For a former smoker who claims that she hasn’t been physically fit since her high school days, preparing for an upcoming Olympic-class triathlon has been a giant task.
Katy Sastre, 23, of North Bergen, first began training for the Westchester Triathlon this past May, when she joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program.
The Westchester Triathlon, which will be held on Sept. 27, is considered a premier race on the East Coast. Sastre will do a 1,500 meter (.93 mile) open-water swim before riding her bike for a little under 25 miles and then finishing the race with a 6.2 mile run.
Sastre graduated from Cornell University last year. She said that during college, she often wanted to compete in a triathlon but never had the time or dedication. In April she quit smoking and began training with an LLS team.
Sastre, a legal search associate who works in New York City, often trains with a New York team three days a week since she doesn’t have a car to make it to her North Jersey team’s practices on weekdays. A lot of the time, she practices on her own in North Bergen.
“It’s not a piece of cake, but I really doubt that I could have done this before,” said Sastre. “Now I am quite certain not only will I finish, but I will do well.”
Beyond making a personal goal come true, Sastre is competing in the triathlon to raise money for LLS. Funds raised will also go toward battling the blood cancers Hodgkin’s lymphoma and myeloma.
She has made a commitment to raise $2,200 by Sept. 11 for the cause, and while she has only raised $800 so far, she’s willing to “pony up” the rest of the funds.
In memory of her aunt
Lymphoma touched her family when she was a freshman in college. It was Mother’s Day when she received an early morning phone call from her mother, telling her in tears that her aunt, Diane Joyce Sastre, had succumbed to her battle against the disease.
Sastre said that her father’s sister-in-law had been diagnosed with lymphoma a few months before that, when her children were 12 and 6. A few months later, the disease had advanced to the point where there was nothing doctors could do.
“The worst part really was that I couldn’t even go to her funeral, because it was during exam time,” said Sastre. “It was hard to imagine ever being able to go through something like that. These two kids, they weren’t getting a choice.”
While her aunt’s passing still brings a lot of sadness to Sastre, she said that taking part in the triathlon has given her hope.
“These are amazing people working toward one goal.” – Katy Sastre
________
“These are amazing people working toward one goal,” said Sastre.
Ups and downs of training
Sastre said that she once believed she couldn’t run 20 minutes, let alone well over an hour. She also wasn’t much of a swimmer, and had to get used to keeping her face in the water.
Swimming in open ocean water is her biggest challenge and fear.
“I’ve never been afraid of the ocean, but it’s a very difficult thing when you’re swimming a mile out and you can’t see the ground and the water is brown and murky,” said Sastre. “I literally had a panic attack [at our last practice].”
The bike course won’t be easy either, since some of the hills make her struggle like a “dying animal.”
Raising funds in hard times
One of the more difficult aspects of preparing for the triathlon has been fundraising.
“When people are losing their jobs and homes, it’s really hard to ask them to give you money,” said Sastre.
She said that she’s mostly relied on family and friends to donate. After the race, if Sastre raises funds that she had to donate herself, LLS will reimburse her.
Even with all of those difficulties, Sastre can see herself doing another triathlon at the end of this year. She said the process has been extremely rewarding.
“To be honest, I finally decided to do the triathlon for a couple of reasons,” said Sastre. “I think it’s a really great way to honor people who have been affected by lymphoma and for those who are still fighting the fight.”
For more information, visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/nnj/wchtri09/ksastre.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.