Kim Elizabeth Manning paces in the parking lot at the West Salem Courthouse at 6:45am. She waiting for the sliding doors to open so she can do something she set out to do only a month ago. Today, Kim is going to complete her first Olympic distance triathlon.

We posted a blog a few weeks back about Kim and the six hip replacement surgeries she has undergone. And, for Launch Week, we have been asking our members why we move?

For Kim, she is moving because she wants to celebrate her new hips and her 53rd birthday.

“I hope to finish in under 5 hours. But, I have to remember to be happy to finish. I am doing something that not a lot of people with multiple hip replacement do.”

Kim swims her 36 laps in the outdoor pool at the West Salem Courthouse. The air is cool and the sky is overcast. Her friend marks laps with a blue pen on aclipboard. Keizer Nutrition Coach Allie Vance shows up to cheer Kim on for her final laps.

“One more lap to go!” Allie says. Kim realizes how much energy she has and sprints the final way down and back. Kim hops out of the pool and Allie helps carry her clothes as they hustle into the locker room and onto the bike.

Kim and Allie ride the 24.8 miles in the Ride/CARDIO30 room, blasting mid-90’s jock jams and arena rock anthems. Every few minutes, Kim yells “whooo” and Allie echoes the sentiment back over the music.

After the 24.8 miles on the bike, Kim and Allie go upstairs to walk the 6.2 miles and finish the triathlon. The sun is just beginning to break through the thick clouds outside as Kim breaks through the invisible finish line.

Kim said before she began that she hoped to finish in under 5 hours. Her final time: 4 hours, 18 minutes, 34 seconds.

“What a great day!” says Kim.

Photos by Judy Horner/Judy Horner Photography, Portland, OR