Winchester Resident an Ironman

Twenty years after she began doing triathlons, Winchester resident Rachel Klopfer is still going strong. Recently Klopfer completed the Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island, leaving her home at 3:30 in the
morning and getting back to Winchester 12 hours later.

"It's really empowering," said Klopfer, a veterinarian who has two young children. "I love the training. I love having something that's mine."

Klopfer competes in one triathlon a year. She chose this one because she didn't have to stay overnight and it was an Ironman-sanctioned event. The race is longer than Olympic or sprint triathlons.

"I like the longer distances because there's more involved then just the training," Klopfer said. "It's more of a thinking-man's triathlon. You have to prepare for everything, you have to be able to adapt when things don't go as planned. Nutrition is also an important component. It's taken years and years to get better at it."

More than 1,300 athletes, ranging in age from 18 to 74 and representing nearly 20 countries and 40 states, competed in the Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island.

The event included a 1.2-mile swim at Lincoln Woods, a 56-mile bike ride through Blackstone Valley and a 13.1-mile run through downtown Providence. The race finished at the lawn of the State House.

"I'm a back-of-the-pack person. I do it just for myself, so I may by more able to take in my surroundings, and it was really beautiful coming into the capitol at the end," Klopfer said. "Compared to some other events I found the community to be a lot more supportive. It can be hard because roads are closed for a community, but there was a tremendous outpouring of volunteers, and a huge police presence was clapping and cheering and doing more than directing traffic."

Klopfer credits the support of her friends and family for allowing her to compete in a triathlon once a year. Instead of worrying too much about her time, she measured the success of her race on less
tangible factors.

"I felt like it was a true victory because I was able to smile through it and thank the volunteers and my equipment held out," Klopfer said.