Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Nov/Dec 2017 | Page 17

Piedmont High student races his way onto Team USA for the 2018 Duathlon World Championship
The only way to get better is to do the things you don’t like to do.
If there was ever a popular saying that Piedmont High student Alex Gaura says he
can relate to, it’s that phrase. It’s also what the standout 16-year-old athlete keeps in
mind as he trains for the opportunity of a lifetime: competing on Team USA next year
at the 2018 Duathlon World Championship.
Sitting in an office at his high school, Alex said he’s been passionate about running
since he was only 11 years old. But he credits his father, who raced in Spain during a
recent duathlon world championship, with sparking his interest in the sport.
“He did it for the first time and absolutely loved it. And now that I’m finally old
enough, I can do it too,” he said. “I just really want to race and make my dad proud.”
A duathlon is in the same category as a triathlon, Alex said, and consists of a 5K
run, a 20K bike ride and then another 2.5K run – all of which he says usually takes
about an hour. He’ll be in the youngest age category and will be among the youngest
competitors at the championship.
The competition is scheduled to take place in July 2018, but Alex said he’s already
hard at work on a training schedule his dad created that includes strength and weight
workouts as well as biking throughout the week. And that training is on top of the
workouts he does when participating in track and cross country at Piedmont High.
With scholarship opportunities for triathlons on the rise, Alex said he hopes to
compete in triathlons in the future to help pay for his college education.
But in the meantime, his main focus right now is preparing for his world
championship next year while also juggling school, extracurricular activities and his
Alex said he’s been passionate about running
since he was only 11 years old. But he credits
leadership role in his Boy Scout troop. When asked if he’s nervous, Alex chuckles and
his father, who raced in Spain during a recent
says he’s not nervous now but is sure he will be as the date gets closer.
“It’s just really humbling knowing that I get to wear the exact same uniform that my duathlon world championship, with sparking
his interest in the sport.
dad wore and that all of the other Team USA athletes get to wear,” Alex said. “It hasn’t
really hit me yet because I don’t have the uniform yet and I’m not there. But I know
that it’s going to be a wonderful experience.” —This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office.
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Parent Teacher Magazine • Nov/Dec 2017 • 15