Making Fitness a Lifestyle – Jeanne Minder’s Story

Terry L. VanderWert on September 6, 2018

Jeanne-Minder-Minnesota-Senior-Sports-Hall-of-Fame-Award

From her earliest memories of growing up in South St. Paul, Minnesota, Jeanne Minder has been active. Her love for moving, whether through biking, running, swimming, walking, skiing, or you-name-it, has led to impressive accomplishments in triathlon.

Following is Jeanne’s triathlon story and information about triathlon training for seniors that she shared with Joy and me over coffee.

 

Accomplishments On and Off the Course

I was first introduced to Jeanne through an article in an online newspaper covering the northern suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota. However, when Joy and I met with Jeanne over coffee and tea at the Caribou Coffee in Arden Hills, Minnesota, we learned a whole lot more about her.

A sampling of her accomplishments tells part of the story:

  • Over 400 triathlons including three at the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
  • Minnesota Senior Sports Hall of Fame inductee
  • Gold medalist in triathlon at the 2015 National Senior Games
  • Mother of an active son and daughter
  • Leader of the County Cycles Triathlon Club for 24 years
  • Personal trainer for 28 years, including 23 years with the New Brighton Community Center
  • University of Minnesota graduate
  • High school track & field and cross country skiing coach
  • And, an on-going participant in endurance events involving running, skiing, and biking.

But that’s not all. In talking with Jeanne, we were able to see her personal side – her passion for endurance sports and her love for helping people, especially seniors, “make fitness a lifestyle”.

“Anybody who does triathlon or any sport is doing good. As a personal trainer, I try to get people to work out three times per week and make it a lifestyle.” Jeanne Minder

 

Getting Started in Triathlon

Jeanne did her first triathlon, the Turtleman Triathlon in Shoreview, Minnesota, in 1982.

“I had been training with local athletes Mary Lou Schmidt and Roy Carlsted and they encouraged me to do a triathlon.”

Like so many of us, she caught the ‘triathlon bug’ after completing her first. There was no turning back.

 

A Mother’s Example

But the seed for her triathlon excursion started years earlier. Jeanne credits much of her love for being active to her mother. Growing up in South St. Paul, Minnesota, Jeanne’s mother taught her and her three sisters how to manage without a second car.

“We walked or biked everywhere that we needed to go.”

During the summer, they made the daily bike ride to the pool where they spent their afternoons. Swimming, biking, and running were a natural part of her lifestyle as a child.

“When we were at home, my mom would tell us to ‘Go outside and play’. So we would go outside, ride bike, swim or play kick the can in the summer, and go tobogganing in the winter. We were literally outside whenever possible.”

Even though she did not participate in organized sports in high school, the foundation for future activities had been built.

 

Triathlon and More

Since 1982, Jeanne has done over 400 triathlons. These have included six Ironman distance races of which three have been at the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Qualifying for Ironman Championships in Hawaii meant that she won her age group at qualifying Ironman triathlons in Lake Placid, New York; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Along the way, she has amassed a large number of interesting stories. The first one which she shared during our conversation was from the Ironman Cape Cod.

“Cape Cod was tough with 40 miles per hour winds in every direction. Oh, yes, and they forgot to tell us until the next day during the awards ceremony about the sharks that had been around the swim course.”

She has also completed 26 marathons. These have included the iconic Boston Marathon, the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota.

On top of this, she has finished countless long distance bike rides across her home state of Minnesota (TRAM, Bike Across Minnesota, MS150), the Birkebeiner cross-country ski race, and bike rides across long stretches of the USA and Canada.

And then, there was her 2015 first-place finish in women’s triathlon at the National Senior Games.

Jeanne-Minder-awards

A sampling of Jeanne Minder’s awards and recognition. Clockwise from the upper left: 2018 ‘Breaking Barriers Award’ (upper left), finisher medal from the 2015 National Senior Games (upper right), the award from the 1995 Turtleman Triathlon (lower right), and the award from the 2004 Lake Minnetonka Triathlon.

 

Minnesota Senior Sports Hall of Fame

Despite this fantastic list of accomplishments, Jeanne told us that she was surprised to receive a call from a representative of the Minnesota Senior Sports Hall of Fame one day in early 2016. The caller informed Jeanne that her accomplishments had been noticed and that she had been nominated to the Hall of Fame.

“When the caller told me that I had been nominated for the Senior Sports Hall of Fame, I asked ‘For what?’. ‘For triathlon’ was his answer.”

On May 13, 2016, Jeanne received the award recognizing her accomplishments in a ceremony at Jimmy’s Food & Drink in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota.

Jeanne-Minder-Hall-of-Fame-article

Jeanne Minder was inducted to the Minnesota Senior Sports Hall of Fame on May 13, 2016.

 

The Minnesota Senior Sports Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Minnesota Senior Sports Association. According to their website, the Association is “dedicated to encouraging and supporting men and women from Minnesota in their pursuit of competitive athletics.”

 

Triathlon Training for Seniors

There are several approaches to training for a triathlon. These include self-training (developing a training plan on your own), training as part of a triathlon club, and training under either a virtual or live coach.

While I have used self-training based on research and reading from a select group of books and websites, I have never been sure that this is the best approach or that it has helped me to be the most competitive.

28 years ago, Jeanne decided to become a personal trainer. She had to compare ACE and NASM certifications and train rigorously to get her qualification, but she says she wouldn’t change it for the world. Because of that 28 year experience, and the fact she is an accomplished triathlete, I decided to get her thoughts.

Frankly, I expected that she would recommend hiring a trainer or triathlon coach. However, this has not been her approach nor one she recommended. In fact, I left feeling hopeful since she has followed a self-training approach with 2-3 group workouts per week.

 

Group Training Options

“There are plenty of options for group training. Most running stores offer group runs. Masters swimming clubs (such as U.S. Master Swimming) provide group swim training. And many bike shops put together group rides.”

“Or, you can do what I did this morning. When I got to the community center pool at 6 o’clock, there were already eight people in the pool. I asked them if they wanted to do a workout, which they did. So we ended up swimming 3,000 meters using a workout that I quickly put together.”

“As you get to know people in each of these, you will inevitably find those interested in triathlon. You can put together triathlon specific sessions such as brick (e.g. bike followed by a run) workouts with these new found friends.”

“For example, we would bring our bikes to White Bear Beach (in White Bear Lake, Minnesota). After a swim (in White Bear Lake), we would bike from the beach to Somerset, Wisconsin; eat lunch; and return home, having biked roughly 70 miles round trip.”

While triathlon is an individual sport, triathlon training provides plenty of opportunity for being social.

There can be no question that one factor in Jeanne’s success is her love for being with people. She told us repeatedly of the thrills that have come from meeting and spending time with people, whether training together or camping at a multi-day biking event.

“Triathlon has allowed me to meet some really neat people.” Jeanne Minder

 

It’s Not About the Competition

If we are truthful, we all want to be competitive and even win some races, or at least finish in first place in our age group once in a while.

However, most seniors who do triathlon or are active with other sports – Jeanne Minder included – mostly want to see others share in the benefits of being active. Not just as validation for their sports activities but because they (we) have seen the benefits of it.

“Anybody who does a triathlon or any sport is doing good. As a personal trainer, I try to get people to work out three times per week and make it a lifestyle.

 

Let’s Not Forget the Volunteers and Race Directors

On several occasions, Jeanne stopped to point out the importance of volunteers and race directors to triathlon.

“Triathlons wouldn’t even be around were it not for the volunteers. And, as for the race directors, most people do not realize the amount of work that goes into a triathlon. There is not only the race but the work to organize the volunteers and all of the pre-race and post-race activities.”

Jeanne singled out Randy Fulton for his support of triathlon:

“For a while, Randy was running every triathlon around here (Minneapolis-St. Paul area). He was really great for promoting the sport and giving us great races to do. He was a great person.”

By the way, next time you are at a triathlon, thank the volunteers.

 

What’ Next?

Jeanne loves being with people. She has high energy and loves to be active.

She also loves her dogs.

“Today, my inspiration for running comes from my three Golden Retrievers. Goldens are runners. They love to run.”

“After coming home from a hard day, these guys give me a look that tells me ‘You need to take me for a run’. How can I say ‘No’?”

 

Questions?

Please send any questions or comments through the comment box below or by emailing seniortriathletes@gmail.com.

 

You may also be interested in these posts

Triathlon Across the USA: State #23 – North Dakota

Terry L. VanderWert on August 18, 2018

North Dakota capital visited with the triathlon

Mandan, North Dakota; July 18, 2015 – Bismarck Triathlon, Harmon Lake Park.

What is it like to do a triathlon in winds gusting to 40 miles per hour (64 km per hour)? Our North Dakota triathlon showed just how much wind can affect a race.

This race is one chapter in a 50-state journey—now told in full in Triathlon Adventures Across America .

Planning the North Dakota Triathlon

How to Choose Your Next Triathlon highlights factors we typically use to select a triathlon, especially those involving overnight travel. For Joy and me, one of the keys to out-of-state triathlons has been to combine travel to the event with a visit to friends or family or a place of special interest (e.g. Savannah, Georgia – Hilton Head, South Carolina).  Sometimes, we accomplish more than one of these.

North Dakota was unique in this respect. Here’s the reason.

In 2015, North Dakota had among the fewest triathlons of any state.  On top of this, one of the three scheduled triathlons involved kayaking and mountain biking as an alternative to swimming and road biking.

I was concerned that the lone conventional sprint triathlon in North Dakota might eventually become extinct.

So, in February, we decided that this would be the year to complete the North Dakota triathlon and put behind us concerns about completing a triathlon in this state.

A Pleasant Surprise at Registration

During registration for the event, I learned I could save $2 on the fee if I shared news of the registration with my Facebook friends.  Of course, I took advantage of this. (Don’t judge.)

After sharing the post, I learned that one of my friends, Tom Lipp, had completed the Bismarck Triathlon a year earlier. 

I also learned that Tom was now training for Ironman Wisconsin. You can read about his experience training for and racing in Ironman Wisconsin here.

Getting to Bismarck for the North Dakota Triathlon

Bismarck is actually a twin city with Mandan, North Dakota, home of Harmon Park and the Bismarck Triathlon. The two cities are separated by the Missouri River with Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota, on the east side of the river. Mandan is on the west side of the Missouri River.

By the way, did you know that the Missouri River is the longest river in the United States, beating out the Mississippi by 21 feet?  And, that’s before it joins the Mississippi River just north of St, Louis, Missouri.

Driving to the Bismarck-Mandan area from our Minneapolis, Minnesota area home was about as easy a trip as one can make – start the audiobook, get on Interstate 94 West, and stay on it for just under six hours past the Red River Valley and some of the flattest parts of the USA.

We left home on Friday around 10:30 am and set our GPS coordinates for Epic Sports in Bismarck, location for race packet pick-up. After collecting the packet, including the race T-shirt, we checked into the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

We then headed downtown, taking a short detour around the North Dakota State Capital building.

North Dakota state capital building for the Bismark triathlon
The North Dakota capitol building in Bismarck.

Following a short walk around the renovated downtown area, we stopped at one of the restaurants recommended by the hotel desk clerk, Blarney Stone Pub. Dinner tonight included authentic Irish food – creamed cabbage and corned beef for Joy and fish & chips for me.

11th Annual Bismarck Triathlon

The Bismarck event included sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. There was also a sprint distance relay option in which three members of a relay team each completed one of the legs.

Distances for the three legs of this USAT-sanctioned sprint triathlon were:

  • Swim: 0.31 mile (500 m)
  • Bike: 12.4 miles (20 km)
  • Run: 3.1 miles (5 km)

The 10 am starting time for the Bismarck Triathlon was the latest of any I had raced so far. The transition area did not even open until 8:30 am, a time at which most triathlons are starting or well underway.

Because of the later start, I had been concerned about the fact that the average high temperatures during the week before the triathlon had been just under 100°F. (I am not a fan of running in extreme heat.)

Today, however, the air temperature at race time was a chilly 60°F (16°C). On top of this, the wind was howling, with an average speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km per hour) and gusts to 40 miles per hour (64 km per hour).

transition area of Bismark North Dakota triathlon
Transition area of the Bismarck Triathlon in Harmon Park. The picture was taken near the beach of Harmon Lake.

Swim

It quickly became apparent to the poor souls who were assigned the job of placing the race buoys for the sprint and Olympic distances that the wind was too strong for the anchors meant to secure the buoys. The buoys simply would not stay where placed.

On top of this, the volunteers in kayaks who were to provide a rest stop along the course for swimmers needing a break during the swim leg had to spend all of their time paddling to stay near the course. With the wind today, they would not be able to provide the support for swimmers intended by the race director.

So, just before the start of the race, with the wind clearly in control, the race director shortened the swim course. Instead of the original course, he created one that ran parallel to the shore, a few yards away from it.

The revised course, reported to be 250 m by one swimmer with a GPS watch, was judged to be safe for the conditions of the day. Fortunately, everyone was safe through the swim. We completed the remaining legs of the race as planned.

Harmon Lake with triathlon buoys near Mandan North Dakota
Harmon Lake early in the morning before the wind picked up. Note the orange and yellow buoys near the other side of the lake for the sprint and Olympic distances, respectively.

Bike

For the bike leg, the numbers on my bike computer tell the story. The average speed was 14 mph (23 km/hr) while the maximum speed was 37 mph (60 km/hr).

While biking uphill, into the wind, the speed was incredibly slow at between 9 and 11 miles per hour (14-18 km/hr). For most of the ride, I avoided the aero position for fear of being blown off the road.

After the initial approximately two miles into the westerly wind, we turned. Now, the wind was from the side, making the ride even more treacherous.

Triathlon training tip – While we may be inclined to avoid inclement weather when training, we should take advantage of these opportunities, at least some of them. Training in conditions, such as rain or wind, which could be part of race day, helps to prepare for these when we eventually face them during a race. Reminds me of James 1:2-4.

The maximum speed came on the return of this out-and-back course, where we road downhill with the wind at our back.

Run

I prefer that the run course not include a hill immediately out of transition. The legs are already struggling to adapt to running after biking.

But today I was not getting my wish. The run out of transition involved a significant hill on the same road within the park that we had just returned from the bike course. And, with the wind today, my legs were more tired after the tough bike ride.

The run was also on an out-and-back course, sharing a section of the bike route. The initial portion took us past the campground within Harmon Park where campers turned spectators cheered us on.

As with the bike, we ran into the wind for the major portion of the first half of the run. But just as with the bike leg, the wind helped us back to the finish line after the turnaround.

Results

I ended the race with the second best time of five participants in the 60+ year Age Group in which I raced. Nothing to brag about, but no injuries.

Another state closer and nearly half way to the goal.

Race Firsts

  • First race in which strong winds forced a change in the swim course.
  • Latest start time; first race with a start time of 10 am.
Triathlon Adventures Across America book cover

A Story That Resonates

“A must-read for every athlete and retiring business executive committed to living healthy.”

Discover the complete story

Tell Us About Triathlons In Which Weather Was A Major Factor

Have you raced in inclement weather? How did it affect you personally and other racers?

Tell us about it in the Comments below.

Comments: We’d love to hear about your experience. Join the conversation below. All comments are reviewed before they appear.

Reply notifications: Click the bell icon above Post Comment to be notified when someone replies to your comment.

Follow the discussion: Click Subscribe above the comment box and enter your email address to receive notifications whenever a new comment is added—even if you don’t leave a comment. After subscribing, check your email and click Confirm to activate notifications.

Product Review: Nose Clip for Triathlon Swim Training

Terry L. VanderWert on July 16, 2018

Tyr-Ergo-nose-clip-to-goggles-solution

Does water in your nose during swimming lead to sneezing or a running nose after your swim? How about congestion?  If you share any of these symptoms, you will also find my experience with a nose clip useful for your triathlon swim training.

 

I Love Swimming Except For Water In My Nose

I am comfortable when swimming, whether in a pool or the open water.

My breathing during both pool and open water swimming is comfortable and relaxed.  I exhale through my mouth and nose while my face is in the water.  This keeps me from taking in much water during the swim.  But, there is always some water that gets into my mouth and nose.

The pool water that gets into my nose will invariably result in a runny nose and sometimes sneezing over the next few hours.

When I swim in lake water, even the slightest amount of water in my nose will leave me with a plugged nose, making sleeping the next night difficult.  I blame it on an allergy to the algae in the lake water.

While a nasal decongestant will help reduce the congestion, I avoid using one until it is necessary.

In the past, I had tried a nose clip that I dug out of my wife’s gym bag.  However, it was more hassle than help since it slipped off my nose after a short time in the water.

 

Rethinking the Nose Clip for Triathlon Swim Training

Recently, I came across an article about Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Missy Franklin.  The article showed her wearing a nose clip.

This got me thinking.

Since I live near a lake, open water swim training is very accessible.  I decided that I wanted to solve the problem.

I took to the internet to review various nose clips.  For every positive review, there was an equally negative one.  In most cases, the reviewers with negative comments wrote of the clip falling off their nose.  Several even lost their clip during its first use.  No brand seemed to be immune from this.

In the end, I went to local sporting goods stores, finally finding a clip at a local REI.  I purchased the last unit of the only model they had in stock, the TYR Ergo Swim Clip.

You can also purchase the TYR Ergo Nose Clip at SwimOutlet.com.

Tyr Ergo nose clip for triathlon swim training

My experience with the TYR Ergo Swim Clip has been positive, especially with the clip attached to my swim goggles.

 

Protecting My Investment

The nose clip is inexpensive (around $5) so it would not be terrible if I lost it in the lake.

However, losing it would mean that I would be back to square one, getting water in my nose.  Also, I preferred to not be running around shopping for another if I were to lose this one.  Remember, my experience with nose clips was that they fell off.

I decided to find a way to keep from losing the clip in the lake.  The first attempt was to use some good quality dental floss to secure the clip around my neck (like a necklace).  This was similar to the design of the clip that I had borrowed from my wife, except that hers used a rubber strap.

I secured the floss to the clip using a loose knot around the bridge of the clip.  The knot was smaller than the ends of the clip so that it would not come off.  For reference, see the inset in the picture in this article for which the caption begins with “Here is what worked for me“.

 

First Open Water Swim

In my first open water swim of one mile, the clip came loose two times, the first time after swimming more than a half mile.  Since the process of coming off my nose was relatively slow, I could stop and reattach the clip before it came completely off.

 

Pool Swim

The second time, I used the clip in the LA Fitness swimming pool.  Again, I found that the floss holding the clip around my neck would catch on my face, occasionally tugging on the clip.  I was certain that this is the reason the clip started to come off my nose.

While in the pool, I also found that the nose clip did not sink to the bottom of the pool when dropped in the water.  Instead, it floated somewhat below the surface of the water.  Still, I was not giving up on securing it.

 

Second Open Water Swim

The next time, during an open water swim in a nearby lake, I attached the floss holding the clip to my goggles (see picture below).  The floss was still the original length; throughout the swim, I could feel the floss dancing around my face, occasionally catching momentarily on my skin and tugging on the clip.

Tyr-Ergo-nose-clip-attached-to-goggles-with-long-connection

Swim goggles with TYR Ergo Nose Clip connected by dental floss. In this case, the floss is longer than needed which caused it to catch on my face during the swim.

However, over the course of a mile, the nose plug came loose, but not completely off, only once.  Progress!

 

Third Time’s a Charm

Before the next lake swim, I reduced the length of the floss holding the clip to the bridge of my goggles so it was not brushing against or catching on my face.

Tyr Ergo nose clip for triathlon swim training

Here is what has worked for me for triathlon swim training. Swim goggles with Tyr Ergo Nose Clip connected by floss. The floss is secured to the nose clip by a knot that prevents the floss from passing over either of the two larger ends of the clip.

 

The result was exactly as I hoped.  The clip stayed on my nose throughout a one mile lake swim.  And, more importantly, there was no runny nose or congestion.

Not Used in Racing—Yet

I have not worn the nose clip in a triathlon.   However, I know I would have benefited from it in races involving open water swims, especially those in which the algae-filled water led to post-race nasal congestion.

An Inexpensive Aid for Triathlon Swim Training

If you have problems with water getting in your nose during swimming, the swim clip may be the solution.  You can avoid losing it—or worrying about losing it—in the pool, lake, river, or ocean by clipping it to your goggles using a short piece of floss or string.

 

You May Also Be Interested in These Posts

Triathlon Across the USA: State #22 – New Mexico

Terry L. VanderWert on July 14, 2018

rock paper scissors sculpture from the Santa Fe New Mexico art district

Santa Fe, New Mexico; September 20, 2014—City of Santa Fe Triathlon

Reports of wildfires in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado during early July 2018 brought back memories of our trip to the area in 2014. Part of the trip for the New Mexico triathlon routed us through Colorada for visits with friends and family.

This race is one chapter in a 50-state journey—now told in full in Triathlon Adventures Across America .

Planning the New Mexico Triathlon

In early July 2014, Joy and I were talking with our friends, Steve and Lori.  We had visited them at their Colorado Springs, Colorado home around the time of the Colorado triathlon.

They had made the 1-1/2 hour drive to Englewood, Colorado to attend the event along with my parents. However, we had never taken the opportunity to visit their cabin in southern Colorado, despite more than one invitation.

This time was different.  Our calendar was clear for the period around the New Mexico triathlon, an event yet to be checked off our ‘to-do’ list.

Joy and I were certainly interested in visiting Santa Fe. We had yet another invitation to visit our friends’ cabin, which was a little over 150 miles north of Santa Fe. After that, we could visit my parents in the Denver area.

It was a straightforward decision.

Getting To Santa Fe

We started the roughly 2,500 mile (4,020 km) round-trip journey on Wednesday, September 17th.  Our first overnight stop, a bonus for this road trip, was in Bennington, Nebraska, home of our son and daughter-in-law and their daughter, Mari Lyn.

For the remaining distance to Santa Fe, we followed the less traveled route of US highways, avoiding the Interstate highways and their often heavy truck traffic.

It turned out to be a tremendous choice. Not only was this route about 100 miles (160 km) shorter, but the traffic was much lighter. Besides, traveling through the smaller towns was also a much more entertaining.

We arrived in Santa Fe at about 9pm, ate dinner at a chain restaurant next to the hotel, and crawled into bed for welcomed sleep.

First, Some Sightseeing

After breakfast the next morning, we headed to the historic Santa Fe plaza, where we hopped on a bus for a guided tour of the city. The tour took us past the Loretto Chapel (which we visited after lunch at the Thunderbird Bar & Grill on the plaza), through the art district of Santa Fe, and into the surrounding areas of the city.

horse-head-and-giant-scissors-sculpture-and-Loretto-Chapel-staircase-in-Santa-Fe-New-Mexico
Examples of displays from the Santa Fe art district (top/bottom left) and the mysterious spiral staircase at Loretto Chapel (right).

Later in the afternoon, we popped over to the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, the headquarters for the triathlon. I picked up the race packet which, of course, included the race t-shirt for my collection and race course maps.

Steve and Lori arrived at the hotel about the time we returned to the hotel from packet pickup, in time for some authentic Mexican cuisine. While Mexican is not my usual pre-race meal choice because of the spice, I couldn’t pass it up.

7th Annual City of Santa Fe Triathlon

There was one surprise between the time I registered for this triathlon and we arrived in Santa Fe—the altitude.

In mentioning my plans for the New Mexico triathlon, a colleague asked if I knew the altitude of Santa Fe. I responded that I did not.

I then learned that Santa Fe is 7,250 feet (2210 meter) above sea level. I had been to Santa Fe several times previously for business. However, I had never considered that its elevation is 50% higher than that of Denver, the ‘mile-high city’.

The City of Santa Fe Triathlon was a reverse triathlon, the second of this type in which I had taken part.  In the reverse triathlon, the three legs occur in reverse order, or as run-bike-swim, compared to the conventional order of swim-bike-run.

Distances for the three legs of this USAT-sanctioned event were:

  • Run: 3.1 mile (5 km)
  • Bike: 12 mile (19 km)
  • Swim: 0.25 mile (400 m)

This race was also the first one at which I adorned the bracelet, color coordinated to my triathlon suit, that my granddaughter, Kate, had made for me.

bracelet-for-New-Mexico-triathlon
My granddaughter, Kate, made me a bracelet, color coordinated with my triathlon suit, for the New Mexico triathlon.

Run

Race day morning was a comfortable, with the temperature in the low 60s °F.

The run started fast, at more than 7.5 miles per hour. The fast start was in part because the course was downhill and in part because all racers began together. Even though I tried to start at a pace I thought I could maintain throughout the run, I started much too fast, even without considering the altitude. The result was a lot of walking later in this leg.

Bike

The bike portion took us away from the city center into streets with little automobile traffic. The course was also hilly and, once again, I felt the effects of the altitude.

At one point, while climbing a hill, I felt light-headed. I was sure that I was going to end up walking the bike up the hill. However, I slowed down, avoiding the need to walk. I even picked up few places in the bike leg.

Swim

The swim leg took place in the eight lane, 50 meter long indoor pool of the Community Center. At the end of each length of the pool, we ducked under the lane divider to cross into the next lane and swam to the other end in this lane.

About the only thing that I like about the reverse triathlon is the swim at the end. While probably not great for the pool water, the swim washes off the sweat and dust accumulated during the first two legs of the race.

As a result, I exited the pool refreshed.

Results

There were only three participants in my age group.   This meant that despite a slow run and bike, I finished with a podium place and medal.

The medal for this race was actually a laser engraved wood plague. You can see the medal, #4 in the post titled ‘5 Unique Triathlon Medals; They are No Longer Just Metal’.

After the Triathlon

It was then on to Steve and Lori’s cabin. Our home for the next four days was in the Malcolm Forbes Wagon Wheel Creek Estates, a few miles northeast of Fort Garland, Colorado. In July 2018, the area was evacuated because of the threat of wildfires.

Getting to their cabin from the main highway involved an 8 mile, 20 minute trek up a rugged and windy gravel road. On the way to 10,000 feet elevations, we passed cattle and mule deer. Cattle graze on the property as a source of income for the homeowner’s association.

cabin-in-the-Sangre-de-Cristo-Mountains-near-Fort-Garland-Colorado
Our friends’ cabin in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Fort Garland, Colorado, our home for four days after the New Mexico Triathlon.

After a relaxing four days, which included a trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve during one day, we headed toward home. On the way, we stopped for overnight visits with my parents in Parker, Colorado, and , for the second time on this trip, with our son and his family in Nebraska.

Another memorable trip with a host of new experiences.

Race Firsts

  • First race at over 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) elevation (Santa Fe is 7,250 ft elevation).
  • First reverse triathlon above 1,500 ft elevation (Mesa, Arizona, venue of the previous reverse triathlon, is 1,243 ft. elevation).
  • First triathlon with an Age Group award produced from wood.
Triathlon Adventures Across America book cover

A Journey Beyond This Race

“Uplifting, real, and full of heart—I couldn’t put it down.”

Read the full journey in Triathlon Adventures Across America

Have You Done a Triathlon in New Mexico?

What triathlon(s) have you done in New Mexico? Is there one you recommend for other triathletes age 50 and over?

Share your comments below.

Comments: We’d love to hear about your experience. Join the conversation below. All comments are reviewed before they appear.

Reply notifications: Click the bell icon above Post Comment to be notified when someone replies to your comment.

Follow the discussion: Click Subscribe above the comment box and enter your email address to receive notifications whenever a new comment is added—even if you don’t leave a comment. After subscribing, check your email and click Confirm to activate notifications.