After training 15 to 20 hours a week for the past four months, Woonsocket's Stephanie Santoro is ready for the 2011 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island, a Triathlon expected to bring more than 1,300 athletes representing nearly 20 countries and 40 states into the area this morning.
It will not be the first time that Santoro competes in an endurance test of this kind. The 37-year-old dental hygienist and part time spinning instructor at has participated in many such events since she first decided to challenge herself with the Nautica New York City Triathlon in 2009.
Today, Santoro will swim 1.2 miles at Onley Pond in Lincoln Woods; bike 56 miles down the Blackstone River Bikeway and into Smithfield, Chepachet, Clayville and Scituate; then run 13.1 miles into Providence, finishing up on the State House lawn.
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“Half of it is a mind game," Santoro said of the endurance test. "You have to know that you can finish.” Santoro will join both amateur and professional athletes ranging in age from 18 to 74, competing for a prize of $15,000 and 50 coveted age group qualifying slots to the 2011 Marine Corps Ironman World Championship 70.3, taking place on Sept. 11 at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev.
“The event itself is the prize,” said Santoro. "The training is hard work."
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Swimming at least twice and running 4 to 5 times every week since March, Santoro views the privilege of taking part as the payoff.
“The friendship and team atmosphere is fun,” she said.
Her athletic resume includes raising $4,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at a Team In Training event, and running 26.2 miles and raising $1,500 for the COX Rhode Race. In her spare time she teaches spinning classes at Woonsocket Health and Racket Club.
“People really do want to help,” she said of her sponsor's generosity towards the causes. “The money just comes."
Though Santoro doesn't know if she'll win the prize this morning, she said she will be satisfied with just the idea that she finished the marathon and accomplished something challenging. She will be among some of the sport’s top contenders, including Viktor Zyemtsev, Tim Berkel, Philip Graves, Magali Tisseyre and Amanda Stevens.
The majority of athletes are expected to finish the course in between between five and seven hours, but pro athletes leading the field will finish it in about four. All athletes must reach the State House lawn by 3:30 p.m.
