Junior Lucy Rush made a powerful statement the weekend of May 3rd by competing in a triathlon placing 36/80 – a feat few Mount Vernon students can claim to have completed.
The demanding three-part race, which combines swimming, cycling, and running, was no match for Rush’s determination. Her background as a member of Mount Vernon’s cross country, swim, and track teams gave her the strength to push through and finish strong.
When reflecting on his triathlon experience, Rush shared, “It was super fun! I’ve been training for swimming, biking, and running separately, but it was a unique challenge to do all three in one race.”
When Rush was asked what her strongest event was she stated. “My strongest event was running.”
Despite the thrill, the race wasn’t without hurdles. Rush explained the hardest part was the weather: “It was raining really hard during the race, which made the tight turns on the bike even more dangerous. During the first bike lap, I fell on a curve and had to get back up and fix my chain to finish the race.”
When asked about her preparation for such an intense event, Rush outlined her comprehensive training routine. “To prepare for triathlons, I participate in MVHS’s cross country, swimming, and indoor/outdoor track programs to train in running and swimming, while also training individually for biking and swimming (during XC and track). Another aspect of the bike portion of the race that I had to prepare for were the bike skills—mounting and dismounting my bike from a run, drafting, and doing tight 180- and 90-degree turns. These were really hard at first but are really important to having a good (and fast!!) race.”
When Lucy was asked if she planned on competing in more triathlons she said. “I do plan on competing in more triathlons, my next one is June 1,”
Rush’s dedication to her training and her resilience during the race reflects her commitment to pushing boundaries and taking on new challenges.
