Though Penny Popp, a nurse at Marian Medical Center’s rehab center, originally started participating in triathlons for herself, she’s noticed the effect the effort has had at her work.
“It’s a good example for the patients who are in cardio rehab. It shows them that they aren’t the only ones who need to exercise,” she said. “It motivates me to set an example for them.”
Popp started the sport in 2005, when she signed up for the YMCA’s version of the triathlon. Her chiropractor recommended she give it a try, so she bought a bike and joined the YMCA to practice swimming.
Since then, Popp’s been frequenting triathlons up and down the coast, from the Santa Maria Tri-the-Bull, to the 14th annual Scott Tinley’s Adventures Triathlon, held Oct. 2 at Lopez Lake Park.
Despite Popp’s tenacious five-year run in the triathlon circuit, she’s begun working on open water swimming, which takes place in either a lake or an ocean.
“A pool is much safer; you’re not as afraid,” she said. “In a lake, it’s a lot more intimidating—and much harder—because it can be foggy, a lot of waves, and there are a lot of people on top of you.”
Popp sees her strength as falling in the biking portion and running, which she thinks are the easiest parts of the triathlon.
Besides the challenge, Popp doesn’t know why she keeps with the sport. Luckily, her kids are grown, she said, so she has more time to concentrate on training for three different events.
This article appears in Oct 7-14, 2010.