OSU junior will compete in the World Duathlon Championships
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
A student and physical trainer at Oklahoma State University will travel to Adelaide, Australia in October to represent Team USA in the World Duathlon Championships.
Alex Veenker qualified for Team USA after placing first and second in two duathlon's she competed in last year. She will compete in the standard distance duathlon event Oct. 18, which consists of a 10K run followed by 40K bike ride and another 5K run.
"My favorite moment, hands down, was back in October at the Fall Classis Duathlon,” Veenker said. “The crowd was small, but I saw a lot of familiar faces. It surprised me that they were breaking their concentration to cheer me on. I don’t think I’ve smiled more during a race than I did on that day. I was hooked.”
Veenker is involved in the triathlon team in Oklahoma City as well as the club team at OSU. In addition, she works as a personal trainer in the Colvin Center, specializing in multi-sport and endurance training as well as teaching group classes. These classes and organizations give her an edge in her own training.
“I love my job and being able to help people accomplish their goals,” she said. “It has helped keep me accountable for my own training and healthy habits because I know I have clients that look up to me, and they invest in me as much as I invest in them.”
To train for the world competition, Veenker follows a specific workout plan. During the week she alternates between upper body and cardio workouts and hour-and-a-half bike rides. Fridays and Sundays are her yoga or rest days, and Saturdays, she goes on long bike rides. She's up to 30 miles and plans to continue increasing the mileage gradually until she hits the 50 mile mark.
"I'm a huge advocate for chocolate milk after a workout," she said. "It's also great because it makes me feel like a kid again. Other things I try to do as far as eating habits are concerned is that I meal prep every Sunday. It's been a huge thing for me to stay on track."
Veenker's other habits include ensuring she gets eight hours of sleep every night, as well as taking a 30-45 minute nap early in the afternoon. She also drinks at least a gallon of water a day.
"My bottle goes everywhere with me," she said. "It's basically my sidekick."
To afford the weeklong trip to Australia, Veenker has been raising money by setting up a GoFundMe account. She said Team USA does not pay for any of the accommodations or fees for this event. Placing in the World Duathlon Championships can provide many opportunities for Veenker, including scholarships and future spots on Team USA.
"I feel like it still hasn't sunk in that I'm getting to do this," she said. "I remind myself that it's something that's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm blessed to get to do this."
When she’s not training or studying, Veenker’s freetime is spent spending time with her family in Oklahoma City. She also enjoys rock climbing, lounging by the pool and binge-watching shows on Netflix.
“The biggest lesson I have learned from triathlon is you really cannot judge a book by its cover,” she said. “You can go out to any local race in Oklahoma and around the country, and there are people from all shapes and sizes racing and kicking total butt, too. There are so many inspiring people that do this sport, and it, literally, is for everyone.”
Veenker’s GoFundMe page can be found at gofundme.com/alexveenkerworlds. For more information on the World Duathlon Championships, visit okla.st/1INKBG9.
Story by Matt Cohlmia
PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/sets/72157654900484140