Nerves of Iron
Two BU employees compete in the Ironman Triathlon
While many of us got some quality time in our lounge chairs this summer, two BU employees were spending their days training for the competitive Ironman Triathlon, held in Lake Placid, N.Y., in July. Adlar Su and Woodrow Freese tested their endurance in the competition’s 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run.
Su, an analyst consultant for the Office of Information Technology, met Freese, the assistant director of administration for the Office of Residence Life, on a bike ride near Coolidge Corner. They were surprised when they found out that they both were BU employees training for the same competition. Freese, a triathlon competitor for the past 24 years, and Su, a runner and swimmer for the past 15 years, have similar regimens, training several hours a day, six days a week.
Thousands of athletes worldwide compete in preliminary events, such as the one in Lake Placid, to qualify for the Ironman World Championship, held in Hawaii every October. The Ironman Triathlon began in 1978 as a competition among friends. A Navy captain designed the event, incorporating the three races to determine who was the real “ironman.”
The Lake Placid course consists of a strenuous bike ride, a run through the steep Adirondack Mountains, and finally a swim across Mirror Lake. Neither Su nor Freese qualified for the Ironman World Championships — only 80 from Lake Placid advanced. Freese finished 192nd out of 268 racers in his division and 1,613th out of 2,340 racers overall. Su came in 47th out of 238 racers in his division, and 240th overall.
“The odds of qualifying are pretty slim,” says Freese, who has competed in 19 Ironman Triathlons. “Literally, I have a better chance of being struck by lightning. The people who qualify are doing this full-time and are some of the world’s best athletes. The most important part is finishing with dignity. Go out and race for 12 to 13 hours and you’ll be pretty proud about finishing.”
To prepare for a triathlon, Freese recommends getting involved with the BU Triathlon Team. Any long-distance event can get you started, he says.
“Especially with a competition like the Ironman, it’s necessary to put in the time and to train,” says Su. “Plus, an active lifestyle really is important for well-being.”
Amy Laskowski can be reached at amlaskow@bu.edu.
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