D.C. triathlete Page Lester hoping for another run at Foot Locker

By Mary Albl of Dyestat

Page Lester is a national-caliber triathlete. 

She’s a senior at the National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington, D.C., one of the top all-girls schools in the country. 

She swims for the same club team as Olympian Katie Ledecky, and she’s also a former lacrosse player. 

Her friends describe her as blunt, funny, determined and maybe a little stubborn, but she’s working on that. 

But it’s the soul-searching sport of running that is her favorite. It’s what she wants to pursue in college. 

“I really think I have a lot of untapped potential,” Lester said of running.

Lester is a hidden gem of sorts on the running scene. She logs maybe 20 miles a week. Last year she finished fifth at the Northeast Foot Locker Regional Cross Country Championships, advancing to nationals, where she finished 32nd.

She doesn’t do indoor track in favor of swimming – she competes for Nation’s Capital Swim Club. She’s best known for her triathlon abilities – a grueling activity that combines her love of swimming, biking and running. 

In July 2016, she finished second in the Junior Elite Women’s division at USA Nationals in Ohio in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 19 seconds. The event is broken down by 750-meter swim (about a half mile), 20-kilometer bike (12.4 miles) and a 5K run (3.1 miles). In 2015, she qualified as one of the youngest competitors for the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Chicago, where she was 32nd (1:02:47) in a field of more than 50. 

“She’s got a tremendous aerobic base, she’s just strong,” National Cathedral cross country coach Jim Ehrenhaft said. “She was able to be one of the top runners in the country basically off of that base. It’s impressive to watch.”

Lester first became interested in triathlons the summer before her freshman year, in large part to her mom, Hilary Cairns, who is an experienced and successful triathlete. Cairns is set to compete Saturday at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. 

“She does these crazy long five-hour bike rides, and I can’t do that,” Lester said with a laugh. 

Lester, who already had a strong background in swimming and knew how to bike, joined the cross country team to gain more running experience. 

“I really like challenging myself,” she said.  

Lester, who does most of her triathlon training and competitions in the summer, still swims and bikes during cross country season. A typical week for her consists of swimming three days, biking once and elliptical and/or aqua jogging two to three times. The different activities she said has made her a better a distance runner. 

“I get a really good aerobic base without all the pounding,” Lester said. 

Ehrenhaft explained with a unique athlete like Lester, it’s making sure they do not overdo it. 

“She’s capable of so much,” Ehrenhaft said. “She’s completely receptive and open to making sure we keep the mileage in check. It’s pretty amazing what she’s capable of doing.”

The constant switching between sports, meeting new people and travel is what keeps Lester going and embracing the grind. 

“I don’t get burnt out because if I’m tired of swimming, I’ll back off swimming and just focus on other things,” she said. “It’s so varied that I don’t get burnt out.” 

This past summer and last spring, Lester did not compete in track or triathlons, as she was recovering from shoulder and hip injuries.

But it’s been a productive and consistent fall thus far, as she’s won the Bullis Invitational (18:04) and Pacers Running DCXC Invite (17:34). With a new mental approach, she’s gearing up for a second consecutive Independent School League title at the end of October.

Last season, she won the D.C. State and Maryland & DC Private School Championship crowns. 

“She’s positive and she’s team-oriented and she does everything that we ask her to do,” Ehrenhaft said.

With a repeat trip to Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego in the back of her mind, Lester said she’s trying not to get too excited. Right now, running provides her an enjoyable outlet. 

“I don’t run that much, so every time I do it’s special,” she said.