KONA-KAILUA, Hawaii – Coast Guardsman finishes second in the 2010 Iron Man Triathlon World Championships held in Kona-Kailua, Hawaii on Oct. 9.
More than 1,800 competitors completed what many consider the hardest individual sport in the world while in Hawaii for the annual Triathlon World Championships. There were 55 countries represented across various categories to include pro, age and military divisions. U. S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Rebecca Beckmann, of Cheshire, Connecticut and currently a graduate student at Oregon State University where she is studying for a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering finished second in the military female division with a time of 11 hours, 31 minutes and 37 seconds.
The Triathlon is a three part race that involves a 2.4 mile swim through the ocean surrounding the Big Island of Hawaii and then is followed by a 112 mile bike ride through the hills and lava rocks of the island and finally ends with a grueling 26.2 mile marathon that is equally grueling in nature. The race is both a mental and physical challenge.
For Lt. Beckman, the challenge began before the actual race because she was notified that she had qualified for the race just before her ship was pulling away from the pier enroute to support the “Deep Water Horizon” oil spill disaster in May. Being underway in support of the oil spill, Lt Beckman was unable to train the way she normally would.
“It was like cramming for final exams,” said Lt Beckman. “I did the bulk of my training within two months between travel and moving duty stations,” she added.
There are many military members that want to represent their service, but only one male and one female may be officially sponsored by each service; therefore many are honored to have the opportunity to represent their individual service. With the Coast Guard being such a small entity, Lt Beckman has had a chance to train and represent the Navy as well as be on the Armed Services Team.
“It’s nice to represent my own service for a change because it’s a real honor,” said Lt Beckman. It’s an amazing experience and I’m really excited to have the opportunity to represent the Coast Guard.
There are times during the race when one might get discouraged or feel beaten by the time, the elements or their competitors, but each person finds a way to get through it. The race is a true test of a person’s body and spirit.
“It’s hard when you’re out there, but you just take one pedal stroke at a time to get closer to your goal,” said Beckman. “It blows my mind how adaptable the body is and how much it can really do.”