Articles

Air Force officer trains for triathlons

  • Published
  • By Airman Carissa Wolff
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  As the 36th Mission Support Group executive officer, 2nd Lt. Sarah Mutter is always busy but still manages to stay fit to fight by training for triathlons in her spare time.

Lieutenant Mutter has been training for triathlons for approximately a year and bikes 26 miles, swims 3,000 meters and runs six to 10 miles each week while varying her strength training depending on the type of competition she's facing. She is currently training for the XTERRA Guam Off-Road Triathlon, an extreme triathlon taking place April 4.

"I don't like to just run," Lieutenant Mutter said. "Just running gets boring. About a year ago, my then running partner suggested that I try triathlons due to my love of swimming. I've been training and competing in triathlons ever since."

Lieutenant Mutter said the triathlon training allows her to get a full body workout and have fun.

"Another reason I train and participate in triathlons is because they keep me in shape and fit to fight, which coincidentally keeps me healthy," Lieutenant Mutter said. "It's really fun to compete in triathlons as well because they allow you to try and excel in several areas. For instance if a person is a strong swimmer, but not a strong runner, they can still do well in a triathlon, whereas if the person competes in a 5K run, they may not do as well."

The triathlon enthusiast also has a background in several sports, giving her have an athletic and competitive streak.

"I played all kinds of sports in high school and college, but my schedule keeps me from playing a lot of intramural sports in the Air Force," Lieutenant Mutter said. "Triathlons are my sport of choice right now because they allow me flexibility, meaning I can train by myself on my off time."

Although Lieutenant Mutter can train by herself, she prefers not to.

"A lot of us triathlon enthusiasts kept seeing each other at triathlon events," said Tech. Sgt. Lester Neipert, 36th Operations Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of air traffic control training and standardization. "Lieutenant Mutter, 2nd Lt. Jeremy Eisenbrandt, [36th Civil Engineer Squadron project programmer] and I came together and started a triathlon club called Tri-Andersen. Lieutenant Mutter really enforced the notion as a good idea because she said, 'It makes more sense to train together than alone.'"

Tri-Andersen sends out weekly work out schedules, trains together, competes together and encourages other Team Andersen members to train with the club.

For more information or to join Tri-Andersen contact Lieutenant Mutter at 366-4594.

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