MARYSVILLE A Marysville teacher, Tory Klementsen, is spending her summer training for the Danskin Womens Triathlon in Seattle Aug. 18 and 19.
A fundraiser for breast cancer prevention, the triathlon includes 12 miles on a bike, three miles of running and a half-mile of swimming.
Now in its 18th year, the Danskin Womens Triathlon Series has become a fixture in womens competitive and multi-sport events with more than 108 races and 188,000 participants to date. More than 25,000 women will join together in the only triathlon series that emphasizes finishing is winning as women from 14 and up of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and athletic abilities compete in the worlds largest and longest running womens multi-sport event.
The Danskin Series is a combination half-mile swim, 12.5-mile bicycle ride and 3.1 mile run.
The running is no problem for me, Klementsen said. Im a runner. But I dread the swimming.
Klementsen is married to the Marysville-Pilchuck High School drama teacher, Roy Klementsen. Theyve known each other since fifth-grade and did drama together in high school.
This is her fourth time doing the triathlon.
I had a series of three horrible surgeries for pancreatic tumor and afterward I could barely walk 25 feet. I decided then that I want to do something amazing, Klementsen said.
She decided while still in bed to do the Danskin Triathlon, largely because she hadnt swam since fifth-grade and it was about that age when she last rode a bicycle.
I dont know what made me think that I can do it It must have been the drugs, Klementsen said that she was very over weight before the surgery. She had lost 100 pounds and did a couple of 5-K runs to get into condition after the surgery.
Now with four years of running, Klementsen has finished seven marathons and plans to do the New York Marathon this winter.
Her training regime consists of swimming twice a week at the YMCA and cycling along the Centennial Trail two or three times a week.
The worst challenge is swimming in a lake, Klementsen said. I tend to panic out there. Nonetheless, she forces herself to swim in Martha Lake, when the weather is good.
She runs five or six times each week.
Tory Klementsen has been teaching in Marysville for 12 years and she spent two years doing computer services and networking at the Sno-Isle Skill Center.
Teaching is more fun, she said. She also coaches new marathoners.
Her husband, Roy ran the Walt Disney World with her last January, but he has informed her that is the first and last marathon for him.
Tory is training with a friend, Juliann Mock, also a Marysville teacher who lives in Burlington. She was treated for breast cancer last year, Klementsen said.
The Danskin triathlon is located on the shores of Lake Washington. Participants swim straight out and back to the shore at Genesy Park. They cycle across the lake on the I-90 bridge, and then run to Seward Park.
Its really neat, Klementsen said, Because a lot of the spectators are men and boys cheering on their moms, wives and sisters.
A lot of volunteers are husbands, brothers and sons. Its such a neat experience a good roll model for those little guys, a life changing experience.
She said the triathlon is not really very competitive, because those types take off first.
She said her primary purpose is just, not to die. I just want to not drown, she laughed.
For more information about the Danskin Womens Triathlon Series, please visit www.danskin.com/triathlon.html.

Whos walking the 3-Day?
Three north county women have notified The Arlington Times that they will be walking in the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation 3-Day Walk, which is set for Sept. 7 9.
Annie Dempsey, who works at the Harman Eye Clinic, has announced her commitment to do the walk for the third year in a row. Norma Jean Syrie of Olympic Escrow in historical downtown Arlington will walk again this year and Melissa Cain, daughter of Leah Tyson, of Darrington, is participating.
The Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day begins with opening ceremonies at Bellevue Community College 6:30 a.m. Sept. 7 and concludes at the Seattle Center Memorial Stadium 4:30 p.m. Sept. 9.