Naperville Triathletes inspired by disease, family, death
The Naperville triathlon has become somewhat of a tradition for Glen Ellyn resident Janet Alonso, having participated for four consecutive years. But on Sunday, the run had a little bit more meaning.
Alonso's friend, Mary Keefe, who ran the triathlon along with Alonso the past three years, died on Feb. 6 of ovarian cancer after a three-year fight with the disease.
"It's hard, it's very difficult," said Alonso of running without her friend. "She lost her battle."
Alonso ran the race wearing a T-shirt honoring her friend and was one of about 1,700 women to run in the race, a part of the U.S. Women's Triathlon Series, which also travels to San Diego and Federal Way, Wash.
"It's a good way to inspire your kids," Alonso said.
The race raised awareness and about $38,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, said spokeswoman Lindsey Weeks. According to the National Cancer Institute, ovarian cancer is a rare form of cancer blamed for about 15,000 deaths in 2009. Also last year, about 22,000 new cases were diagnosed.
Weeks said the rarity of the cancer means fewer people know about it. Research for the disease continues to focus on early detection, which was one reason Darlene Steffen even made it to the race.
After discovering a bump at the base of her abdomen area while trying to work out, Steffen saw a doctor and an ultrasound revealed that it was a mass that was later diagnosed as ovarian cancer in February of 2004. The Moline resident suffered from paralysis as a result of the tumor and was in surgery within five days.
After her daughter completed the triathlon in 2009, Steffen immediately placed the race on her "bucket list."
"I thought about my own situation and I thought, 'I have to try to do this," she said.
Dawn Reyes of Plainfield has participated for four years after a cycling coach in Chicago turned her on to the event. She said the thrill of competing and running is like no other.
"You feel like an athlete," she said. "You feel like, if you can do this, you can do anything."
She said the triathlon helped her show her 11-year-old son Donovin of the possibilities hard work opens up.
"I'm doing this to be a role model, she said. "Even as a mom, you can still do anything."
Steffen began training in September and, sidelined for two months from training injuries, she thought that even finishing part of the triathlon would be an accomplishment. But on Sunday, she completed the 1/2-mile swim, 14-mile bike ride and 3-mile run.
"I felt much better than I thought I would when I finished," she said. "I wouldn't admit it was over until it was actually over because I thought I wouldn't make it. The sense of accomplishment that I did it, it's just something I have not felt before."
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