Kona Participants Review Journal Article
Seven local triathletes are scheduled to compete Saturday in Kona:rnlottery winners Michael Sullivan, Julie Marschner and Bruce Beckett ofrnLas Vegas; age-slot winner Melodie Cronenberg age-slot winner JamesrnHarrington of Las Vegas; and lottery winners Sara Levin and Derek Rudernof Henderson.rn
Here is a story from the Review Journal written by Todd Dewey
Melodie’s coach is our own Jackie Arcanarn
Melodie’s coach is our own Jackie Arcanarn
It’srnno surprise, then, that Henderson resident Melodie Cronenberg valuesrnher health — so much so that she has completed close to 40 triathlonsrnin the last six years, including nine Ironman events consisting of arn2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile run.
I lovernthe training; I love being healthy and setting personal goals tornachieve," said Cronenberg, 60. "I love the sport of triathlon, and I dornwell at it. I kind of found my niche later in life."
Cronenberg, whornstarted competing in triathlons shortly after accepting a challengernfrom co-workers to run a road race, will compete Saturday in thernworld’s most prestigious triathlon — the Ironman World Championship inrnKona, Hawaii. rn
Cronenberg, whornstarted competing in triathlons shortly after accepting a challengernfrom co-workers to run a road race, will compete Saturday in thernworld’s most prestigious triathlon — the Ironman World Championship inrnKona, Hawaii. rn
She qualified for the event, which willrnfeature close to 1,800 athletes, by winning her age group (60-64) atrnthe Ironman UK, which took place Sept. 7 in Sherborne, Dorset, UnitedrnKingdom.
Cronenberg was disappointed with her finish of 16 hours, 21rnminutes, 28 seconds, but it was enough to qualify her for the SuperrnBowl of her sport for the first time. She competed in Kona in 2006 viarna lottery spot. rn
"This is the first time I’ve actually qualified," she said proudly. "Getting a lottery spot is lucky; qualifying is tough." rn
Cronenberg,rnwho suffers from plantar fasciitis in her right foot, said most peoplernneed three months to recover from an Ironman event and wait six monthsrnbefore entering another one. But she’ll barely have one month inrnbetween events when she starts Saturday’s race.
"It’s a tough turnaround time, but I’m ready for it," she said. "I’m excited. It’s what I wanted."
Historyrnis on her side. After completing Kona in 15:08:08 in 2006, Cronenbergrnposted a personal-best time of 14:25 at Ironman Florida about two weeksrnlater. She hopes to better that mark Saturday. "That’s my goal,rndepending on the elements over there," she said. rn
"It’s a tough turnaround time, but I’m ready for it," she said. "I’m excited. It’s what I wanted."
Historyrnis on her side. After completing Kona in 15:08:08 in 2006, Cronenbergrnposted a personal-best time of 14:25 at Ironman Florida about two weeksrnlater. She hopes to better that mark Saturday. "That’s my goal,rndepending on the elements over there," she said. rn
In herrnfirst race in Kona, Cronenberg battled rain, wind and cold weather, notrnto mention hills and mud, to finish. But she said it was well worth therneffort.
"Absolutely. It was amazingly rewarding," she said. "When Irncrossed the finish line, it was absolutely exhilarating. It’s hard torndescribe how you feel. It’s just totally uplifting."
Along with the chance to travel and make friends, Cronenberg said she loves the atmosphere at Ironman events. rn
"Absolutely. It was amazingly rewarding," she said. "When Irncrossed the finish line, it was absolutely exhilarating. It’s hard torndescribe how you feel. It’s just totally uplifting."
Along with the chance to travel and make friends, Cronenberg said she loves the atmosphere at Ironman events. rn
"Thernenergy, when you’re in an Ironman, you can almost touch it, it’s sornthick," she said. "Everyone in the sport of triathlon is anrninspiration. There’s a wonderful camaraderie, and the support you getrnfrom other triathletes is phenomenal. It’s a very unselfish sport.
"The bottom line to all this is I’m having the best time of my life." rn
"The bottom line to all this is I’m having the best time of my life." rn
Cronenbergrnsaid she trained six days per week, for an average of 20 hours, tornprepare for Kona. She swam, biked and lifted weights an average ofrnthree or four times a week but ran only three times a week because ofrnher injury. Cronenberg also said she completed one long run (15 to 18rnmiles), one long bike ride (80 to 100 miles) and one long swim (11/2 torn2 miles) each week. rn
"I don’t train as much as some people, generally because of my age, but it’s still a lot," she said.
Cronenberg concedes she has wanted to quit in the middle of an Ironman event "many times."
"That’srnthe whole deal with the Ironman — the mental toughness it takes torntalk yourself out of stopping," she said. "People use a lot ofrndifferent tricks. Sometimes you shame yourself into going on becausernyou don’t want to look bad. rn
Cronenberg concedes she has wanted to quit in the middle of an Ironman event "many times."
"That’srnthe whole deal with the Ironman — the mental toughness it takes torntalk yourself out of stopping," she said. "People use a lot ofrndifferent tricks. Sometimes you shame yourself into going on becausernyou don’t want to look bad. rn
"I just like to rememberrnthe feeling I get when I cross the finish line, how motivating it is,rnand also how much I get to brag." rn
Cronenberg said shernalso uses for inspiration her daughter Lara, who has undergone twornopen-heart surgeries and also recently had a pacemaker implanted in herrnchest. "She had the first surgery when she was six months old. I wasrnjust 19. It was very difficult," Cronenberg said. "They didn’t thinkrnshe would live past her teenage years, and she’s 40 now. rn
"Irnam just so fortunate to have the health that I do that allows me to bernin this kind of sport. It’s a gift. I feel very blessed."rn
