A year ago, she finished back in the pack after being sidelined for an hour on the side of the road when her bike broke down.
On Sunday, Thornton’s Mary Beth Ellis had swim troubles but held on down the stretch in the 8-mile run to win the women’s elite division in the 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco, in which more than 50 Colorado athletes took part.
“I had a bit of bad luck last year and wanted to come back and have a good experience,” Ellis said Monday. “I love the course. It’s an amazing race.”
Ellis, who competed in the Olympic Trials last year and also finished second in the world championships, found herself swimming alone during the early portion of Sunday’s competition.
“I was a little bit concerned and tried to keep my focus and not stress out,” she said. “It’s a little more daunting than some swims because you’re out in the middle of the bay, with no buoys.”
Ellis, 32, exited the water in fourth place but had the lead after the 18-mile bike ride, then held on to defeat Leanda Cave of Tucson by 1 minute, 39 seconds with a time of 2:21:23.
“I really enjoy doing the World Cup and stuff related to the Olympics. But races like Alcatraz, where you get a good mix of age-group athletes, whether they’re trying just to finish or win their age group, is inspiring,” she said. “It keeps it in perspective. Sometimes finishing is all that matters.”
Such was the case for Ellis last year. She held the lead before her bike broke down, then had to decide whether to drop out or finish once the bike was fixed. She chose to keep going, running with age-group competitors rather than the elite.
“When you take a chance to win out of the equation, you get to enjoy the scenery a little bit more,” Ellis said.
Of course, her view from the podium wasn’t bad, either. She already is planning another Escape next year.
Local escapees
Notable Coloradans in the 2009 Escape from Alcatraz:
Mary Beth Ellis: 32, Thornton, first, women’s elite, 2 hours, 21 minutes, 23 seconds
Jasmine Oeinck: 24, Boulder, sixth, women’s elite, 2:31:52
Kristen Peterson: 24, Boulder, ninth, women’s elite, 2:44:53
Marjorie Leidig: 70, Boulder, first, women’s 70-74, 5:24:37
Andy Potts: 33, Colorado Springs, first, men’s elite, 2:07:25
Brian Fleischmann: 31, Colorado Springs, fourth, men’s elite, 2:12:42
Cameron Dye: 25, Boulder, ninth, men’s elite, 2:16:10
Jimmy Archer: 37, Boulder, 16th, men’s elite, 2:21:06
Adam Truex: 26, Colorado Springs, 19th, men’s elite, 2:22:17
Cyrus Severance: 29, Denver, fourth, men’s 25-29, 2:26:19
Al Marvin, 61: Denver, second, men’s 60-64, 3:00:34
