Aurora – Karen Waeschle, a mother of three from Fraser, finished first and Sally Edwards, once the fastest female master Ironman triathlete in the world, finished last – again.
In between on Sunday morning, more than 3,000 women from across the state and country started and finished the 16th annual Danskin women’s triathlon at the Aurora Reservoir, and all had a purpose.
In its 10th year in Denver, the event is part of the largest triathlon series in the world, according to organizers, and more than 140,000 women have participated in eight states since 1990.
This was Waeschle’s first Danskin, and the only thing the 42-year-old would have changed was the water temperature at the start of the half-mile swim.
“I like the waters in Mexico – nice and warm. This was a little cold for me,” said Waeschle, who finished with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes. “An all-women’s event is cool, too, because you don’t have to fight through all the guys.”
The swim was followed by a 12.4-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run, and Terry Berndt of Denver still had enough energy to give the double fist pump at the finish line. Berndt, 51, had a simple reason for tackling her second Danskin triathlon in two years.
“I turned 50 and wanted to prove that I could do it,” she said. “It’s great to know that I am in better shape now than I was at 25.”
Longmont’s Diane Groff offered an inspiring reason for racing. As one of the first finishers for Team Survivor, Groff, 48, showed there is life during and after breast cancer. When Groff was diagnosed with cancer for a second time, she went into a “free fall.”
“Team Survivor came through and helped me land back on my feet,” said Groff, who finished her fourth Danskin triathlon.
And then there was Edwards, the national spokesperson for the triathlon series. An author, businesswoman and master motivator, Edwards gave all 31 waves of participants a pep talk at the starting line before a triumphant finish in last place. She has finished – in last place – every one of the 100-plus Danskin triathlons and doesn’t plan on stopping.
Neither does Berndt. When asked if she will run in 2006, she said, “You bet I will.”
