Dodson Reigns at NYC Triathlon

Amy Dodson has once again set the precedent for challenged athletes with her triumph at the fifth Annual Ford New York City Triathlon held on July 10. Dodson took first place in the Physically Challenged Female division of the competition, posting an overall time of 2:51:45, an all-time triathlon best by seven minutes for Dodson. Dodson is part of the Amputee Advocate Program of Freedom Innovations, Irvine, California.

The event comprised a 1,500m swim in the Hudson River, a 25-mile bike trek from Manhattan through the Bronx and Yonkers and back to Central Park in Manhattan, and finally a 10 K Run in Central Park. According to Dodson, who lost her left leg and lower lobe of her left lung to cancer in 1983, "This was one of the most challenging triathlons I've done. The Hudson is a very large river, which is intimidating, and the current is strong. The bike ride is very hilly, especially when it hits the northern end of NYC, and the race is hilly on the run through Central Park. To make matters worse, the weather was very hot and humid, which is very physically draining."

Dodson attributes much of her ability to participate in these types of grueling events to having excellent prosthetic products for athletic, active amputees such as herself. For running, she uses the Freedom Innovations Sprinter Foot, and for biking and everyday activities, she wears the Freedom Renegade®. Amazingly, Dodson has come to a point in her athletic career where she feels that her level of competition is practically the same as able-bodied athletes.

Also helping Dodson is an arduous training regimen. Her routine consists of weight lifting, personal training, running seven to ten miles, one and one-half-hour swims, and two-four hours of biking five days a week. Additionally Dodson follows a strict organic, multigrain, high-protein, low-fat diet and drinks many fluids. "I average 60-70 miles running, 200-300 miles biking, and 10 miles of swimming a week," Dodson said.

The NYC Triathlon was also noteworthy for Dodson because it was a part of the Paralympics Development Team's quest to be included in the Beijing, China, Paralympics in 2008. Dodson has been involved with the team for the past two years and is one of 12 athletes who compete in triathlons nationwide striving for that goal. "This Triathlon was important to me because it was a World Cup and Paralympic Development Team event, as well as a great opportunity for disabled athletes at large," she said.

Dodson also adds that being involved in events like these are essential for those facing physical challenges, as they are strong reminders that people can do about anything they set their mind to, and the "able-bodied" athletes treat everyone as an equal. "The support from the crowd and other athletes was unbelievable," she related. "The triathlete community is so welcoming and encouraging. In fact, there was a woman that said thanks for the 'spar,' and she was able-bodied! This was a great interaction because it shows that athletes see 'us' as regular athletes and competent rivals."

Dodson continues to push herself, preparing for several upcoming triathlons, including the Chicago, Illinois, Triathlon on August 27, the Ironman Florida in Panama City on November 5, and the World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 11. "My goals for upcoming competitions are to always get a better time than the last race."

Dodson, 42, began distance running in 1995, 15 years after losing her leg. In 1999, she began running marathons, and in 2003 began competing in triathlons, capturing the gold medal in the 5000 meter at the 1999 Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA) National Games. Prior to NYC, Dodson most recently won first place in the Silver Strand Half Marathon in San Diego, California. She stands as four-time winner of the National Half Marathon Championship and took first place in her division in the 2004 Accenture Chicago Triathlon. Having completed ten marathons to date, Dodson set the world record in 2002 at the St. George, Utah, Marathon, outpacing the former record set by Lindsay Nielsen in 1999 by more than 24 minutes. Amy also took the gold in her division in the 2003 International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship Olympic Distance Triathlon held in New Zealand.

Dodson resides with her husband in Adrian, Michigan, and joined Freedom Innovations in 2004 as part of its Amputee Advocate program. Amy also works as a fifth grade elementary school teacher in Adrian.

Dodson's current statistics are: 5k: 22:18; Half-marathon: 1:51:06; Marathon: 3:53:21; and Olympic Distance Triathlon: 2:51:45.

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Dodson Reigns at NYC Triathlon

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Certified Prosthetist / Prosthetist-Orthotist (CP/CPO) Gates Prosthetics + Mobility Clinic — Mountain Home, AR

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