Being a full-time mother and a marathon runner wasn’t enough of a challenge for Lisa Reichmann. So she added a triathlon to her plate.
The 34-year-old Gaithersburg resident is ready to compete in her first triathlon today, the women-only Irongirl Triathlon in Columbia, Md. The race entails a 0.62-mile swim, 17.5-mile bike ride and 3.4-mile run.
A marathon runner for more than 10 years, Reichmann has competed in several marathons, including five Boston Marathons and a half-marathon at the Pan Am Maccabi Games in Chile, where she won the gold medal.
Wanting to “mix it up,” she began preparing for the 2007 version of the triathlon, but had to stop training when she discovered she was three weeks pregnant with her third child, who is now 7 months old. Reichmann and her husband, Dan, also have 2-year-old twins.
Her children are one of her motivations behind competing.
“I want to show them the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” says Reichmann, who used to go for runs with her twins in a jogging stroller.
She has spent the last few months training for each leg of the triathlon twice a week, exercising when she’s not busy being a full-time mom. She describes her training schedule as “unpredictable.”
Whenever there is an opportunity, whether it’s at dawn when her husband and children are asleep or after her husband comes home from work to relieve her from parenting duties, Reichmann spends that time working out.
“It definitely takes a lot to juggle and balance everything,” said Reichmann, who is involved with community organizations including as president of the Montgomery County Parents of Multiples Club.
Because of her unpredictable training schedule, Reichmann usually trains alone. Occasionally, though, she has worked out with the Potomac Peddlers, a local cycling club. She also participated in a practice swim held by the Columbia Triathlon Association at the lake where the triathlon will be held.
Swimming is frequently the most difficult leg for runners and cyclists — and Reichmann is no different.
“Swimming is absolutely my weakest link. If I can just get through it without drowning, I will do fine,” Reichmann jokes.
She says swimming is difficult for her because the body uses a different set of muscles than it does when running and cycling.
In addition to her normal training, Reichmann took a swimming lesson to learn basic form and technique and says swimming has actually helped reduce her running time. Reichmann has a goal to complete the triathlon in under an hour and 45 minutes.
To break out of her normal running routine, Reichmann also is training for her first Sea Gull Century, a 100-mile bike ride on the Eastern Shore Oct. 4.
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Time out with …
Lisa Reichmann
How do you work around your family responsibilities?
I work out either early in the morning when everyone is asleep or after my husband gets off work and takes over the parent duties.
How did you get started?
About 12 or 13 years ago, I ran in a 5K race in the summer and caught the running bug and haven’t stopped since.
What are your goals?
Setting a positive example for my kids and showing them the importance of living a healthy life.
Favorite way to get motivated before a race?
Look at a picture of my kids before each race.
Prerace meal (night before):
Not really one meal, but I have been know to eat a whole can of whipped cream before.
Prerace meal (morning):
A bagel or PowerBar.
Favorite sports-related movie:
I don’t watch movies. Even though my husband has a Netflix subscription, that’s one thing I don’t have time to do.
