Reaching her personal best
Posted: October 28, 2009[cincopa 10512857]
Melanie Kropp, program manager, audiology department at ATSU-ASHS, knows that discipline pays off. Kropp completed the Nathan Tempe Triathlon on September 27 at Tempe Town Lake in Tempe, Ariz. She participated in the olympic event, a 1,500-meter swim, 24.6-mile bike tour, and six-mile run.
“I am always up for challenging myself,” said Kropp. “I had a personal goal of being in a triathlon by the time I was 30.”
Participating in the triathlon took hours of training. Kropp, a single mom with three children who works full-time, got up before sunrise every morning to train. Her rigorous schedule included running three days per week, biking three days, and swimming two days.
“It was worth every moment,” said Kropp. “There was nothing like the feeling I got crossing that finish line.”
Kropp’s older children, ages 8 and 10, have followed in her footsteps, training for children’s triathlons. As for Kropp, her next goal is to participate in a full marathon. She plans to run in the January 2010 P.F. Chang’s marathon in Phoenix.
“I believe that if anything is important to you, you will find time to make it happen,” said Kropp. “It will require sacrifice, but it will be worth it.”