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Sports

San Mateo Woman One of Few Female Pros in Alcatraz Triathlon

Lauren Brandon, 26, hopes to sink another sweet time on her road to the gold in 2016.

Among the nearly 1,800 triathletes racing in this weekend’s San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz is San Mateo native Lauren Brandon, one of about 12 women pros competing in this weekend’s gnarly event.

Brandon plans to lace up her Saucony’s, throw on her Oakley protective shades and bring along her focus, perseverance and sportsmanship to Sunday’s International Distance Triathlon.

The race consists of a 1.2-mile swim in the strong, chilly currents surrounding Alcatraz Island, a 25-mile bike ride though the treacherous descends and sharp turns of the San Francisco hills and a 7-mile run near the San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge with a sand beach run and a 400-step sand ladder. Organizers deem this triathlon one of the most difficult in the world.

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As for Brandon, a competitive swimmer since age 5, who swam for local teams such as the Mid-Peninsula Mariners and the Stanford Covington Racing Aquatics team before competing for Hillsdale High School, she plans to bring her physical and mental focus to a race she hopes will propel her on her path to the 2016 Olympics.

But Brandon’s dream of competing as a triathlete in the Olympics is a recent one. She received a full athletic swimming scholarship from Hillsdale High School in 2003 to the University of Nebraska, where she was NCAA All-American, four-time Big 12 Champion, and competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 400 and 800 freestyle. But she only placed 19th and 33rd in the trials, leaving her feeling her childhood dream of being an Olympic swimmer slip away.

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“I never got to the level I wanted to at swimming and when I began triathlons, I loved the training, racing and competition,” Brandon said. “There’s no monotony and I love all three disciplines.”

She says through the encouragement of her husband and coach Barrett Brandon, a professional triathlete himself, she decided to train for her first triathlon in 2009 in Pacific Grove in the Monterey area and three thereafter. In November 2010 after placing as first place amateur in the Phoenix Amica Sprint Triathlon Series, she received her “pro card” and hasn’t stopped training since.

Now after completing 10 triathlons, she has placed in the top 20 each time. So what’s her secret?

 “I would say try to stay positive about your sport and your training,” says Brandon. “I went through a couple of years of never improving my time but I stuck with it and focused. You will get over the hump, so don’t give up.”

Sponsored by Kiwami swim race gear as well as N3L Optics, which has a store at San Mateo’s Hillsdale Mall, Brandon says she enjoys her sport but tries to play it safe too. A few recent runs have spurred a few routine injuries, mostly ankle and foot discomfort, which she believes is the result of her body not used to the pounding that running does to a body so familiar with the fluid motions of swimming.

“Running is my weakest portion of the triathlon, it’s tough going from a swimmer to a runner because the constant pounding on my legs has caused some injury. But patience is key for running,” she said.

So instead of blaring her favorite songs on her iPod, Brandon runs with her head focused on her technique and form, “the little things my husband has taught me,” she insists. She says since running is a newfound sport for her, she’s able to quickly stomp out bad habits if she remains alert.

Brandon also takes the time to protect her eyes, one of the key attributes for any athlete. A recent national survey of American adults conducted by one of Brandon’s sponsors, N3LOptics, found that only 1 in 3 athletes wear sunglasses while running or cycling, putting eye health at risk.

Brandon says she was amazed at N3L Optics’ ability to use a virtual simulator to find the right sunglasses to protect any athlete from the elements.

 This weekend, Brandon plans to bring her safety and her positive attitude in hopes of placing well in Sunday’s race. She says her supportive family will be there to cheer her on, but ironically, her husband, Barrett, will be in Switzerland competing in a triathlon of his own.

Her final thought before the race begins at 7 a.m.:

“Stay excited, don’t get super nervous and just do my best. I am going to be positive no matter how I might feel that day … just tell myself that I have put a lot into it so enjoy it because it’s going to be a long race.”

Patch will keep you posted on her race day results. 

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