Melrosian Runs, Bikes and Swims 70.3 Miles in Her First Triathlon

When most people talk about wanting a change of pace, they usually mean a weekend on the Cape or a similar excursion. 

Not Melrose native Meghan McClorey. 

When she talks about a change of pace, she’s referring to trading in her marathon shoes for those of a triathlete.

“I had run the Boston Marathon, and one other marathon before that, and I just wanted to try something different,” said McClorey, of the decision to take on one of mankind’s most demanding athletic competitions. “Just to change it up, do something different. And also to force myself to cross train, and not just run.”

The 2006 Melrose High graduate, having reached the decision to become a triathlete, chose the fourth annual Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island on July 10 to make her debut, and the event left a lasting impression.

“It was really fun,” McClorey said. “It’s funny, after I finished, I was talking to my mom, and I told her that I might be a convert. I might go all triathlons for awhile.”

A former gymnast and soccer player at , McClorey said her goal heading into the event was simply to finish. She was able to achieve that goal, crossing the finish line on the lawn of the Rhode Island State House, in Providence, 6:37.45 after taking to the water in Lincoln, Rhode Island’s Olney Pond to kick off the competition.

“That was my goal, just to finish it,” said McClorey. I didn’t have a specific time in mind or anything like that, which probably made it even more pleasurable ... I was just happy because I had never done it before, and I was happy I enjoyed it so much. I had no idea if I was going to hate it or love it. I’m definitely going to do another one, it was a good experience.”

Low visibility during swim section 'made it quite interesting'

The East Foster Street resident didn’t know what to expect heading in, but some of her unorthodox training methods may have won her a few new friends. McClorey, being an experienced runner already, wasn’t overly concerned with the half-marathon length running portion of the Ironman, instead opting to focus more on the biking and swimming aspects in training.

“I tried to bike a lot more,” said McClorey about her workload during the run-up to the Ironman. “I had to do it on a mountain bike, which made me a lot of friends, because everyone thought I was crazy. But that’s what I had, so that’s what I used.”

McClorey, 23, also joined a gym to practice for the swimming portion of the ironman, but wasn’t prepared for the stark differences between pool and pond.

“I didn’t realize what a big difference it would be swimming in a pond,” she said. “I like swimming in the ocean, and things like that, but I’m not really a lake or pond person. The visibility in the pond was so much less ... That made it quite interesting in the beginning.”

Adding to the travails of the low visibility swim was the reputation carried by the Ironman swimming event.

“I had heard horror stories of people getting kicked in the face and what not, so I just tried to keep to the outside of everyone else,” said McClorey. “That part is definitely nerve-wracking for most people who have never done it before.”

Mountain bike vs. road bike makes difference in training

After abandoning the water, the athletes transition to the 56-mile cycling portion of the competition. The course follows back roads and bike paths from Lincoln, through the northwest part of the state, on a picturesque ride that passes through many rural towns and scenic landscapes.

For McClorey, the training on a mountain bike came back to haunt her a little during this part.

“I was like, ‘wow, I’m pedaling so hard and people are just gliding past me,” she said. “I’ll definitely get a road bike or a triathlon bike next time.”

The Ironman concluded with a 13.1-mile half-marathon that began and ended on the State House Lawn.

McClorey said that she enjoyed the Ironman format, and found it easier to stay engaged with the multiple events as opposed to simply running.

“It kept you very interested,” she said. “Unlike running, where you have to think about things to keep yourself interested, because sometimes running long distances can get boring. Obviously, I was the most familiar with the running, but it got to a point where you are tired, but you know there is going to be something different coming.”

As for her confidence in her ability to improve her showing for her next triathlon, McClorey said she had no doubts that her next triathlon will see an improved finish time.

The top finishers at the Amica Ironman 70.3 were: Magali Tisseyre, of St. Sauvier, Quebec, Canada, who paced the professional women’s field with a combined time of 4:27.08, and David Kahn, of Port Jefferson, New York, who led all entrants with combined time of 4:00.52.