Friendly banter and good-natured “trash talk” led to a challenge to Water & Environmental Research Center (WERC) staff, students and faculty to participate in the Breakup Triathlon held May 6 in Fairbanks.
Four WERC participants rose to the challenge—graduate students Joel Homan and Tereza Bendlova, research associate Norma Haubenstock and WERC Director Bill Schnabel. Traditionally an active group, WERC employees are accustomed to such challenges.
“It’s nice to see people from the Center get together for things like this,” Schnabel said. “This was part of our good-natured and perpetual athletic trash talking banter.”
Photo courtesy Pam Hubbard
WERC Director Bill Schnabel makes his way up the hill on Miller Hill Road during the 2012 Breakup Tri held May 6.
Schnabel has participated in a number of races, including marathons, in the past but the Breakup was his first triathlon. Haubenstock, a seasoned racer who has competed in a number of triathlons and other races, including the Equinox Ultra Marathon, was motivated by his participation.
Photo courtesy Pam Hubbard
Tereza Bendlova particpates in the 2012 Breakup Tri held May 6.
“Bill initially threw out the challenge and I had to sign up. Then he almost beat me!” she noted, adding it is all in good fun. “It’s great to see people out there.”
Heather Best, a former WERC-er, took first place in the female competition. Haubenstock finished 23rd of the 33 female participants with a time of 1:34:21. Bendlova was not far behind in 25th place with a time of 1:41:07. A seasoned athlete—volleyball and track and field— it was her first triathlon which she bravely signed up for the day before the race.
“It was a ‘sprint’ race really but for me it was hard! When the running part started which is uphill, I was walking backwards because my calves hurt so bad!”
The race began and ended at the UAF Patty Center and consisted of a 500 yard swim in the Patty Pool, a 13.1 mile bike and a 5K run around campus.
Homan finished first in the men’s competition with a time of 1:07:59. Schnabel finished 11th at 1:34:39.
Photo courtesy Pam Hubbard
Joel Homan competes in the 2012 Breakup Tri May 6. Homan took first in the race wth a time of 1:07:59.
Bendlova, 24, noted the fun spirit of the race and found the experience “very motivating to see people of that (advanced) age” participating. Racers’ ages ranged from 18 to 62.
Arguably an “advanced” racer at 45, Schnabel said his “training” for the race was a “hot shower and a megadose of ibuprofen” prior to starting.
“I feel good. I consider it a victory because I met my usual goal which is to finish in less than twice the time of the winner,” he said.
Photo courtesy Pam Hubbard
Norma Haubenstock participates in the 2012 Breakup Tri held May 6.
Schnabel and Bendlova also participated in a UAF dodgeball tournament the day before the race, another example of WERC’s competitive nature. The INE Business Office fielded a team in the competition for the second year in a row, while a group of WERC students led by Dr. Silke Schiewer participated for the first time this year. Schnabel said next on the agenda is a softball or kickball game sometime this summer.
“We like to stay active, it’s sort of a morale thing,” he said.
Pictures and other information about the race is available at the event’s Facebook page. The event was organized by the UAF Varsity Women’s Swim Team.
