CCU staffer meets triathlon challenge
By Corrie Lee LaceyPhotos by Dan Lawless
Jackie Andrews may have come in last place at Coastal’s 2010 Triathlon, but she finished first in the hearts of every onlooker.
As the 57-year-old summoned enough strength to run the last quarter mile, she could hear clapping and cheering. And as she neared the finish line, she could make out what the crowd was yelling: ‘Go Jackie, Go Jackie.’
Because of work, her husband and biggest fan John couldn’t make it to the race this year, but Jackie wasn’t alone. After swimming 12 laps, biking 11 miles around CCU’s campus, and running – well, speed walking – three miles through Quail Creek, Jackie found her boss and friend Dan Lawless, CCU’s registrar, at the finish line, photographing her final effort.
“I just kept saying to myself ‘Please God, just let me finish,’” says Andrews, who has a knee problem. “I thought I had practice enough and I thought I was doing really well, but people kept on passing me. One after another, they all went on by. So I just kept saying ‘Please God, just let me finish.’”
And Andrews did finish, with every attendee cheering her on along the way.
“Everyone was so supportive,” says Andrews, who will need knee replacement surgery in the future, according to her doctor. “I was so thankful for their encouragement. I walked most of the last three miles, but when I heard them all cheering for me, I thought I should try to run the last leg – give the crowd a show.”
To prepare for the April 18 event, Jackie trained every day after work, swimming more than an hour each evening and biking routinely at home.
Jackie was first inspired to get involved when she learned that a friend was participating.
“I found out that women older than me were doing it and thought to myself, ‘If they can do, I can do it,” says Jackie. So she did it.
Andrews says participating in an event such as this is really out of character for her.
“It’s really not like me to be competitive,” says Jackie. “But I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.”
Her number one goal this year was to “not be the one who had to use the emergency vehicle.” She met that goal – and more. Jackie finished second (out of two) in her age group and was awarded a 2010 Coastal Carolina University Triathlon Cup trophy, which is proudly on display atop a file cabinet in her office.
Jackie says her husband is very proud of her commitment and is excited for her. He was her biggest supporter at her first race in 2009.
Originally from Elizabeth, N.J., Andrews has lived in Little River for 23 years. Although this was only Jackie’s second year participating, she says she plans to continue.
“I hope to start my training with swimming in September,” says Jackie. “I want to start early for next year, get a leg up on the other competitors,” she laughed.
See article on the winners of the Triathlon in News Shorts.
