(Facebook/ Christina Charles)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crossing the finish line

P.A. woman qualifies for Ironman world championships

Aug 2, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Prince Albert’s Christina Charles can now cross one big item off her bucket list, after qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii this October

Charles accomplished the huge feat. after finishing first in her division (F25-29) last weekend at a competition in Whistler. She was 23rd among the women. When paNOW spoke with Charles on Thursday, the news of qualifying had still not completely sunk in.

“I am just so excited for it because its’s been the ultimate goal for myself athletically, to go to the Ironman World Championships,” she said.

Charles, who is well known at the Frank Dunn Triathlon and has competed numerous times as well at the Summit Run, had never competed in an Ironman event before. Charles had actually hoped to compete last year, but was sidelined with a knee injury which prevented her from running for 16 months. So to say she was a bit nervous about competing at Whistler would be an understatement.

“It was a process to get back running but then also getting enough volume in just to compete,” she explained.

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Charles told paNOW it was a “surreal” feeling qualifing for the world championships. (Facebook/ Christina Charles)

The event at Whistler involved a 3.7 km swim., a 180 km bike ride, and a 42.2 km marathon. When asked what adjustments she made to her training, Charles replied she was spending a lot more time on the bike, going for five to six hour bike rides on the weekends. She admitted the whole game changes when someone goes from competing in a marathon, to competing in an Ironman.

“Things really change when you are out there past the five, six, and seven hour mark,” she said.

The event in October will take place in Kona, also known as Hawaii’s big Island.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell