There also aren’t too many people who can wear the hats of mother,
professional, and athlete dedicated to practicing six days a week. But
these two are the perfect pair balancing out every move and mood.
“She’s my exercise wife,” Gonzalez laughs when describing her
workout partner of over a decade.
She mentions a study in which those who lived to 100 all had one
thing in common — meaningful relationships with others. Gonzalez
hinted that she believes her race companion may be both of their
tickets to long and happy lives.
PHOTOS BY ALLISON POTTER
27
It Takes Two
WILMINGTON SwimRun athletes Erin Cooper,
a director of a global life sciences company, and
Dr. Eileen Caquias-Gonzalez, a family practi-tioner,
make up Team Double E’s. As you can tell
by their name, a sense of humor carries the weight of the team. And
humor, like the trails, goes a long way.
Both Cooper and Gonzalez are early risers.
“There’s not a lot of people that are up at 4:45 in the morning,”
Gonzalez says. “But she is.”
Top: SwimRun partners Dr. Eileen Caquias-Gonzalez, left, and Erin Cooper suit up in Wynn Plaza for training in March. The pair run together in full
gear on Waynick Boulevard before jumping into Banks Channel. Above: Leah Blakely, left, and Beth Brampton swim in Banks Channel in February.
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