Kathryn Bertine’s As Good As Gold will inspire you and every endurance athlete on your gift list. Bertine lives in Tucson, but races internationally for St. Kitts and Nevis Her book describes an incredible odyssey as part of ESPN’s project to turn an elite amateur athlete into an Olympian. Subtitled “1 Woman, 9 Sports, 10 Countries, and a 2-Year Quest to Make the Summer Olympics,” the reader rides beside her by bike and luge to national and international competitions.
In Tucson, she races for TriSports.com cycling team, competing in events across the USA. She also travels to Europe to race for UCI points, these will qualify her to compete in the Olympics for St. Kitts and Nevis in 2012. To qualify, she must have enough points to put her among the top 100 women in the world. She estimates that she’ll need 40-45 points during the 17 month period from now until May 31, 2012. So in March, she flies to Italy for her first UCI race of 2011.
She’s not earning points to ride on the U.S. team, however. She’s racing for the small Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, where she has dual citizenship. “I’m from New York, but I’ve been in Tucson for 12 years,” said Bertine. “I try to race in the Caribbean as often as possible, but they’re very understanding about athletes needing to race and train abroad.”
During the ESPN project, her coach was former professional cyclist Gord Fraser, who also lives in Tucson. “I am so thankful to him, he’s an extremely knowledgeable athlete and a good friend,” said Bertine of Fraser. She now works with Jake Rubelt. In fact, as a sports journalist, Bertine interviewed Rubelt in 2009.
A former professional ice skater and triathlete, Bertine was in her athletic prime when her quest begins. In her journey to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she attempted modern penthathlon, team handball, track cycling, rowing, open water swimming, race walking, cycling. She then tried luge for some winter spice. Cycling offered the most promise and she rapidly rose from Category 4 (Beginner) to a Cat 2, qualifying for a chance to compete in the U.S. national championships within a few short months. She competed at both the road race and time trial events, but didn’t qualify for the U.S. National Team.
Bertine’s story across Olympic disciplines is interspersed with “water breaks” which are the author’s personal insights into funny fan mail, playing the post-race “hydration game,” and more. She continued training for cycling and triathlon after the 2008 Olympics. “This is the kind of tough lifestyle that I choose to live. I don’t believe it is a sacrifice to pursue a sport,” she said.” You want to go for it; it’s your entire journey.”
Asked about her off-season, she admits that it’s not all brutal training. “I try to do very little in December, so my body has a chance to recover,” she said. “I do yoga, Pilates, a little swimming. I might get out on my bike one or two times a week.”
Asked about her favorite races, she mentioned the Tucson Bicycle Classic and the Valley of the Sun race in Phoenix. “I also think of Saturday’s Shoot-out as a race,” she said of the regular Tucson suffer-fest that leaves from the UA Main Gate shopping area every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. (winter start time). She enjoys the Shoot-out for training and "just hanging out with friends afterward."
Beyond her book, Bertine inspires local triathletes, too. “It was great to have her at our Tri Training Camp,” said Robyn Kremer, President of Tucson Tri Girls. “She’s so down to earth and approachable. She gave us all a signed copy of her book. She’s so inspiring.” Bertine also tries to promote the St. Kitts and Nevis cycling team as much as she can.
Her book is available at Tucon’s Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave., and chain bookstores around town. To learn more about this athlete and author, check out Kathryn Bertine’s website.
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