Really, the sole purpose of this webpage is so that when you type “Danielle Wain” into Google, I am the first Danielle Wain that comes up, rather than this British chick who plays the violin.  My simple goal is to be the primary Danielle Wain on the internets.  It is good to have simple goals.  

As those Bostonians who have come before me, I have clearly dominated the British.  But I will continue to make sure that my supremacy in cyberspace is never doubted.

Anyway, I am originally from Newton, MA - home of the Fig Newton. I went to Ursuline Academy in Dedham MA, where I spent six years in Catholic school, yet never had a confirmation, which essentially makes me a freak amongst Catholics.

I graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with an Environmental
Engineering option from Cornell University. 

Then I went on to be a water sanitation engineer in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, where I helped to rebuild damaged water systems and build lots and lots of latrines.

I did a brief stint in environmental consulting, realized it was not for me, and headed to grad
school to study environmental fluid mechanics.

I did my masters degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the Hydrosystems
Laboratory of the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department. 

Now I am a PhD student at Iowa State University in the Environmental Engineering and Water
Resources division of the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Department. 

Since moving to Iowa, to entertain myself I have taken to distance running, triathlons, and cross-country skiing.  I have done one full marathon (Grandma's Marathon) and many 
half-marathons.  I hope to do the Des Moines Marathon this October.  

I also organize distance relay teams.  We are planning on doing the Madison
-Chicago 200 and the Wild West Relay in summer 2008 (so if you know me and like to run, let me know since I always need more runners!).

Last summer was my first triathlon season and I did two sprints and an Olympic distance race
all on my $50 pimped out red Schwinn from the 80s.  If I can cut 15 minutes off my Olympic time 
this summer, I plan on buying a shiny new bike and going half-Iron in 2009.  Considering it was 
a billion degrees out and I got sent to the ambulance for dehydration after the race, I am 
pretty confident that I can do better next time.  I suck at swimming, I am good at the bike, 
and while I don't run fast, the run is no big deal.

I only classic ski at the moment, but I want to start skating for kicks.  I have yet to race on my 
skis (the snow isn't very dependable around these parts), but next winter a friend and I have  
a date to do this crazy race.

Here is a random collection of running and triathlon photos, many of which are stolen from others.

I also like the environment.  I organize the Ames Green Drinks once a month.  If you would like 
to get on my monthly announcement list, click here.

I am also a bit of a political junkie.  After living in MA, NY, and IL, living in a swing state definitely makes things more interesting.  And Iowa was actually the coolest place to be for most of last 
year, for political nerds like myself.  I spent a lot of time volunteering for the John Edwards 
campaign - we all know how that ended.
My roommate has a bichon named Lucky.  I didn't think I liked little dogs.  But he has grown me.  But I am totally getting a big dog when I grow up.

Here are some really random pictures encompassing all of the above for your enjoyment.