Ric Rojas Running Newsletter Thomas Manion Running Shorts Issue 17: Valerie Eipper Takes Silver at World Duathlon Championships
Ric Rojas Running Newsletter
All the news about all our runners that we can compile!
Valerie Eipper has won three major medals which we’ve reported: She took a bronze for the 3000m at the US Indoor Track and Field championships, and another bronze at the National Duathlon championships. Then she took a gold home from the IAAF World Masters Championship for the 8k team race. Now, she’s taken home a fourth – a silver from the world stage.
The World Duathlon Championships were held in Gijon, Spain on September 25th of this year. Valerie took the long trip to compete, and astounded but did not surprise us by taking second place in her age group in the sprint duathlon, only a minute behind Kristin Villopoto.
Valerie finished the first 5k leg of the race in 20:46 – a PR for the year. After a near-spill on the first transition, she started having a blast on the bike leg. “The bike course was a mix and really fun. Around thru town for about 3-4k then up the hill,” she says. She finished the bike in 36:45, and, though exhausted, she finished the final 2.5k run in 10:15.
“By [the awards ceremony] my legs [were] so sore it [was] hard to even stand but knowing I [got] to go up on the podium and receive the silver medal was priceless,” Valerie says. “[It was] much more rewarding than any race I have ever done.”
“I will definitely do this again even if I don’t have a shot at a medal. It is so much about the experience and meeting new people of course a medal is icing on the cake. Thanks to Ric, Petr, Bobby and all my teammates who have run and biked with me and everyone else who helped me have such a successful year. I never dreamed I could actually get medals in 2 National Championships and 2 World Championships in one year.”
We’re all proud of you, Valerie!
Valerie’s full race report can be found on our partner site, RunYourBest. Full results from the Sprint race can be found online here, and full results from the rest of the duathlon can be found here. We also have a video of her crossing the finish line!
