Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_4424" align="alignleft" width="304"] Jackie Arendt, ‘07[/caption] Jackie Arendt, ‘07, took home a trophy from her first Ironman at age 23. She was the fastest in her age group, setting a record at the competition. It was the first time the former UW-L swimmer and runner had ever competed in an Ironman — a grueling 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile marathon. Arendt was shocked when she learned the results. It was her first clue that she had a future as a professional athlete. Today Arendt is a full-time, professional triathlete and coach who has 15 Ironman competitions under her belt. Last year she won the Ironman Wisconsin women’s championship in Madison with a time of 9:47:07.

“I remember it was so emotional,” she says. “It’s kind of a strange sport where you put in hours and hours of training — alone… It’s a really special feeling when it pays off.”

She competes in Ironman competitions and shorter triathlons. With weather warming up, she offers some tips for competing in athletic events — whether running or trying a tri.

1. Don’t do too much too soon. Arendt advises to ease into training. If someone wants to finish a full Ironman, start off with two runs, two bikes and two swims per week. The duration is based on experience. A general rule is to start running a couple miles and add no more than 10 percent each week. Another general rule is to start with 45 minutes of biking and 30 minutes of swimming and build with each workout.
2. Find a group or mentor. Arendt says to find someone to go to for advice, which will be a lot easier than learning to compete by trail and error. Local biking or running shops often have groups, as do YMCAs. In La Crosse, the Bluff Busters Tri Team is a popular triathlon team. UW-L has a team as well.
3. Don’t get too serious. Have fun with it. People tend to get very sucked into strict training plans, says Arendt. Although competing in triathlons is her job, Arendt still has fun. She thinks of her training as exercise with her main goal of keeping healthy. She takes a day off if she is in pain.
4. Shoes are a worthy investment — fancy clothes, not so much. In the vast array of athletic apparel, Arendt says a good pair of shoes is worth the investment. Athletes should look for running shoes that fit their running style as a bad shoe could be detrimental to training. Spending a lot on clothing, on the other hand, is more about looking good than gaining any traction in training, says Arendt.“Most people want to look good in pictures, so they buy a really nice outfit,” she says. “I think I’ll spend my money on something else.” Another useful item to have is a GPS watch with a heart rate monitor. The tool gives athletes a way to track progress and work toward a goal, she notes.
5. When you hit the wall. Come competition time, it’s common to hit a wall somewhere along the race route. During an Ironman, it can happen multiple times throughout the daylong competition, says Arendt. She usually works through the wall by taking a couple deep breaths, thinking back on her long hours of training and giving herself a mini pep-talk. It goes something like this: “This is not a good time to have a mental episode … This is a race and I can’t stop now.”
6. You’re not too old to try a tri or marathon. Arendt, 29, says she is looking forward to reaching her prime in about four years. It’s true. The Ironman World Championship winners for females are typically in their mid-30s. Arendt says it takes a long time to build the endurance and mental fortitude to complete an Ironman. “Age is your friend,” she says. “Every year I feel like you get mentally stronger. You may not be as quick as you were at 22, but you have a better sense of self.”
7. Appreciate benefits of being active. Arendt says competing has made her healthier and more focused. “I’ve changed my lifestyle to one that is centered around exercise,” she says. “I don’t really go out to eat and go to the bars. I like this lifestyle.”

During her first year as a professional athlete, Arendt, a former biology major, juggled training, coaching and her career as a pharmaceutical scientist. In 2011 she decided to pursue triathlon on a full-time basis. For more information on Jackie Arendt including her blog and coaching information visit http://jackiearendt.com/