Wellness Wednesday – Employees reflect on the women’s triathlon

Jenny Nunamaker, a triage nurse in the Olson Center for Women’s Health was in a bad bike accident as a child.

She lost her front teeth, needed several surgeries and never rode a bike again.

Well, not until she participated in the Inaugural Omaha Women’s Triatholon anyway.







“I thought if she could do the swimming part, I could do the whole thing plus the biking.”



Jenny Nunamaker



Nunamaker originally planned to do the May 21 triathlon as a relay in which she would handle the swimming and let others handle the running and, especially biking, parts.

But then she learned one of her family members planned to do the whole race, despite the fact that it meant she would need to learn to swim.

“I thought if she could do the swimming part, I could do the whole thing plus the biking,” Nunamaker said. “Coming down that hill during the race, seeing my kids and how happy and excited they were, it was just a great feeling. And now my seven year-old wants to do the kids triathlon in July!”

Below other medical center employees discuss their triathlon experiences.


“Anxiety — you bet I had it. Negative thinking — had that too. It took courage for me to just put my foot in the water for my first open-water swim. No matter how far back in the pack I was, I saw awe and admiration from the people who lined the streets and their cheers kept me moving forward. … Now I can check something off my bucket list.” Kim Minino of UNMC Information Technology Services


“I started crying when I thought I could not have been able to do this a year ago. The race showed if you put your mind to something, you can accomplish anything you want. Now my husband and I are going to do a 10K this fall. The triathlon has made me think now I can do more.” Jennifer Dickey, case manger in the Olson Center










picture disc.

Back row from left: Bernadine Tait, Jennifer Dickey, Terry Weaver, Kate Germer, Gina Walsh (orange), Jenny Nunamaker; middle row from left: Lana Molczyk (green), Jaime Stevens, Shon Williams (pink); front row from left: Mary Egan, Rachel Bonnema (blue), Kim Minino and Kris Severe.