The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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June 22, 2008

Triathlon couple makes time

Preparing for today's event took some juggling

By Shane Frederick

NORTH MANKATO — The plan was set.

Andy Viker was going to bike home from work and go for a run. His wife, Amy, who had already squeezed in a long bike ride Thursday afternoon, was going to pick up the kids and make supper.

That may sound simple, but it was an accomplishment just to come up with something.

“There’s a lot of give and take with our schedules,” Amy said.

Indeed, besides juggling their jobs, their kids’ baseball and softball games and all of the other everyday necessities, the Vikers have been in training for today’s North Mankato Triathlon.

“It’s harder when (Andy’s) training, too because I can’t hog all the time,” Amy said.

Scheduling can be almost as tasking as a long run, and working out together isn’t even an option.

“I think it would be more fun if we could do it together,” Amy said.

The Vikers try to find time for each other to train, and, fortunately, the two 36-year-olds have their own motivation to get in a good workout.

Amy, who did her first North Mankato Triathlon — which includes a quarter-mile swim in Hiniker Pond, a 13-mile bike ride and a 4-mile run — is training for the Twin Cities Marathon in October. Andy, who did the triathlon two years ago, is trying to get in shape.

“I started swimming as soon as the (Mankato West boys swim) season was done,” said Andy, who coaches the Scarlets.

Both athletes have their strengths. Andy, who has been a lifeguard at every triathlon but the one he raced in, likes the swimming, naturally.

“A lot of people in the triathlon dread the swim,” he said. For him, the bike ride is the killer.

Amy, meanwhile, likes the bike the best. As for swimming ...

“I have a swimming coach at my disposal,” said Amy.

The Vikers won’t be the only married couple on the course when the race begins at 8 a.m.

“We always have a few couples,” race director Ann Vose said. “It’s neat to see. You can tell they’re very supportive of one another as they cross the finish line. They know what it took to get there.”

The triathlon had more than 300 participants — individuals and three-person team members — last year, the ninth running of the event. Midway through the week, more than 200 had already registered for today’s race.

The race is part of the Minnesota Triathlon Series, which includes 10 events throughout the state between May 3 and Aug. 24.

While some will be competing for points and prestige in that series, others, like the Vikers, are simply trying to fit it in on a busy weekend.

“You want to be healthy,” Amy said. “That’s the main goal.”

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