month with her husband in New Zealand.
Here is a picture of Junko perched on a branch looking for her secret energy-food (small insects):
Oops! That's a junco, not Junko. But you can see the similarity: dark head, flies without much effort, chirps agreeably.
When not hunting for small insects or decked out in racing lycra, Junko pursues various other interests: She can occasionally be seen on a classic aluminum road bike (which somehow survived a tumble on 580 at 70+ miles per hour on the way to the Lake Del Valle relay). She plays the electric organ, and her repertoire includes the Love Boat theme song and the disco version of Beethoven's 5th Symphony. She plans to be one of those old ladies that play at the Grand Lake on Friday nights -- some day!!
By day, Junko works to promote healthy waterways with the Urban Creeks Council and the Merritt College Watershed Center. She is married to Kevin Bryant who is a city planner and who is preparing to go to law school. They live near Piedmont Ave.
See if you can talk Junko into a bike ride or a triathlon. Odds are she'll call your bluff and raise you.
She seems serious about organizing a trip to the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. Takers?
