Name
Elke Peirtsegaele
Present Career
Technical Service Engineer at TriSep Corporation
Years in Triathlon
Years spent actually training and racing...5...I think? Haha!
Athletic Background
I grew up playing most sports including basketball, gymnastics, windsurfing, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, etc., but in high school I played tennis, water polo, soccer, and swam. When I went to college at UCSB, I decided to switch it up and dabble in the world of triathlon and fell in love with the sport and people associated with it.
Family Life
I'm too young for that! Haha kidding! I'm 24 and have one younger sister and my mom. My dad passed away 2 months ago in a mountain biking accident.
My Hero
My father is my hero. He was a lover and giver of life, always living life to the fullest with a big smile on his face. He was always the one who encouraged my sister and I to try new things (like triathlon) and to seize any opportunities that came our way. I was so lucky to have a dad like him and continue to try to live each day to the fullest, just like he did. My 2016 race season will largely be dedicated to him.
Favorite Race and Why
Ironman Vineman 70.3 is just so beautiful! I've done it the past two years and am doing the full Ironman this July...double the fun and double the beauty...right?!
Worst Race and Why
I can't really think of a "worst race". We've all had bad races or bad days once in a while, but we always learn something from them. Whether something mechanically happened or you find you're not really in shape, you tend to take something away from that experience.
This Year’s Goals
My planned races for 2016 so far include
Ironman 70.3 Oceanside
Ironman Vineman
Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Australia
Ironman World Championships in Kona
All I've really thought about for the past couple months is my "A Race" in Kona...I'm stoked beyond words to have qualified and to be going there to race this October! My goal is to be as prepared as possible for this race and to enjoy every second of this incredible opportunity and journey!
Something Most People Don’t Know About Me
I don't have a middle name! Sometimes I blame it on my lengthy last name...that thing could count for two names itself!