I Live. I Love. I Race. Kailua-Kona’s Own Triathlete Bree Wee

By Margaret Kearns

“Nice.” Who would expect that to be the first descriptor for a fiercely competitive triathlete? That, however, is the word heard repeatedly from fellow competitors, fans, sponsors, and trainers when asked about Hawai‘i Island’s most stellar female professional athlete, Bree Wee. Beneath all the warmth and charm, however, beats the heart of a champion and an intense will to win.

This 33-year-old native of Florida arrived here with a freshly earned teacher’s degree in 2002 and has never looked back.

“Eleven years ago I didn’t even know what a triathlon really was, and there was certainly no part in my mind or heart that ever believed that one day I would be a professional athlete,” she says. “Life happens and dreams grow, doors open, and before you know it, you are far beyond what you ever thought possible.”

It was a flip of a coin that brought her to Hawai‘i Island rather than Costa Rica following graduation. She received teaching offers from both locations, both attractive options to her, so when she tossed the coin and it turned heads up, Hawai‘i was it. Who knows if she would have received the same encouragement from friends there—encouragement she received in big doses in Kailua-Kona that ultimately led her to start running, join the Kona Aquatics swim training, then to buy a bike, and then to begin competing in triathlons?

Of her very first triathlon (a short course), Bree admits to being scared to death.

“My friend Jen was in it with me, and during the swim I would not leave her side. Every breath, I would look to make sure I was next to her— I didn’t know about drafting then—so I swam stroke for stroke with her on fear!”

Then during the transition to the bike, she says, she packed her bike with fuel as if it were a full Ironman. “I had bars, Sharkies, gels, four drink cages, and an aero bottle! I was terrified of ‘bonking.’ I heard so much about that and thought I should be well-prepared.”

During the final event, the run, Bree clearly remembers thinking she would never do a triathlon again.

“At that point I really thought my first tri would be my last tri. Funny thing happens though, once you finish, the pain goes away and you sign up for another one!”

It was watching the 2003 Ironman World Championship run literally through her back yard when a goal that would change her life forever was penned. It read simply, “I have to do Ironman.”

And four years later, in 2007, she did just that, winning the 25-29 age group, and in doing so also set the amateur course record. In 2008, she said goodbye to her third grade class, trading chalk and gold stars for a professional athlete card, although she continues to substitute teach when she’s not traveling to compete in triathlons worldwide.

It was that same year that Bree competed in her first Ironman as a pro—the 2008 Ironman Japan—where she took second place in the event. Four years later, she chalked up her first professional win at the 2012 Ironman Louisville.

Bree’s most sought-after career goal, however, has eluded her—to be the first person from the state of Hawai‘i to finish in the top 10 of the Ironman World Championship sponsored on the west side of Hawai‘i Island each October, with both the start and finish line at Kailua-Kona Pier.

Since landing the win and amateur course record in 2007, Bree has qualified and competed as a pro in the World Championship here in 2009 and again in 2010.

This year, she says, “I’m holding onto the edge of a cliff. I haven’t clinched a spot yet.” As of press time, Wee was 41st in a field of professional women competing for just 35 available spots. She had two more qualifying races to complete in August—the Philippines 70.3 where she placed third in 2011 and second in 2012 and Ironman Mount Tremblant in Canada—to move up in the rankings and earn a slot in the 2013 Ironman World Championship, now in its 35th year, on Saturday, October 12.

In the meantime, she says, her days are spent training—on the bike, in the pool, or in Kailua-Kona Bay, and running—and concentrating on creating a good life balance as a mother to her seven-year-old son Kainoa and girlfriend to Mike Masada. Nights, she says, are usually spent shuffling through plans to make that top 10 finish here a reality.

“It really has been the people in my life, not things or outcomes of races, that have helped me stick to my guns. We find inspiration in each other; we find hope and lessons from others. And of course, there are a dozen saved emails of those reaching out to help me with this dream to make it into the Kona race,” Wee says.

As with all pro athletes, in the end, it all comes down to hard work and determination. Bree trains an average of 30 hours a week, adding that the schedule really depends on whether she’s building up to a race or it’s race week. Most triathletes spend the most time training on the bike, she says, and that also varies depending on what they perceive their weakest event to be.

“I’m pretty well-rounded, pretty solid in all three events, and the bike is probably my strongest,” Bree says.

While her swim coach is still Steve Borowski of the Kona Aquatics, Bree’s overall coach since 2009, Jimmy Ricitello does his work long-distance from Tucson, Arizona.

“It’s mostly online coaching at this point, although Jimmy will come out for certain races. That’s important because he knows what I need to do and tells me to do it,” she says.

“Steve is a great mentor to me. He sees me every day, and he’s a part of my real life, and that’s really important for me,” Bree adds.

As for diet, she eats mostly whole foods and nearly nothing that comes in a box or can. Her go-to food in the middle of long bike rides, she says, is an island favorite loaded with protein, carbs, and fat—Spam Musabi.

“I don’t say no or never to anything. My son has a birthday coming up, for example, and I will definitely enjoy some of his birthday cake,” Bree says.

She offers this advice for those starting out: “During races really try to focus on the ‘now:’ how you feel, how you’re pacing, and don’t think too much about how far you have come—it will only make your body feel tired knowing how much it has already done! And don’t think too far ahead, either, it will tire you out knowing how much you have left to go…And always try to keep a positive state of mind with whatever is happening, good or challenging such as weather conditions or pain. Remember, too, there is no better way to stay committed, focused, and motivated, than to state a goal and then be held accountable.”

Since Kainoa was born, she also shares that she has adopted a pre-race ritual: writing his name with black marker on the top of her hand. “It helps me to remain focused, to remember his support, my family, and Mike’s support. When I see it, I know that win or lose they are all still there for me,” she says.

Now you can be part of Wee’s support team, too. On one of those long bike rides this summer, Wee reflected on all of the emails from both friends and strangers throughout the world, reaching out and offering to help her reach her goal. She came up with an idea to share her journey even more personally.

An email blast went out saying, “If you want to help, thank you, I need the help. Phew, got that out, humbled but refreshed. And here is how I can give back. Wherever I race over the season, I’ll send you a postcard from that race destination, so you can see what my eyes see, and read what I’m feeling. I know this is such an opportunity to race amongst the best, line up with great athletes, and be in places some only dream of seeing, so now you can come along on the journey more closely with me! With any support, great or small, I’ll also send a monthly newsletter to your house with what my favorite workouts have been, a recipe, and pictures of the training going on. I just want to make it more personal since people are caring more personally about me. That’s all I can offer now.”

Bree appreciates life and holds it gently with both hands, not taking anything for granted. She’s the first to admit, “Life has been very good to me, although not because it’s been handed to me. I’ve often fallen out of trees by life’s surprises; I’ve just never been good at staying down. I want to climb until I get to see all the views I could ever imagine in this life!”

In the meantime, Bree says, “I live. I love. I race.” ❖

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Bree Wee can be reached at: PO Box 1033, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740. Be sure to include your mailing address to receive the promised newsletters and postcards.

Photos by Tek Mapon: TekMaponPhoto.com

Contact writer Margaret Kearns: margaretekearns@gmail.com