Triathlon Weekend

Lynne Kiesling

The last time I did a triathlon was about 18 years ago; I can’t even recall the exact date. In college I did a few, and I was in shape enough from soccer that I could do a sprint triathlon (0.5 mi swim, 14 mi bike, 3.1 mi run) without even training.

Not so any more; work, other interests, and an aging body have distracted me from triathlons. In 1997 I intended to do one, but injured my knee playing squash and couldn’t train. Then I got distracted by yucky life stuff. Then I started playing hockey, which I found wonderful and all-consuming (but too time-consuming, which is why I’ve had to stop). Then last year I signed up for a triathlon, but got plantar fascitiis while training.

This year I trained sensibly and in a disciplined way, with only as much running as I had to do, and finished the Reebok Naperville/Chicago Women’s Triathlon (results will be posted at this link soon after the event).

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According to my unofficial watch, I even finished in 1:45:35, 5 minutes faster than my target time. And that’s even though I lost two minutes in the swim, which was more of a scrum than I anticipated. I am a good swimmer, but it’s hard to train for the adaptation to the kicking and water swallowing that inevitably occurs in a competitive event.

Even better than the feeling of accomplishment is the fact that I had fun, and the KP Spouse was a great cheering section, as were all of the spectators. I hope I don’t wait another 18 years for my next one!

8 thoughts on “Triathlon Weekend”

  1. Holy cow! That’s fantastic. Much congratulations.

    I always wanted to compete in one of those three-person triathalons (I’m a miserable runner after years of lacrosse left my knees much the worse for wear). With this and all the talk of cycling around here and from other quarters (friend of mine is in the MS ride), I’m wondering if next year might be the time to tackle to centuries I’ve always wanted to try.

    Again, congrats!

  2. Hockey: The All-Consuming Sport

    Congratulations to Lynn Keisling who finished who finished her first triathlon in quite some time over this past weekend. Here…

  3. Hockey: The All-Consuming Sport

    Congratulations to Lynn Keisling who finished who finished her first triathlon in quite some time over this past weekend. Here…

  4. Hey, I had a 16 year layoff from tri’s and just got back into them last year! Congratulations on finishing yours. I just finished my first olympic June 5th!

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