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Executive: Caroline Semerjian, 42
Fitness passion: Roller derby
Career: President of Effective Marketing & Creative Concepts and Velmaxxx Enterprises, maker of No No-See-Um insect repellent, Sanibel.
How she got into roller derby: “I've always been a skater,” Semerjian says. “I started skating when I was about 7.” So when a friend suggested she join roller derby a few years ago, the athletic Semerjian readily agreed. “I was a pretty easy recruit,” she says. Semerjian doesn't mind the fact that roller derby is a contact sport, and she enjoys the camaraderie. She competed in Ironman triathlons, but found the sport to be lonely. Still, roller derby isn't for the faint of heart because hitting between the knees and shoulders is permitted. “It's a no B.S. attitude,” she says. “You don't get too many mousy women coming out.” Her roller derby name is Klymaxxx.
How she balances work and training: “Derby is a subculture and it's really easy to get caught up in it, so it's a second job,” Semerjian says. “I've been playing with Tampa for the last few years,” she says. “Tampa is a nationally ranked team.” Semerjian rents an apartment in St. Petersburg where she spends weekends. “I work insane hours,” she says, regularly putting in 12-hour days and adding hours of skating practice. Semerjian says she's been forced to curtail some of the competitions because her insect-repellent business is booming. “I was planning my entire life around derby,” she says. “People were asking me out to do stuff, but I had to do derby. It's a huge sacrifice.”
Additional training: In addition to practices in Fort Myers and Tampa that can run late into the night every other day, Semerjian also stays fit by using the Insanity workout videos at home.
Why she does it: “Exercise and sports are so important to a positive attitude,” Semerjian says. “It helps with my confidence.” Her colleagues do it, too. Assistant Melissa Robinson (derby name: Rebel Hell Yeah) and social media colleague Kimberly Chaffin (derby name: Flirtin' with Disaster) also compete with her.
Taking the pain: “I've had some injuries but nothing spectacular,” Semerjian says. Injuries included a bruised tailbone and a black eye after a memorable fall. “I could barely sit down for a couple of weeks,” she says. “There's a lot of falling down, and getting up takes a lot of energy.” At 42, Semerjian says she's one of the older competitors. “I rolled my ankle last year. That took five months to get better.”
What it costs: A good pair of skates costs $500. “Anything under $150 is garbage,” Semerjian says. Club dues run about $25 to $35 a month. Equipment includes knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, a mouth guard and a helmet. Travel can get expensive. “I know people who maxed out on credit cards.”
Mixing business: Semerjian says roller derby is more of a social opportunity. Roller derby participants come from all walks of life. “Everyone is missing a little something in their life. I was bored on Sanibel,” she says. “It got me out doing things. There's always a birthday party or a fundraiser; they give back to the community.”
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