The July Runner Spotlight is on Helen Klein who runs to “channel the crazy.” Helen started to run at age 28 when she registered for the Saint Anthony’s Olympic distance Triathlon event. Charity contributions for this race went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I had [no] idea what I was getting myself into,” says Helen, “but signing up and fundraising for such a great cause gave me a real sense of purpose and set the stage in my running journey. Upon completing this race, I was determined to train for and race a full distance Ironman triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) by the next year.”
Unexpectedly, during the Ironman training process, Helen had what she describes as her greatest running accomplishment when she competed in the 2005 Miami Man Half Iron Triathlon (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 run). Despite setbacks that might have deterred a less driven individual, Helen finished the challenging course: “So much training, prep, travel and logistics – I thought I was ready for anything. Little did I anticipate that the locals were not excited about this inaugural event taking over their roads. Disgruntled residents threw handfuls of tacks all over the 56 mile bike course. Many racers were able to escape the wrath or just deal with a single flat, but not me. I had not one, not two, and nope, not three, but FOUR flat tires. By the fourth flat, I was a few miles from finishing the bike portion and completely out of supplies. My actual tire was trashed. The police were ready to scoop me up as a DNF, but I was not ready to stop. I informed the head officer that I didn’t care if it took me all day and understood if the race support needed to go home, but I was finishing this thing one way or another on my flat tire and no one was stopping me (there may have been some choice words in there). From that point on, all the police cars gathered up and I had what would typically be that embarrassing entourage of flashing lights piled behind me, but instead, the police cheered for me, stopped traffic, and guided me safely to the transition area for the run portion. I made it off my bike and to my run as the event staff were starting to clean up. Surprisingly toward the end of the run I was able to catch up to another racer, who insisted I would not be the very last finisher. He kept me motivated and I expected us to run through the finisher’s chute together. Instead, he stopped so I was forced to go through solo, where I was greeted by the roaring cheers of my fellow teammates and coach. That race taught me there is nothing I can’t accomplish.”
Helen began running with Bishop’s Events in 2023 and has quickly racked up 50+ events. Her favorite recent course was Point of Rocks on the C&O canal because of the tranquil setting, but her heart is in navigating hills, hills, hills! She describes her unicorn course as the Dirt Farm Brewing Trail Demon route in “a Half [marathon] (4 loop) option.” She would “dub it the Demon Deluxe.” Normally, Helen runs “only a handful” of events each year. Yet, drawn to the idea of running in support of a charity as she did for her first triathlon —“a greater purpose than for just a medal”—and the fact that Bishop’s Events partners with charities that focus on veterans’ interests, Helen anticipates that number will be closer to 100 events this year. Her dog, Betsy, has joined her for about half of her current lifetime races: “Hey Travis – can I get some of her series points?!”
Helen appreciates “the Bishops family and camaraderie…there are a lot of like minds in this group.” After a race, you might find her enjoying a chat with fellow runners and drinking “whatever is on tap at a Sippin’ Series” event.
Meet Helen (and Betsy) at one of our future races!