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Feature - Parents in the Ironman - Dyestat 2013Published by
Alexa Efraimson's mom, Elise Cranny's dad in Tahoe Ironman
By Doug Binder, Dyestat editor SUNDAY EVENING UPDATE: How is this for amazing? In an Ironman triathlon on Sunday at Lake Tahoe, Chantel Efraimson (Alexa Efraimson's mom) finished about one minute ahead of Robert Cranny (Elise Cranny's dad) ... after more than 12 hours and 40 minutes of racing. Efraimson was 390th overall, Cranny 398th! Alexa Efraimson took the weekend off from her cross country schedule this weekend to be with her mother, Chantal, who will compete in Sunday's Lake Tahoe Ironman Triathlon. Efraimson traveled with her mother, father, sister and grandparents to be on hand for the event. Cranny, of Niwot, Colo., and Efraimson, of Camas, Wash., rank No. 3 and 4 all-time on the U.S. high school 1,500-meter list. At the Nike Elite Camp in July, they were roommates who discovered that their parents shared a similar goal: the Lake Tahoe Triathlon. "We'll be cheering her on and supporting her," Alexa said of her mom. "My sister and I are going to make posters (Saturday)." And will she also cheer when she sees a bib with Cranny on it? (Outside of their daughters, the families are not acquainted). "Of course I will!" Alexa said. Chantal Efraimson, 41, and Bob Cranny, 50, are both accomplished endurance athletes who have passed on their genes and work ethic to their daughters. In 2011, Bob Cranny completed the Ford Ironman in St. George, Utah in 10 hours, 53 minutes, 8 seconds. Elise said she normally travels to be with her parents (her mom does them, too) but isn't this time. "I'm definitely nervous for him," Cranny said Saturday. "We couldn't go this time and I feel bad. But he's ready and I know he's excited." Elise does some of her swimming and running training with her dad and said that his dedication is an inspiration. "He wakes up really early and finds the time to fit (the training) in," Elise said. "He loves to be challenged and loves to push himself." Bob Cranny has twice competed at the Ironman Championship event in Hawaii. Chantal Efraimson did the Ironman in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 2011 in 11:46:32. In 2012 she did the same event and finished about two hours slower. Daily exposure to that type of dedication to training helps Alexa put her own running career into perspective. "I think it's probably one of the most inspiring things ever," Alexa said of the Ironman. "It's one of the hardest things ever, and you only get one chance (at it). My mom does one (Ironman) per year and it's a big race." Ironman triathlons consist of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile (marathon) run. More news
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