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KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Lettie Ebbs Caldwell recently represented the United States in the World Triathlon Grand Final in Auckland, New Zealand, competing in the Age Group event.
She did her country proud, finishing 12th, with the third fastest run time.
But the former area resident hadn’t actually intended to get into the grueling athletic competition, which involves swimming, cycling and running.
The daughter of Kathy Ebbs and the late Larry Ebbs, she is a 1995 Pittsburg High School graduate and graduated in 2000 from the University of Kansas. Now living in the Kansas City area, she is a customer experience manager for Sprint.
Caldwell said during a telephone interview that she had gotten into athletics at KU, where she served as a member of the women’s varsity rowing team and ranked in the national top 25 women rowers in 2000. In 1999 she was selected to practice with the U.S. Olympic rowing team.
She remained active after college and joined a gym, and that’s how she became involved with triathlon.
“About six years ago the gym director signed me up for the Corporate Challenge,” Caldwell said. “I didn’t even own a bike, but thought I’d try it and just had fun that first year. The second year I got more serious. I thought, if I put in some effort and work hard, I could be good at this.”
She was absolutely right.
Caldwell was voted Female Athlete of the Year, Corporate Challenge, Sprint, in 2009, and placed second in the KC Triple Crown Triathlon Series in 2010.
Caldwell qualified for the World Triathlon Grand Final by placing fifth in her age group at the USA Triathlon National Championship in August, 2011, in Burlington, Vt. Only the top 15 in each age group qualified.
She’s also a runner and has participated in numerous races, including the Chicago, Boston and New York marathons.
Caldwell said she is active throughout the year, but gets more serious about it around February as competition season approaches.
“I do different training plans to build endurance, then work on speed,” she said. “I usually train 10 to 12 hours a week, one to two times a day, six days a week, longest on Saturday. I try to take one day a week off. “
Caldwell said she tapers down her training before an event.
She also tries to eat a healthy diet.
“Above all else, I believe you should enjoy life, but I do try to cut out processed foods, especially anything fried,” Caldwell said. “I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, I just eat clean. If I do, I perform a lot better. I was 35 pounds heavier when I started. This is also a good way to make some positive life changes. Even my husband says he feels more healthy.”
Lettie Ebbs Caldwell recently represented the United States in the World Triathlon Grand Final in Auckland, New Zealand, competing in the Age Group event.
She did her country proud, finishing 12th, with the third fastest run time.
But the former area resident hadn’t actually intended to get into the grueling athletic competition, which involves swimming, cycling and running.
The daughter of Kathy Ebbs and the late Larry Ebbs, she is a 1995 Pittsburg High School graduate and graduated in 2000 from the University of Kansas. Now living in the Kansas City area, she is a customer experience manager for Sprint.
Caldwell said during a telephone interview that she had gotten into athletics at KU, where she served as a member of the women’s varsity rowing team and ranked in the national top 25 women rowers in 2000. In 1999 she was selected to practice with the U.S. Olympic rowing team.
She remained active after college and joined a gym, and that’s how she became involved with triathlon.
“About six years ago the gym director signed me up for the Corporate Challenge,” Caldwell said. “I didn’t even own a bike, but thought I’d try it and just had fun that first year. The second year I got more serious. I thought, if I put in some effort and work hard, I could be good at this.”
She was absolutely right.
Caldwell was voted Female Athlete of the Year, Corporate Challenge, Sprint, in 2009, and placed second in the KC Triple Crown Triathlon Series in 2010.
Caldwell qualified for the World Triathlon Grand Final by placing fifth in her age group at the USA Triathlon National Championship in August, 2011, in Burlington, Vt. Only the top 15 in each age group qualified.
She’s also a runner and has participated in numerous races, including the Chicago, Boston and New York marathons.
Caldwell said she is active throughout the year, but gets more serious about it around February as competition season approaches.
“I do different training plans to build endurance, then work on speed,” she said. “I usually train 10 to 12 hours a week, one to two times a day, six days a week, longest on Saturday. I try to take one day a week off. “
Caldwell said she tapers down her training before an event.
She also tries to eat a healthy diet.
“Above all else, I believe you should enjoy life, but I do try to cut out processed foods, especially anything fried,” Caldwell said. “I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, I just eat clean. If I do, I perform a lot better. I was 35 pounds heavier when I started. This is also a good way to make some positive life changes. Even my husband says he feels more healthy.”
But there’s a little wiggle room in there, too.
“I allow myself a cheat,” Caldwell said. “If a piece of pie looks good, I’ll eat it.”
She has enjoyed the travel opportunities that come with competing in triathlon, and has made a lot of friends around the country. And, Caldwell said, there’s no reason why she can’t continue to enjoy this.
“Triathlon is an age-group sport, and you compete against others in your age group,” she said. “In 2011, after an event, I was talking with a woman who was 78 and said she felt 15 years younger. I’ll continue to do this as long as I can.”
