Syracuse.com - Oneida's Amanda Hatfield prepped for another strong finish at Athleta Iron Girl Syracuse triathlon

[HuntingNY-News]

In 2011, she finished second. Last year, she finished first. "I'm in good shape. Better than I was year," she said this week.

Amanda Hatfield stands only 5 feet, 2 inches and weighs 115 pounds.

Nevertheless, the 34-year Oneida resident casts a big shadow on the Central New York sprint triathlon scene.

In 2011, she finished second in the Athleta Iron Girl Syracuse triathlon. Last year, she finished first. Sunday, she's competing again to defend her title at the event, which is being held again at Oneida Shores Park on Oneida Lake in Brewerton.

Hatfield is married, the mother of a 5-year-old daughter and a reading teacher. She said she's feeling friendly pressure from friends and acquaintances who keep asking her if she's going to win again.

"I'm in good shape. Better than I was year," she said. "I put a lot of miles in on the bike and in the water swimming. I'm going to race hard, enjoy the day and see where that gets me."

A sprint triathlon consisting of a 600-meter swim, a 30K bike ride and a 5K run. Sunday's race will start and finish at Oneida Shores. More than 1,800 women are entered.

Hatfield's splits last year were 11:25 (the swim), 49:40 (the bike) and 20:13 (the run). Her total time was 1:24:19.

Hatfield at her home with Iron Girl medals from 2010, 2011, and 2012. Dave Lassman |[email protected] 

On her Twitter profile, Hatfield notes she's "a wife, mother, triathlete, runner, teacher, friend, sister, daughter, nutrition junkie, makeup hoarder, sneaker collector and serious napper."

Q: The things you listed on the Twitter profile, does that pretty much sum up your priorities in life?

A: Yes.

Q: How'd you get into the triathlon scene? Did you run in high school or college?

A: No, I come from a non-athletic background. Nothing in high school or college. I started running recreationally in 2006, and after that it turned into a competitive thing. After I had my daughter in 2007, I wanted to do a marathon and qualify for Boston. I ran two marathons and qualified both years but never ran Boston because of injuries. When I couldn't run, I decided to cross train by swimming and biking. I did my first triathlon in 2010 and finished 8th, first in my age group. After that, my husband, who's also a triathlete, connected me with Matt Migonis, a certified U.S. team, Level 1 triathlon coach. I've been with him ever since.

Q: On the average, how many hours do you train each day?

A: I average 3 to 3 ½ hours a day, six days a week. I take off whatever day works for my family.

Q: You say you're a nutrition junkie. Talk about your diet.

A: We eat very healthy. We stick to gluten- free. We eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and white meat (chicken, fish).

Q: Your husband, Joe, is also a triathlete. How do you two balance your work and family with all the training involved?

A: I make it a priority to get my workout done. My husband does as well. We both know how important it is to each other.

Q: What you say to those women out there who could never see themselves doing a triathlon?

A: I'm doing it because this is what I want to do. I know it's an extreme amount of hours. For those women who are mothers, it's healthy to have something like this. The triathlete moms that I know are healthier, more focused and more balanced because they have this outlet. It's their own hobby. It's not their husband's or their child's - it's theirs.

Q: OK, talk about the part of your Twitter profile that notes you're a "makeup hoarder, sneaker collector and serious napper."

A: As for makeup, I have an addiction about buying and wearing it. I love it. It's girlie. As for sneakers, once I buy a pair, I always seem to see another pair that I have to have. There's so many cool-colored sneakers out there. As for being a serious napper, after my long, hard workouts, all I want to do is nap.

IF YOU GO

Sunday's event kicks off at 7 a.m. at Oneida Shores Park in Brewerton. The race will also finish there. For more, see the race website at irongirl.com.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog