Laurie Senty of Grand Marais with the bicycle she rides when competing in triathlons. Her last competition, the Louisville Ironman race, included a 2.4- mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26-mile run. Senty finished the triathlon in 12 hours and 40 minutes.
Grand Marais endurance athlete Laurie Senty met her goal this summer by placing third in her age group at the Louisville Ironman race.
But it wasn’t easy. Even under the best conditions, triathlons are grueling. And this was especially so as entrants competed in 100 degree heat and high humidity.
Senty finished the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile hilly bike ride, and daunting 26-mile 385-yard marathon run in 12 hours and 40 minutes.
The top two finishers in each age group qualified for Kuna, the first, biggest, and most famous Ironman held in Hawaii.
“The second-place finisher in the age 50-54 group declined her place in Kuna, so it was offered to me,” said Senty. “But I declined it, too. Still, it was nice to qualify for Kuna.”
Because of the heat, most athletes had trouble maintaining proper nutrition levels at Louisville, said Senty.
“I figured out that I had to get all of my calories through drinking,” said Senty. “It took me 40 miles on the bike before I decided I couldn’t eat. From then on I just drank coke, chicken broth and a form of Gatorade. I also drank lots of water,” she added.
Senty said she needed 250 calories per hour to keep her body fueled for the competition.
Although she is new to swimming, Senty is a strong swimmer for her age group. As a former collegiate and high school long-distance runner, Laurie does very well in the running events. Biking, however, is a challenge.
” “I definitely have a lot of room for improvement in my biking. I need to get stronger on the hills. That’s why I am spending more time in the gym building my strength through weights, exercise, and flexibility drills.”
“The one thing you can’t do is think about the run when you are biking. If you think about the marathon while you’re pedaling through the grueling hills, you’ll quit.”
Laurie trains with her daughters Tess, 24, and Kelly, 26. Peak training involves Saturdays that feature a 100-mile bike ride in the morning and then a six-mile run in the afternoon. Sunday morning is dedicated to an 18- to 20-mile run and a 2.4- mile swim later in the day. Monday is a rest day.
Currently the Senty women are in a “rest phase.” This involves 2- to 4-mile runs, 12-mile bike rides and 1,000-yard swims for a typical day. Also included are two sessions per week of kettlebells and several other sessions in the gym to work on “core and strength” work, said Laurie.
As partners with her husband Mike in a carpentry/log home building business, Laurie isn’t afraid of hard work. And what about Mike? Does he train with her?
“No. Mike is a down-hill skier and races motorcycles in the Ironbutt series. He wears his Ironbutt shirt and I wear my Ironman shirt when we go out sometimes. It’s good for a laugh.”
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