West Newsmagazine 7-11-18

14 I NEWS I
July 11, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
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By BAYLOR TALCOTT
Sarah Haskins, of Eureka, won her
second “Escape from Alcatraz” triathlon in
San Francisco, California, on June 3.
Competing in the female professional
division, Haskins has competed in the race
three times and never placed lower than the
top five. She won the race in both 2014 and
2018 and placed fourth in 2016.
With its beginning in 1981, Escape from
Alcatraz is one of the oldest triathlons in
the country. The race consists of a 1.5-mile
swim, an 18-mile bike ride and an 8-mile
run. Haskins finished the race in 2:15:46,
only 15 minutes behind the first overall
winner.
She hit a bump in the road when she
approached the bike portion of the triathlon.
She had mounted her bike too early
and her back tire was not fully across the
line. This resulted in Haskins receiving a
mounting penalty and a one-minute standdown.
“My body had already passed the mount
line, but an inch of my rear wheel was
not,” Haskins said. “I was really in shock
because usually when you receive a penalty
on the bike it’s due to drafting, but since I
was in front I knew that it was strange.”
The penalty allowed one of the other
competitors to catch up with Haskins and
stay a steady 15 seconds behind. Haskins
said she used the penalty as extra motivation
on the 8-mile long run.
She began competing in triathlons as an
amateur when she was 22, but then went
professional the next year at age 23. With
nearly 14 years of experience, she has competed
locally and internationally. Her most
memorable race was competing in the 2008
Summer Olympic games in Beijing, China.
Finishing 11 out of 55, Haskins was one of
two Americans to place top 15.
“[Competing in] the Olympics was
always a childhood dream,” Haskins said.
“To be on the Olympic start line was an
unreal experience.”
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Eureka native Sarah Haskins
escapes Alcatraz with a win
[Kortuem Inc. photo]
Sarah Haskins
[Kortuem Inc. photo]
Haskins switched the main focus of her
racing toward non-draft racing in 2010.
This style of triathlon is not an Olympic
event. Drafting is when cyclists ride
behind one another to reduce the amount of
drag [air pressure or friction] and conserve
energy. In nondraft racing, the cycling portion
of the event is an individual time trial
with no assist from positioning.
Haskins said that while she looked up to
former swimmers, such as Summer Sanders,
growing up, her main role model was
her mother.
“She’s an extremely hard worker. Looking
back now as an adult and a mom, she
always put everyone first, especially her
children. She sacrificed everything to
make sure they had whatever they needed,”
Haskins said. “She took me to swim practice
at 4 a.m. and made sure I had everything
I needed.”
Haskins is a mother of two. With a
5-year-old girl and a 13-month-old boy,
participating in triathlons at such a high
level is a balancing act not many can do.
“My training has shifted just as my children’s
needs have shifted. It’s something
that’s a learning [curve],” Haskins said. “ I
think the balance of having the family lifestyle
is something that I enjoy. Before kids,
it was always training and grinding, but
having kids really helps bring the healthy
balance into what I do day in and day out.”
Haskins said that most people, when they
talk about triathlons, say they could never
do it. She tells them the opposite.
“It’s definitely obtainable for any level
of athlete. Find what your weakness is
whether it’s swim, bike or run, and find a
coach to help,” Haskins said. “Finding a
group to work with also will help keep you
motivated.”