Lane, running a qualifier

Those familiar with the Ironman sporting event know that it is an endurance race that tests the limits of its competitors by making them travel a distance of 140.6 miles by swimming, biking and running.

Most people don’t even put that many miles on their car in a week, but a 45-year-old, 5’ 2” Lusby red-head named Trish Lane finished strong in this grueling race held Oct. 21. And she does this and other triathlons in want of nothing but the sheer excitement and personal satisfaction of completing this test of body, spirit and mind.

Clips from the Ford Ironman competition will be shown on television from 4 to 6 p.m. on NBC today, Dec. 9.

The Ironman race not only puts the body under harsh physical stresses but tests the mental fortitude of its contestants, of which there were more than 1,800 this year.

Trish finished 16th out of more than 80 in the women’s 40-44 years age bracket.

Trish has always been an athlete while growing up. She has always been into fitness and was a competitive swimmer before she ever conceived the idea of participating in the Ironman.

During her college years she was a member of Virginia Tech’s swim team and participated in the endurance events within the sport of swimming. The idea for her to compete in the Ironman event was first brought on by natural curiosity mixed with a strong desire to be fit.

“I have always wanted to do the triathlon from just watching it on television and I knew I could swim a long distance,” said Trish, “I have also done the Great Chesapeake Bay Bridge swim, I have always been a swimmer.”

 
The Bay Net photos by Sean Rice

The Chesapeake Bay bridge swim is a meet where the participants swim the width of the Chesapeake Bay between the spans of the Bay Bridge.

So what does it take to place, or even finish, an Ironman triathlon? On the island of Kona in sunny tropical Hawaii you not only compete with people from the United States but professional and amateur athletes from all over the world.

According to Lane it is all about timing when preparing for this test of stamina, and with the help of a good friend named Fred Briggs for the running part. Briggs, 60, resides in Solomon’s Island, and would run alongside Lane.

“Fred was a real inspiration for me when I trained, he lives in Solomon’s and I enjoyed jogging with him on Sundays,’ Lane said.

One of the biggest obstacles Trish had to overcome was an always painful foot due to an artificial joint in her big toe, not to mention Trish had a serious ear infection and was taking prescription antibiotics the day of the race.

In 2005, Trish won a qualifying spot in the Ironman race, but she broke her foot three weeks before race day.


<!–

–>