Iron Woman

0

 

 

 Westfield mother to compete in Hawaii’s top triathlon

While most triathletes compete for money or success, 43-year-old Westfield resident Anna Markus competes for a different reason.

“I like the discipline of it,” Markus said, “and I like the competiveness of it. I enjoy cycling, swimming and running because I like the challenges they provide. I was able to do a triathlon on my own terms and it’s a good outlet for me because I’m so busy.”

Out of all the athletes in the world, only 1,800 get to race in the IronMan Triathlon taking place in Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 12. To qualify for the race, a triathlete has to complete another IronMan and place first or second in their age group. Markus, a nurse, wife and mother, will be one of those 1,800 to compete at Kona.

“If it kills me, I’m crossing that finish line,” she said.

A former high school swimmer, Markus is used to the hard work it takes to compete at such a high level. Training for an IronMan consists of early morning workouts, an average of 15 to 20 hours of training per week for one year and eating healthy, but Markus’s training doesn’t always come first. She is driven, but she doesn’t let discipline rule her life.

“I try to make the most of the workout. Make a purpose of each workout to make it count because I do have time restrictions,” Markus said. “I virtually train every day. I try to take one day off every week.”

Being a wife, mother and a nurse means that she puts her family and job first and doesn’t always fit in all the training she wants.

“I train really early in the morning before the kids are awake or go to school,” Markus said, adding she teaches a part-time cycling class and uses the weekend for long runs or bike rides. “I probably don’t get enough sleep.”

An IronMan triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.1-mile marathon. Markus said the cutoff time is 17 hours – her personal best was 10 hours, 36 minutes in 2009.

Markus says it takes about one year of dedicated training to be physically prepared for a race of that level. She lifts weights and stair-steps in the middle of the training period to condition her muscles since she is more prone to injury because of age, but as her training nears its end she solely works on her swimming, cycling and running.

A triathlete’s physique isn’t the only necessary component for completing a successful triathlon.

“I think the most underestimated part is the mental part,” Markus said. “The mental part is a huge factor of completing a race of this distance. For me, another part of training is getting my head into it.”

Markus keeps her mentality in check through an IronMan by breaking up the race into increments in her mind so it doesn’t seem so threateningly vast. She also fills her head with positive images and the joys in her life like her kids.

Markus’s dedication does more than just help prepare her for the race. It also inspires her husband, Chris Markus. Because of his wife’s devotion to the IronMan, Chris also began training to compete in an IronMan shortly after her first race.

The Markus couple trains together, especially with biking. Since biking is Chris’s strongest aspect of the IronMan, he can keep up with Anna. However, with the swimming and running they stick to their own routines.

“Seeing Anna cross the finish line with the joy (not pain) in her face was something to behold,” Chris said. “I was so proud of her to be able to complete such a mentally and physically enduring event that I use that moment/image to keep myself motivated. We are all very proud of her and know that this is the goal of every triathlete. We want to be able to be there to support and provide encouragement any way that we can.”

Chris, their kids Reid and Ella, and Anna’s twin sister will be traveling to Kona to watch Markus compete. The Markus family also plans on making the trip into an educational experience by showing their kids around lava fields and taking them snorkeling. Markus’s main goal is to just keep her head focused throughout the duration of the race.

“My goal is to have fun, race smart, and to just leave it all out there,” she said. “Whatever happens I feel so privileged to be able to go, the rest is just icing on the cake. My goal is to feel prepared. Whatever the outcome is, it’s all good.”

To watch Westfield resident Anna Markus compete, watch a live streaming starting at 7 a.m. on Oct. 12 at www.ironman.com. NBC will also be showing the televised version of the race in December.


Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Share.

Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact