|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, May 18, 2012
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
From front right, Hannah Curry, Katie Formen, Laura Emry, Mary Schofield, Suzanne Talmadge and their mother Nona Archer before the six competed in the Tri-Your-Best Triathlon Saturday in Dallas.
August 31, 2011
DALLAS -- Most people who begin training for a triathlon are determined, but perhaps not as determined as Dallas resident Nona Archer and her daughters.
None of them was a confident swimmer, and a few, really, couldn't swim at all.
"I was just scared in the water," said Mary Schofield of Redmond, one of Nona's daughters. "I really hadn't been in the deep end (of a pool) a lot until this year."
With swimming being one of the three events required to complete a triathlon, it's quite an obstacle to success.
But not for "Team Archer," as they were dubbed during their first triathlon in 2010.
Last year, Nona Archer and five of her six daughters signed up to participate in the first "Tri-Your-Best" Triathlon, sponsored by the Monmouth Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held in Dallas.
"Tri-Your-Best" began in 2010 after Dallas resident Lynda Spencer told the women at her church about competing in the Beaver Freezer Triathlon in Corvallis.
"Women would say `That's so cool, but I couldn't do it,'" Spencer said. "I said `Hey, wait a minute. I just did it."
Spencer and others began to think about organizing a triathlon just for women to try to change those attitudes.
Mary Schofield of Redmond crosses the finish line on the track at Dallas High School's Gallaspy Stadium.
They concluded that a "sprint" triathlon -- 500-meter swim, 12-mile bike ride and 5K run/walk -- would be best. It would give women a challenge, but also wouldn't be so long it would exclude anyone.
"We were trying to help the women became healthier," said Nona Springer of Dallas, this year's event coordinator. "The neat thing is finding out that you can (finish). It's very empowering."
"Team Archer" members were part of the 225 women who signed up.
Training started for many in the family with learning how to swim.
"I thought I could do it," said Archer, 68, who also had to learn to swim. "I wanted to do it."
Determination is clear in Archer's soft-spoken voice. Her daughters Hannah Curry of Salem, Katie Formen of Dallas, Laura Emry of Salem, Schofield and Suzanne Talmadge of Independence share the same dedication.
They weren't alone.
Among the triathlon participants was Catherine Huxford of Monmouth, the oldest competitor at age 75. She didn't swim, but completed the bike ride and walk-run portions of the course. She plans to do it again next year, if the event is held for a third year.
Then there was Wanda Silvers of Dallas, who struggled to finish the event last year. On Saturday, Aug. 27, she was a changed woman from the person who "hobbled," as she put it, across the finish line in 2010. She's lost 75 pounds and took first place in the 51-60 age division.
Participant Jamie Buller of Dallas, along with her sisters, joined the triathlon last year in honor of their sister,Stephanie Stockdale, who died of cancer. They didn't stop with just one triathlon.
"That's our thing now," Buller said. "We keep doing triathlons."
With a goal of finishing a triathlon in sight, many participants were able to lose weight and gain confidence in themselves.
Last year, Schofield found empowerment in simply watching her mom and sisters compete. She had just had a baby six weeks before the triathlon was scheduled, giving her little time to train.
She set up a cheering squad of other family members, but her thoughts turned to this year's triathlon.
Laura Emry sets down her bike in the transition area at Gallaspy Stadium before heading out on the running leg.
"I thought `If they are going to have one next year, I sure want to do it,'" she said.
Starting last January, she began swimming lessons. After gaining confidence in the water, she started a training routine in which she ran three times per week, biked three times per week and swam two times per week. She took seminars from experienced triathletes to learn training techniques and competition-day tips.
Schofield went from being scared in the water to winning her age group in a triathlon in Redmond a few weeks ago. "Tri-Your-Best" was just her second triathlon. This time, she took first place overall.
"I'm so proud of her," said Emry after watching Schofield complete her swimming portion. "She just learned this year and has done really well."
Emry and her sisters said the best part of participating is being able to share the sense of accomplishment and encouragement with each other.
"It's great to have a chance to get together and do this with them," said Talmadge.
Talmadge, who is pregnant, decided to forgo the swimming portion, but was able to finish the bike and run/walk portion. She completed the latter with a friend who decided at the last minute she wanted to walk, but wasn't sure she could finish the 5K.
Talmadge's friend, Andrea Zinn of Independence, was not only able to complete the distance, but was able to run to the finish, to the cheers of onlookers.
Nona Archer is congratulated by her daughter Hannah Curry at the finish line after completing the 500-meter swim, 12-mile bike ride and 5,000-meter run/walk course.
"It's just such a bonding experience," Curry said. "It's a feeling you don't get to experience very often. You can't really explain it. It's an overwhelming feeling of love, commitment and encouragement to everyone involved."
Near the finish line at Dallas High School's Gallapsy Stadium, that feeling was evident. From the very first person to cross the finish line to the very last, there were people to cheer them on and congratulate them at the end.
Archer said she hopes the efforts of the women Saturday, and the months of training beforehand, can set an example for younger generations.
"It's good for my grandchildren to see that we can try things that are difficult," Archer said, who took first place in her age division. "And it's OK to not finish as long as we try our best."
ACEBOOK