POWERGRAMS

PROFILE Photos by Bill Snow Putt proud member of Team USA at Duathlon World Championships Pelham engineer's bicycle cost more than $18,000. Jeff Putt's secret to winning a duathlon is lots of training and the latest Hot 100 tune. "Surprisingly, 90 percent of the time I get a song I heard that day on the radio stuck in my head, and I run to the rhythm of it," said Putt, engineer, Metro South-Pelham Office. After competing in triathlons for three years, Putt recently switched gears. On Aug. 10, he will take on athletes from around the globe in the 2013 Ottawa Sprint Duathlon World Championships sponsored by the International Triathlon Union. A duathlon is a long-distance event consisting of a run, followed by a bike ride and then another run. A triathlon involves running, swimming and biking. To qualify for the duathlon championships, Putt won his age bracket, 40-44, in Alabama's Double Oak Duathlon in April. The competition was one of only three U.S. qualifiers, with the others in Minnesota and California. Putt has ramped up his training schedule, is focused and ready for the action. Nearly every day during lunch, he runs 3 miles or swims about a mile at Oak Mountain State Park. He then heads back to the park after work for a 17-mile spin on his bike or another run. He trains even harder most weekends with a 6- to 10mile run on Saturdays and a 30- to 40-mile bike ride on Sundays. "For me, the hardest part of a triathlon is transitioning from the bike to the run," Putt said. "My legs cramp up and feel like bricks. But once I get past the first mile and a half it gets easier." Putt said he never thought of competing in a triathlon until three years ago. "I saw a triathlon bike my friend owned, and I said, 'That's the most awesome bike I've ever seen in my life.' I had to have one," he said. A month after buying his own bike, Putt was in his first competition – the Last Chance Triathlon in Douglasville, Ga. Placing second in his age bracket, Putt said he was "hooked." Since then, Putt has taken part in triathlons in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. His goal is to compete in triathlons in every state in the nation. With so much competing and training, Putt has been unable to escape injury. He suffered a separated shoulder about a year ago during a biking accident. "In the process of going to the ground, I had to make a split decision as to whether I was going to wreck my bike or place my body between the road and the bike. It really wasn't much of a decision; I chose to let my body take the hit," said Putt, adding his triathlon bike cost $18,000. "I'm very serious about the sport, and if I have to choose between my bike or my body hitting the road, I choose my body." Putt represents USA in 40-44 age bracket. Putt was a runner long before he became a triathlete. "I've been a runner my whole life. As far back as I can remember, my dad took me to the track with him," said Putt. Putt competed in cross-country and track events in high school and later ran in the military. Putt joined Alabama Power and decided in 2007 to take part in the company's Run for the Reason benefiting the American Cancer Society. Just as his dad passed on his passion for running, Putt shares his favorite sport with his son, Garrett, 20. "I really cherish the moments I spend training and competing in triathlons with my son," he said. Putt was excited and a bit nervous as he headed to Canada. "I can't wait to get there and meet the athletes from the other countries," he said. "This opportunity really is a dream come true for me, and I am very proud to represent Team USA in this event." By Carla Davis PAGE55

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