The power of Danskin
cutline: Over 3,300 women showed up to tackle Danskin, the largest all-woman triathlon in the Northwest, from Moses Lake, 26 women went to compete. Pictured in the back row (left to right): Leona Hayes, Tracy Estrellado, Renee Ballinger, Angie Anderson, Kara Garrett, Jackie Johnston, Wendy Preston, Terry Kinzel, Cindy Lester and Penny Mayo. Middle Row: Kristy Hofheins, Deb Miller, Leslie Ramsden, Pamela Clasen and Dawn Sandhop. Front Row: Natalie Sandberg and Sandy Cheek. Not Pictured: Julie Knapp, Monica McAtee, Lisa Boushay-Ownby, Adine Rodemeyer, Gloria Brito, Gail Hamburg, Char Rios, Kame…
26 women headed to the all-woman triathlon in Seattle
It was a girl-empowering experience.
That was how Kara Garrett, one of 26 women from Moses Lake, described participating at Danskin, an all-woman triathlon held each year at different locations through out the country.
Garrett prided her life on her educational accomplishments, but has found a new motivating and impelling experience.
"Emotionally, it was life altering," Garrett said, who is Dean of Education, Health and Language Skills at Big Bend Community College. "I asked something of my body and spirit that had never been asked before and it responded in a positive way."
Garrett could never swim a lap before joining Sandy Cheek, Deb Miller and Pamela Clasen, but since joining, has gone from a few strokes in the pool, to finishing two-thirds of a mile at the Danskin Triathlon.
Moreover, she has continued her drive toward athletics with an entrance into the Reebok Women's Triathlon in Federal Way on Sept. 12.
"Mentally, athletics is a huge obstacle in my life," Garrett said.
She continued that the obstacles of becoming an athletic person were never an emphasis on her life, but her ascent of a new goal has given her perseverance to continue.
"I am stronger both mentally and physically because of the discipline required," Garrett added.
Wendy Preston, another new member to the Miller, Clasen, Cheek movement, came in with a different background, but her story of competing in the triathlon has the same movement.
Preston was a little more prepared for Danskin having participated in "My First Triathlon" at Cheney earlier this year. Her stride to finishing started with the unaccomplishable, a goal and ended with her crossing the finish line.
"I am definitely more fit and confident in my own body," Preston said after losing 38 pounds.
Just like Garrett, it doesn't end at Danskin for Preston.
The movement, addiction and fascination with the sport has woven deeply into Preston's mind and body to continue. The ability to set and achieve goals and accomplish the unaccomplishable means more triathlons for Preston.
But, there is a deeper desire to become more competitive.
"It has been so cool to set goals and it keeps you motivated to stay in that frame of mind," Preston added.
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