Nothing To Snicker At Triathlete Aided By Good Fortune, Hard Work And Candy Bar Ad

One of Roger Thompson’s first questions when he found himself lying in intensive care with a deep skull fracture and a bruised heart, having just been hit by a car as he cycled near Mount Spokane, was “Do I get a new bike?”

Less than two months later, he hopped on a bike again. Now, 12 years after the accident, Thompson, 26, has drawn from that same reserve of determination to qualify for the USA Triathlon Olympic Distance National Championship during his first season as a triathlete.

In November, he biked, swam and ran to an eighth-place finish in the USAT National Sprint Championship, qualifying for the national distance event in Florida in June. The sprint championship involved a half-mile swim, 16-kilometer bike ride and 3.1-mile run.

If it hadn’t been for a Snickers commercial, maybe none of this would have happened. Thompson remembers seeing the commercial, which “made biking look really cool,” when he was 12 years old. Soon after, he got serious about cycling.

It wasn’t until a few years ago, however, that Thompson competed in his first triathlon. He didn’t compete again until this fall, when he jumped full force into the sport and completed eight triathlons in four months, racking up three wins and three course records.

Ironically, the USAT Sprint Championship was one of Thompson’s most frustrating; the course was difficult and he struggled with bicycle problems. He finished in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 13 seconds, which he dismissed as “incredibly slow.”

Winning is enjoyable, but it isn’t everything, Thompson believes.

“I have to make sure I’m doing it for the right reasons,” he said. “The No. 1 thing, from early on, has been to make sure it stays fun … and to make sure that I want to do another one.”

That attitude doesn’t make Thompson immune to the jitters. Before races, he always arrives early to check out the course and the transition areas. But he inevitably dawdles and ends up frantically trying to take care of everything before the gun goes off.

There are so many variables, such as weather and course difficulty, that Thompson doesn’t usually set specific time goals, but he does have a dream: to qualify for the world championships in Switzerland. He can do so by placing in the top 12 in his age group at the national championships (the distances are 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K on the bike and a 10K run).

It’s safe to assume that anyone who would spend 3 hours a day running, swimming or riding must really love the sport.

“It’s the challenge,” Thompson said. “It’s trying to make your body do things more efficiently.”

Watching other triathletes is also part of the fun. Thompson compared his years of competitive cycling with the time he’s spent with triathletes, explaining he’s found triathletes more supportive than cyclists.

Triathlons also give Thompson and his wife, Jessi, the excuse to travel. He credits Jessi, his family and his in-laws with much of his success.

Evidence of Jessi’s support emerges when Thompson tears through his house to find his awards and medal, then shrugs apologetically.

“Jessi must have them somewhere,” he says. “She’s making something with them.”

Thompson’s accident at age 15 made him cautious about the cycling part of the sport. He now tries to train in low-traffic areas and stay aware of his surroundings. As he learned, however, simple awareness can’t always prevent accidents.

Thompson was crossing a road on Mount Spokane at the end of a training ride when a car barreled around a corner and plowed into him. He recognizes his luck; a doctor told him after the accident that if he hadn’t been in such good shape, he probably wouldn’t have survived.

Considering the strength that sustained him, it’s no wonder Thompson uses the word “fun” to describe grueling physical events.

“When you finish,” he said, “it’s fun to be in that atmosphere and think of what you just did.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo