Triathlon training cycles through Pendleton
By Nila Harris
Pendleton County native Natalie Kelsch Stewart and her husband, AJ, are no strangers to bike riding, nor exercising other parts of the body.
On June 20, the Stewarts participated in the Cincinnati Cycle Club’s annual ride that passes through Pendleton County.
“We started at the Knights of Columbus in Alexandria, then to Fiskburg, Grassy Creek, Butler, Falmouth, out 22 (East) to Lenoxburg, Peach Grove, then back to Alexandria,” Natalie said.
“The Kentucky Road Racing organization does these rides in London, Georgetown, Alexandria, and Maysville.”
The Stewarts joined approximately 800 cyclists on the 100-mile scenic bike ride in preparation for their upcoming ironman triathlon competition next month in Lake Placid, New York.
The Ironman Lake Placid consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. The athletes must complete the entire course within 17 hours.
The grueling competition will be the first time the Stewarts have competed in the same event together. The two have committed to training up to 15 hours each week, all while working full-time jobs and caring for their two children.
Natalie, a dentist and owner of Mason Elite Dentistry in Mason, Ohio, is a 2008 Pendleton County High School graduate and the daughter of Phyllis and the late Lee Kelsch.
Her father’s unexpected death at age 41 has motivated Natalie to maintain a healthy lifestyle for herself and family. She has said that she “would do everything in her power to prevent the same fate.”
Saturday’s bike ride was one component of the Stewarts’ training as they prepare for the Ironman Lake Placid. Natalie’s personal goal for Lake Placid is a 10-hour, 30-minute finish time, the chance to earn a professional triathlon card, and a podium spot for her age group.
The Stewarts’ children will be cheering their parents on from the sidelines July 19.