Dedication is the Key to Success

December 3, 2009 • Jayna Smith  
Filed under HHS

Brooks Barta, Weights and Geometry teacher, participated in a triathlon in the summer of 2008 at the end of July. The triathlon was called the Midwest Mayhem Triathlon and was located at Lone Star Lake south of Lawrence.

“I practiced swimming between 50-100 laps at the swimming pool about once a week, ran 4-8 miles about four times a week, and biked 10-20 miles about 3 times a week the month before the triathlon,” Barta said.

Barta said the hardest thing was to find the time to train. Because it was hard for him to swim straight lines in the lake, Barta said he probably swam an extra 300 meters out of the way in the swimming part. At first, he trained about six hours a week for two months and then about 10 hours a week for the last 3 weeks before the race.

“I needed a goal to help keep me in shape and I felt like I needed to achieve something challenging and physical in my life,” Barta said.

In the triathlon, there were 300 people competing in the long course which consists of swimming 0.92 miles, bicycling 25.2 miles, running 6.2 miles, and Barta finished in three hours and six minutes. The short course had 800 people competing. Barta completed the short course triathlon in Holton the summer before the Midwest Mayhem triathlon.

“I have had many huge challenges and experiences in my life and the accomplishment of each seems to make my life better,” Barta said. “I think all people need to find new challenges. It was very rewarding and a great sense of accomplishment for me to take on a very challenging event. I am considering another triathlon or something similar this summer.”

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