Featured Athlete:
Jennica Hirrlinger
As a kid, I watched my dad race. And, I watched him win. He taught me about pacing and negative splits and how to spot the eventual winner of a race. "Never count out the underdog", he'd say. Often, the runner leading the race will be passed by a someone who bided their time and a made a smart move at the end. I did my first sprint triathlon one year after my dad passed away and 7 1/2 weeks after I delivered my fourth baby. I trained for 26 days and prayed hard that I could finish. I loved it.
I have since competed in many races from sprints distances and marathons to an ultramarathon and in the summer of 2009, I finished my first 70.3. My goal is to someday cross the finish line and hear the announcer say "Jennica Hirrlinger, you are an ironman!"
When planning for a race, I base my training and race strategy according to the previous year's finishing times. I like to try to finish as close to those times as possible. It's a little game I play with myself . . . I can't always win a race but I can always be successful when I dictate for myself what winning is.
I began racing for my dad, but now I do it for myself and for my kids. It's a great way to connect generations. I teach my kids about pacing and about negative splits. And in a race, I will bide my time and make a smart move at the end. I am the underdog.
