Understandably, Kat Boulter will probably be a little wary in the few weeks prior to the Lake Placid (N.Y.) Ironman.
This will be the first Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) for the Hampstead triathlete, who is a member of the Tri-Fury club, and she's more than excited by the challenge.
However, the 36-year-old Hampstead police officer has no problem remembering last year at this time. That was supposed to be her first attempt at an Ironman.
Called to the scene of an early-morning home break-in on July 7, Boulter was attacked by a suspect. In the ensuing altercation, she fractured her elbow, was nearly choked to death and suffered several other injuries. That kept her out of work for five months.
Friends and colleagues knew that Boulter must have been crushed to miss Lake Placid. They know her nature and remember how she persevered back in 2007.
Then, just two weeks before the Timberman Half Ironman on Lake Winnipesaukee, while on duty she was hit by a SUV and suffered a neck injury and various internal injuries. And yet she still competed and finished the competition.
"It probably wasn't that smart, but I had already missed one race and didn't want to miss another," said Boulter. "I took some painkillers to make it bearable. ... I was just happy to finish."
It's that kind of determination that made Boulter's friends and colleagues particularly sympathetic to last year's incident.
"Friends who know me and knew about Lake Placid all said, 'Oh, your Ironman, you must be crushed.' But I just told them I'm happy to be alive and there'll be another Ironman."
That next Ironman for Boulter is rapidly approaching (July 26). The delay may have an upside.
"I'm in at least as good shape because I've been doing more weight work, which I think helps a lot, and this year I have four friends doing it with me, so it'll be even better," said Boulter, who competes with the TriFury club.
Fellow members of TriFury are amazed by Boulter's dedication and resiliency.
"Although I've only known Kat Boulter for about three years, she has proven to me to be amongst the most determined members of our club," said Dave Tyler, who is a TriFury board member. "Those injuries she's suffered as a consequence from her work as a police officer that have clearly just made her want this even more.
"Becoming an Ironman is a lifetime achievment that few people in this world are able to accomplish, Kat has already proven she has the mettle, its just a formalty at this point for her to do the race. I am very very proud to know her."
Although it's been one of Boulter's goals to finish an Ironman, she's just happy to be involved with triathlons and triathletes in general.
A 1991 graduate of Pinkerton Academy and 1996 graduate of Plymouth State, Boulter has been involved in athletics her entire life. A four-year soccer player who also competed in track at Pinkerton, she played four years of lacrosse in college while also competing in road races and cycling races.
It was at Plymouth State that Boulter was introduced to triathlons.
"A friend of mine, Sue Wentworth, knew that I liked to swim — I had been a life guard — and I also was a runner and biker, so she suggested I try one. I did one in Wolfeboro and I was hooked.
"It's the perfect sport for me. I'm very competitive and I like the awesome friends I've made. They're just as crazy as I am.
"And I like training for all three (events). You're less likely to be injured."
All of the training (2-4 days per week for each event, with bike rides of 100 miles or more at a time) is getting her primed for Lake Placid as well as whatever other triathlons are on Boulter's agenda. But it also helps prepare for whatever confronts her on the job.
"I can't stress enough to other police officers how important it is to be in great shape," said Boulter, who is a rock-solid 5-foot-5, 155 pounds. "If I hadn't been in shape, it would have been a lot worse when I got hit by that SUV. Doctors told me that my internal injuries would have been much worse.
"The other things is that there is so much stress on this job, you need to have an outlet, and this (triathlons) is as good as any."
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