Student Corner Interview

Ann Dunaway, BS
Graduate Student, Georgia State University

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your education.

My name is Ann Dunaway. I earned a BA in Psychology from Davidson College and later continued my education at Georgia State University where I completed a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics in May 2005. Currently I am enrolled in the combined Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship at Georgia State University. I plan to graduate in December 2006. Although I am uncertain now about pursuing a PhD, that may be an option in the future and a good reason for completing a Master's project.

Why did you decide to return to school to become a registered dietitian?

I have always been passionate about food and cooking. After trying out several careers from branding to restaurant marketing, I took stock of the things that I enjoyed reading and learning about and realized that all were centered on food, cooking, and leading a healthy lifestyle. At the same time I started competing in triathlons. Becoming a dietitian seemed to be a natural course to pursue as it combined all of my interests into one career. Also, having an undergraduate degree in psychology will certainly be useful in my career as a dietitian.

What are your professional goals? Once you become a registered dietitian, what kind of work do you want to do? Do you want to become a sports dietitian?

Initially I want to work in a clinical setting to gain experience but eventually I want to have my own private practice in nutrition consulting. My goal is to be a sports dietitian with a focus on the adolescent population. While I would counsel people of all ages and competitive levels, I feel that sports nutrition for the pediatric population is an underserved market. My practice will encompass sports nutrition, weight management, eating disorders, and general wellness.

Tell us about your decision to race in a Ironman triathlon and your decision to hire an online coach.

After competing in triathlons for several years, I decided to race an Ironman, a demanding endurance event involving a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. Due to the popularity and limited number of races, I had to sign up a year in advance. Once committed, I researched everything I could find on training for an Ironman. However, it didn't take long to realize that I was in over my head given my previous track record for a devising a plan, trying to stick with it, and ultimately winding up injured. I quickly realized I needed help. Since some of my triathlon friends had hired coaches, I researched my options. Knowing that nutrition is a key component in the Ironman I wanted a coach who was also a registered dietitian. Following the recommendation of a friend, I hired Bob Seebohar, MS, RD, CSCS, a registered dietitian whose work includes online coaching. Bob's work was familiar to me as he provided nutrition advice on a triathlon website that I frequented.

How did Bob Seebohar help you incorporate nutrition into your training for the Ironman? Would you recommend online nutrition coaching to other athletes?

When I hired Bob I had seven months until my race in July 2003. Bob developed personalized monthly training plans for me, devised a strength-training plan, and evaluated my diet. I kept track of my training in an online journal. Before every race, Bob and I reviewed my race and nutrition plan. This was especially helpful with preparations for racing in the extreme heat and humidity common in the South. I successfully completed Ironman USA in Lake Placid in 2003 and could not have done it without Bob's help. Working with Bob again I completed the Ironman Wisconsin in September 2004. Although my race time was slower than I had hoped, I learned the hard way that you must be mentally prepared for a race, something that I had to do on my own. While I am temporarily retired from Ironman racing, I highly recommend online coaching, and I know what my first phone call will be when it is time to race again. 

How will your experience as a triathlete benefit you in your career as a dietitian? Do you feel that your experiences with Bob as a coach will help you in your dietetics career?

I absolutely feel that my experiences as an Ironman triathlete will help me in my dietetics career. Because nutrition is such a large component of the Ironman I believe that nutrition credentials will put me in a unique position to help a large number of athletes. I can relate personally to the importance of nutrition in performance. The Ironman also has given me the confidence and mental toughness to know that I can accomplish anything I set my heart and mind to. Bob has become a mentor, guide, and friend from whom I have learned a great deal. I don't know why he didn't laugh at me at times or tell me how crazy some of my ideas were before I became educated about nutrition. He was always supportive and never judgmental. His professionalism is something I aspire to emulate. 

Is there anything else about your experience as an athlete or as a graduate student in nutrition that you would like to share with other students?

Racing in triathlons, gaining an education, and working in the business world has taught me that keeping an open mind and maintaining a positive attitude will lead you to unexpected places and amazing opportunities. Getting involved is one of the best ways to create your own opportunities. Finally, set your own standards rather than being bound by the standards of others.