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Triathlete moving up ladder after one year of competition

As the sun rises on Tucson for another day, Kathryn Bertine is almost finished with her work-out.

Drenched in sweat, Bertine continues her running regiment, but such is the life for the triathlete.

At the conclusion of running in the area of 12 miles, the real fun begins. Unlike athletes of other sports, triathletes must be proficient in three areas - swimming, biking and running.

The triathlon consists of a .93-mile swim, a 24.8-mile bike ride and a 6.2-mile run.

Bertine is emerging as the queen of her craft.

Just one month ago Bertine, a second-year graduate student at the UA, finished sixth in the World Duathlon Championships in Charlotte, N.C.

The duathlon differs from a triathlon in that the event features a 6.2-mile run, a 25-mile bike followed by another 3.1-mile run.

About 120 of the world's top duathletes participated in the competition.

The finish is a testament to the 24-year- old's athletic ability, considering she began competing as a triathlete/duathlete just one year ago.

"I'm primarily a triathlete, and the difference between the triathlon and the duathlon is huge," Bertine said. "It is really tough to find your running legs again immediately after you dismount from the bike."

She was formally a professional figure skater, a talent she now uses to coach at the Gateway Ice-O-Plex to help pay for school.

Training three to five hours a day is nothing new for Bertine. While attending Colgate University (N.Y.) as an undergraduate student, she was on the varsity crew team, an activity that puts a different strain on your body, but still requires the same type of dedication.

"I ran in high school, but nothing like this," Bertine said.

She is currently seeking her masters degree in non-fiction writing, in which the UA currently has one of the top programs in the country.

But after arriving, Bertine found the reason why so many others from the East Coast are flocking to Arizona - the weather.

"Considering that I spent my whole life back east, it is amazing to me that out here, I am able to train year round with the favorable weather," she said.

Her daily routine consists of some combinations of running and biking early in the morning, with swim training taking place in the afternoon.

On weekends, depending on her schedule, Bertine bikes between 50-70 miles.

Training, being a grad student and figure skating coach has taken a toll on Bertine, but she still perseveres with her daily routine.

"Sometimes I find it difficult to balance all my activities," Bertine said. "But I have always felt that if it's something you really love and are serious about it, you will find time to do it."