Do Run Run

I consider myself a runner, or at least a lapsed runner. I ran cross country and track throughout high school, and did reasonably well. I ran the occasional 5K in college, and a few after that. I run with my kids at school (4 minutes per class = 24 minutes per day) and enjoy it. I haven't run competitively in quite a while, but still consider myself a runner.

At least, I did until I read this.

I got the following email from my high school coach. She now coaches at the college level, and got this email from one of her former students. This young women ran a triple... Ironman... triathon! Any of those words makes me cringe, and I have no desire to do even a fraction of what she did. But it amazes me what the human body can do.

To be inspired, shocked, and amazed, keep reading.

I just had to drop a note about my race this weekend. Last year I did the double ironman and this year I stepped it up to the triple ironman (7.2 mile swim, 336 mile bike, 78.6 mile run with a 60 hour time limit). Anyway, the race went better than I could have ever imagined. It's like the longer the race, the better I do. Perhaps that 2 mile and 5k stuff was just too short for me and that's why I was so horrible, ha ha. There were 19 starters, 15 finishers, 3 of us female and the females totally kicking butt by placing 3rd, 4th, and 6th overall. My two competitors were the elite of the elite with one being the current female record course holder and the other female was an English channel swimmer and had done crazy things like the eco-challenge. Anyway, a quick overview of how I did:

Swim: 7.2 miles in 4:18 I was the last female out of the water, but they only gained 10 min. on me. I was expecting to lose close to an hour here.

Bike: 336 miles in 20:18 Broke the previous female course record by almost 3 hours (previous being 23:13). I had the fastest bike time overall, beating everyone, including the boys. I was second coming off the bike simply because Beat (He's Swiss) had about a 30 min. lead on me after the swim. Only one guy has a faster bike time than me on this course (19:42) so I have the second fastest bike ever on the course when including the boys.

Run: 78.6 miles in 20 hours. Broke the previous female course record by 15 min. (previous being 20:15). Hmm, maybe I am still kinda sorta a runner. The last 12 miles was the most painful experience of my life! I also had the third fastest run time when including the boys.

Overall: A triple IM in 44 hours and 55 minutes beating the previous female course record by almost 7 hours (previous 51:47). I am the youngest female to finish the triple here in the US and almost 99% sure youngest in the world (Race director wanted to double check). I am the National Female Champion for the Triple and 3rd overall when including the men.

Anyway, the body is recovering just amazingly! So amazing what the human body can go through. Such an awesome experience. I love the ultra family and it's great being able to compete with people from around the world (Germany, Switzerland, England, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, and Hungary were represented). I'm not sure what's next, but I'm leaning towards ultracycling. Even though I now have the fastest female run time on this course, it was so painful where as the bike was just fun, but we'll see.

I don't want to do something that feels good for 45 hours! I can't imagine swimming, and then biking, and then running for that long! But I enjoyed reading about it, and wish her the best of luck. I just wonder what could you possible do next. After that, are there any challenges left?