Michelle Blessing of Colorado Springs is no stranger to Triathlon. She was the coach for the USA men's and women's team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Now 48, Blessing has returned to triathlon competition after a 15-year hiatus.
"I got really ... fat and out of shape," Blessing said. "Then I saw my friend Susan Dallam was racing and I was like, I need to do that again. She looks so good and she is healthy. So about three years ago is when I decided to start racing again. It's been fun."
Blessing competed in the Rocky Mountain State Games spint triathlon on Saturday. She crossed the finish line in first place in the 45-49 age group, but was penalized two minutes and moved to second. Blessing's good friend Ingrid Fatianow-Hibbits was moved to first place.
Blessing is a regular in the Pikes Peak Ascent. She said she hopes to make some big improvement there this year.
"I've been pretty slow there the last couple of years, so I'm trying. I'l like to be closer to three hours," she said.
She she finished the 2009 Ascent in 3:25 and posted 3:31 there last year.