Hi my name is Shannon and I am the original Tough Chik! I am the owner and designer of Tough Chik, which is a line of women’s performance apparel with a concentration in cycling, triathlon and running.
ME
Ironman 70.3 Texas
I was born and raised in Houston, TX and spent much of my childhood dancing. Running was for punishment and cycling was a mode of transportation to a friends down the street. After graduating from Texas A&M University, I took a job in Dallas where I met my husband. He is from Pittsburgh and graduated from the University of Florida. After 5 years in Dallas, he was transferred to LA. So after 6 months of marriage, we move half way across the country not knowing a soul, but we had each other. We have been in Southern California for 9 years, 6 in Redondo Beach (south of LAX) and in the OC for a little over 3 years ago.
Even though I am a Texan through and through, I am also a vegetarian who doesn’t own a pair of cowboy boot or listens to country music. I started cycling after I met my husband. We started mountain biking in Dallas (I know, there aren’t any mountains in Dallas) and eventually moved to road riding as well. My love for cycling really blossomed when we moved to CA. I started running after I got my dog, Cosmo, as a way to get exercise for him and myself. Come to find out, Cosmo is a terrible running partner, but I like the ease of putting on my running shoes and heading out the door. I convinced my bestie, Molly, to go to an informational meeting about the APLA (AIDS Project Los Angeles) training for the San Francisco Half Marathon. We left the meeting signed up for the full, my first race ever (not even a 5K).
A few years ago I completed 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to LA with my hubby and my bestie and my next goal is a sprint tri in October. I decided to start out small this time 🙂 UPDATE – I finished the sprint and many more after, plus a Olympic distance and a Half Ironman Distance. Full Ironman, not yet…but never say never!
Here are some of the characters you will meet along my blog…
The Hubby – he love all bikes…
Pinky – My road bike – Retired
My Bestie and Me
Cosmo, the mutt
Tough Chik 
Your story sounds so similar to mine! I too was a dancer for 25 years and then sometime after college, I got into the cycling/tri/running world–and never looked back. Looking into Team Tough Chik; looks like it could be fun!
Just found your blog and it’s such an inspiration. I am a BRAND new “triathlete” and not one of those “marathoners” or “cyclists” that has now decided to add triathlons to their resume. I mean new as in couldnt run a mile when I started training in January. My first race is the ITU this coming weekend in San Diego and I am SO nervous. I am hoping to finish in 2.5 hrs, which I know is pretty slow, but at least it would be a finish. I will definitely keep following your posts for further inspiration!
Wow! It’s such a small world…I met you at the Endure The Bear in Big Bear and found your blog through a guy in the cycling team at my school! 🙂 Love your clothing – will be buying much more!