When Trish Downing swims in triathlons, the workers in the water often try to rescue her.
Downing swims backward, with a “swim buddy” yelling directions at her, which spooks the workers. She swims faster backward because her legs don’t drag her down as much.
Ten years ago, when Downing was 31, a car hit her head-on while she was riding her bike near Golden, paralyzing her from the waist down.
Triathlons have been a way to “find her way again” and offer a sport in which she can compete equally alongside able-bodied athletes, Downing said.
Along with four other paraplegic athletes, Downing competed Saturday in the Creek Streak triathlon at Cherry Creek Reservoir, racing with the able-bodied.
The five para-athletes, who are former patients of Craig Hospital, finished either a triathlon individually or in a relay with able-bodied teammates or a 5K run using a wheelchair.
Rehabilitated wheelchair-bound athletes and Craig employees participate in events such as this to encourage injured people to continue pushing their bodies despite their physical limitations, said Joe Gomez, director of therapeutic recreation.
Craig, which serves patients with brain and spinal-cord injuries, focuses on rehabilitating patients to continue with activities they enjoyed doing before a change in mobility, Gomez said. Introducing them to new sports in which they can thrive is key to the rehabilitation process as well.
Matt Updike, another former patient who became an elite athlete after he was injured, also competed in the Creek Streak.
Updike, a member of the U.S. paralympic cycling team, took part in a relay with a swimmer and runner. His team had the fastest relay time in the intermediate course: a 1,500-meter swim, 24-mile bike race and a 6.2-mile run.
Updike was in a traffic accident in November 1997 and was only a “weekend cyclist” before that, he said.
“Life is not over,” Updike said. “Focus on what you can still do, and don’t dwell on the injury and what you can’t do.”
The other three para-athletes to compete have continued being active while also discovering new sports.
As Sean Haggard’s teammate ran toward the finish line, he encouraged her by yelling, “Faster, faster, faster . . . don’t be lazy.” Haggard handcycled in his first triathlon this weekend, but he plans to do a full triathlon soon.
The Creek Streak Triathlon Duathlon and 5K race, organized by Your Cause Sports, a Boulder-based nonprofit, donates participants’ registration fees to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Colorado.
“This is the first race that there were wheelchair athletes, and it means a lot to me,” said Brent Herron, founder of Your Cause. “My dad has multiple sclerosis and is in a wheelchair, and he’s the reason I started the nonprofit.”
Downing, a motivational speaker and author, will race in the Ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October. If she finishes, she will be the first American paraplegic woman to complete the race.
Sarah Horn: 303-954-1638 or shorn@denverpost.com
