January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Ironman to test how far Karen can push herself
After completing a gruelling 32-week training programme she'll head to South America next Wednesday along with fellow Bermuda-based athletes Julia Hawley, Karen Smith and Jeff Conyers to compete in the event.
We talked to her about the inspiration of swim-training amid eagle rays in Harrington Sound, the peace of running on empty open roads in Tucker's Town at sunrise and how intense training had helped her overcome personal tragedy.
It's the first question for any Ironman competitor. Why?
It's all about pushing the limits. Finding out how hard you can push yourself. It's very hard to explain. To set a goal that seems a bit unachievable and feel that sense of accomplishment when you actually do it, is amazing.
Are you ready for it. How long will it take?
I haven't run one before so I'm not really sure how long it will take. I didn't do a practice one in training so it's brand new territory. That's part of the thrill.
The time it takes you to recover from an Ironman prevents you from doing a practice run.
I'm just aiming to complete it in as good a time as I can.
How did you get into triathlon?
About this time last year. I'd just completed May 24 and I thought it would be fun to train for a triathlon. I was initially training for the Bank of Bermuda triathlon but some people I knew were talking about a half-Ironman in Florida, which I thought would be fun.
I went out for that last October, It was the first time I'd really had triathlon be the focus.
It was so nice, there was such camaraderie between the competitors, with everyone cheering each other on.
How did you go about organizing your training?
I signed up with an online coach just to take the mystery out of it. The main thing I was worried about was over-training.
I signed up with www.traintorace.com which was really good. I got my own online coach, she gave me a tailored programme which she sends to me each week.
If you're going on vacation or you have an injury, she'll mould the programme to fit-in with you.
She mixes it up and adds variety. You might do hill repeats on the bike one day and then track for the run. It keeps it interesting and fresh and it's good to have someone to bounce ideas off.
What's been the toughest part of it?
With an Ironman triathlon the time commitment is big. Juggling work and family and training takes a really, really understanding husband.
I love the training. It's amazing. But time management is probably the hardest thing.
It was a 32-week training programme for this event, roughly 13-17 hours training a week.
What are the benefits?
I love the people that you meet. When you spend six hours on a bike with somebody you really get to know them.
It keeps you calm. It's total stress relief and it really helps you develop discipline and organization in all aspects of your life. If you're disciplined and organized with your training you can be disciplined and organized with anything.
How do you cover the miles necessary for the long training rides on an island the size of Bermuda?
People always joke when you do a 100 mile bike ride on this island you must get round it a few times. People will see you riding at 6am and then they'll run into you again at another part of the island four hours later.
110 miles is the longest training ride we did. It took about six-and-a-half hours. It's not as repetitive as you might think. You do cover the island a few times but you take different roads each time
You get to know the island very well - all the bums, all the sights. It's fun.
Where are your favourite training spots?
I'm a big fan of running on South Shore Road. I live in Flatts so I run along Harrington Sound Road and up to the South Shore and on to Tucker's Town. It's beautiful. You go past great beaches, beautiful houses with well manicured lawns. There's a golf course down there and you can do some sprints on the grass.
I like to cycle at Clearwater. It's nice and flat and the traffic isn't as bad.
I like to swim in Harrington Sound. It can be really rough but it can also be flat calm. I had the best swim that I've ever had in Harrington Sound last Friday. The water was so flat it was like a mirror. I was swimming from Devil's Hole to Flatts and the sun was setting. It was a beautiful orange colour reflecting off the water. If I didn't train I wouldn't have been able to see that.
When you train you're out at dawn and dusk. It's just so peaceful to watch the sunrise and set as you run or swim. When you cover this island so many times you see so many different, beautiful things.
They're eagle rays in Harrington Sound. One day they were swimming underneath me - they are the most graceful creatures - they just go gliding by. You just don't expect to see anything like that. It's those memories that help keep you going when you're on mile 23 of the run.
What is your inspiration when you are training?
My son Jeremy passed away in September. He was six and three-quarters. He is a huge inspiration for me. The struggles of training are nothing compared to what he went through in his life.
He had very severe cerebral palsy. He was a quadraplegic. He was not able to speak and was totally dependent on my husband (Daniel) and I.
One of the reasons I got back into running was that I believe if you spend all your time taking care of someone and you don't take care of yourself then the quality of the care you are able to give diminishes.
I started running to recharge my batteries, to spend some time alone and re-energise myself.
It made a big difference in the energy I was able to give to his care. It's kind of hard to explain but exercise actually gives you energy and I really found that I was way more positive and imaginative towards his care. My entire outlook on life was much better.
Last year you ran May 24 for his school, The Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy. Are you still involved with fundraising for the school?
Absolutely. I'm still the treasurer and one of the directors of the charity that supports the school.
I'm very involved in trying to raise community awareness and we are always trying to raise funds. I won't be part of Team Hope for May 24 but I've been asking people to sponsor me for the Ironman instead.
Did training help you at all after your son passed?
It definitely helped me since he died. Having a big goal to focus on really helped me through the process.
Our lives completely changed when we lost Jeremy. We had to learn how to live without him.
Training for an Ironman is a big project and it helped me get through the grieving process.
Why did you get into running, in particular?
Anybody can run. We all know how to put one foot in-front of the other, some people just choose not to. I can appreciate that. My husband thinks I'm a complete lunatic but he's very supportive. n
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