Therapist Tackles Triathlon and Treating Patients
June 25, 2018 2:58 pm
Cold water was flowing. Rippling waves were pounding the shoreline. Thousands of triathletes notched mile after mile seeking to reach the finish line.
Kim Lancaster faced each of these recently as she completed Escape from Alcatraz, a very challenging triathlon off of the coast of California in the San Francisco Bay. 
The race consisted of a 1.5 mile swim in the Bay from Alcatraz Island to the shore, an 18 mile bike, and an 8 mile run in the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.
“You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face after I finished the swim,” said Lancaster. “It was simply amazing. I did this for me, but also for everyone who followed my journey.”
When she is not competing or training for races, Lancaster works as a physical therapist for Inpatient Rehabilitation at Magnolia Regional Health Center. On a day to day basis, she works with and motivates patients to work hard so that they can make a speedy recovery and get back to the normality in their lives.
Lancaster has completed over fifty races in total, including one full and two half Ironman races. As well as multiple marathons. When it comes to the Escape from Alcatraz competition, she signed up for the lottery not planning on getting chosen. According to www.escapefromalcatraztri.com, participants have a thirty to fifty percent chance of being selected. As luck would have it, she was chosen. After researching what exactly Escape from Alcatraz was all about, her training began.
“I wasn’t planning on doing another race right after finishing my Ironman in October, but then I was selected through the lottery,” said Lancaster. “I felt like I couldn’t say no. This is a triathlon’s dream race.”
Lancaster successfully completed Escape from Alcatraz, taking on the shark-infested waters and elusive hills of San Francisco. Not only does Kim promote health every day at the hospital by helping her patients get on the road to recovery, but it’s apparent she leads by example.
“Competing in the triathlon was such a thrill and challenge,” said Lancaster. “It truly tested me and took extraordinary efforts to complete, and I am proud to say that I did what I set out to do. I escaped from Alcatraz! I always strive to give 100 percent in both competing and treating my patients.”
This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center
