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About Town: Redmond Triathlete Sets Sights on Iron Man

Fresh off winning the Rock-and-Roll Marathon in Seattle, Sheila Croft is preparing to make a run at an age group win in Hawaii this October

You might have seen Sheila Croft riding her bike or running along Redmond Ridge, or maybe swimming at in Redmond.

What you might not have realized when you saw her is that this Redmond resident is a force to be reckoned with in competition.

Croft has just come off a big win in the Rock-and-Roll Marathon in Seattle, but to her the race was just fuel to propel her toward her big goal for the year—winning her age group at the Kona, Hawaii, Iron Man Triathlon this October.

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Croft said she feels strong and believes she has a good shot at the Iron Man. The Rock-and-Roll win is the latest in a number of good races, including the Seattle Half, which she also won, that she’s had this past year.

“This has definitely boosted my confidence,” Croft said.

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The 36-year-old Croft, who is originally from Nova Scotia and moved here a few years ago to close the distance between herself and her partner, Dustin Grosse, says she loves the Northwest climate for training, even if the rain does interfere with bike rides sometimes.

“It’s a lot like Nova Scotia in climate,” she said.

Croft began racing in 2002 in her native Nova Scotia, and was named Rookie of the Year and best female triathlete that year. She competed in her first Iron Man in Wisconsin in 2004 and since has competed in six full Iron Man competitions and a few full marathons.

Though her training schedule alone sounds like a full-time job, Croft also works as a nurse at the University of Washington, often swimming two hours after a 12-hour work shift, then getting up at 4:30 a.m. to start it all over again.

Though Croft trains in and around Redmond, neighbors might not see as much of her on the weekends the rest of this summer. After riding in the Spokane to Portland bike race, she’s planning to compete in the Chelan Man competition with Grosse and his son, a young teen who will be competing in his first triathlon.

For Croft, these races are training for the big Kona in October, which her family, including her Mom, who’s flying out from Nova Scotia, will attend. Croft says the support of Grosse has been an invaluable bonus as she seeks her peak.

“He’ll get up at 4 a.m. to drive me to a race, and he’s always there at the finish line,” she said.

Croft says she’s motivated not only by winning, but also by being challenged by strong, fast women, and she hopes any women who are interested in running, swimming, biking, or triathlons will be inspired by her, as well.

For women (or men) interested in pushing themselves, Croft says: “I would suggest to join a group, to have other people around you with a similar fitness level. That way you can keep motivated. Then pick and event you really want to do, sign up, commit for it and really focus on getting ready for that.”

She’s a big fan of the triathlon because it provides a way to rest some muscles without stopping training.

“If I feel like I may get injured if I go out and run, I may swim instead," she said. "You have to pick something that feels right for you."


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