The next best thing about completing the St. Albert Triathlon for Eva Beyer was receiving the Frank Hayday Memorial “Late Bloomer” Award.
The award recognizes the oldest competitor who finished their first triathlon.
“This blows me away. I'm so thankful. It means more to me than any medal,” said Beyer, while choking back tears during Sunday's post-race ceremony.
The 47-year-old administration services co-ordinator for the Town of Stony Plain completed the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-km run in one hour, 39 minutes and eight seconds.
The mother of two teenagers was the 147th overall finisher out of 182 triathletes in the sprint race. She was also the 16th fastest female out of 23 in the 40 to 49 age category.
“I didn't want to finish hurting. I wanted to finish strong without any cramps and with energy and that's exactly what I did,” she said.
Beyer's placings were 106th in the pool, 148th on the bike and 157th on the run.
“I'm a fun swimmer and a fun runner. I just got my bike like two weeks ago,” she said. “The bike overwhelmed me a little bit. I've never done 20K on a bike before. It was definitely the toughest part.”
Beyer set her sights on the 23rd annual St. Albert Triathlon after swimming two kilometres in Hubbles Lake in the team event at Great White North Half Ironman last month.
“I looked online at the event schedule and realized I could train for this one and be ready for it,” she said. “It's been a personal goal of mine to do a triathlon, but when you have kids you have to let the kids grow up first and now it's getting to be a bit of Mom time to do the goals I've set for myself earlier.”
Beyer's inspiration is her 52-year-old brother, Mike Krahn.
“He's an Ironman and I've watched his races as my kids grew up. He is the reason why I did it.”
Beyer stressed if she can do a triathlon, so can anybody else.
“If you set your goals, prepare yourself and stay to your plan, you can accomplish anything,” she said. “Try not to come out and be an Ironman in your first race, just stick to your plan and finish strong.”
Beyer is the second recipient of the Late Bloomer Award, established in memory of Frank Hayday of the St. Albert Roadrunners and Triathlon Club. Robert Mollot of St. Albert was the inaugural winner last year at age 52.
Hayday was also a late bloomer in the sport. He started doing triathlons in 2001 at age 56. The next year he represented Canada at the world age group championships in Cancun. He also qualified for worlds in 2003 and 2004 but didn't race because of an injury. He qualified again in 2005 and competed in Hawaii.
The owner/operator of Karl Hager Limb & Brace for 30 years died of mesothelioma on Jan. 21, 2011.
“I've never met him,” Beyer said, “but just hearing what they said about him, this is what it's all about.”
