Lydia Miller used to fear the swim.
Not strong at it, Miller learned to swim with her head in the water. After doing her first triathlon race in 2002 she earned a strong result then kept doing them.
| Lydia Miller competed International Triathlon Union Multisport World Championship Festivals Long Course on Aug. 27. She won the 70 to 74 age group.Submitted photo |
On Aug. 27, Miller added another age group championship to her resume, this time in the International Triathlon Union Multisport World Championship Long Course, a three-kilometre swim, 120-km bike and 30-km run in 10 hours four minutes 40 seconds. In a small field of three females in the 70 to 74 age group, she was the only one to finish. Another athlete did not start. It wasn’t easy for Miller though, as cramps slowed her down.
“I was determined I was going to finish,” said Miller. “I would have liked to be able to run it. Of course with the cramping, you can’t do much about that one when that happens.”
Miller said it was great day and she was very happy with her swim, which took 1:07:13 and had a great bike ride. Miller, who has been competing for 16 years, is feeling great after becoming a world champion, but credited it to lots of training and the work with her coach. She said anyone can make it through, they just have to persevere. Dedication, good coaching and plenty of stubbornness also play a factor she said. Miller made it her goal to win the championship, especially going into a new age group. It was a race she always wanted to do, so it means a lot.
“To say that I came in first in my age group in the world event, it was pretty special,” she said. “They have all been special. This one was pretty darned good.”