This is the first in a
series where we hope to feature some of the wonderful and impressive things our
employees are a part of outside of their work and this campus.
Sue Pope has been working for the University of Utah for 28
years in the Landscape Maintenance Department, 12 years as a greenhouse
coordinator and 16 years as the Supervisor of Landscape Maintenance. She is a
hard worker not just on campus but in her personal life as reflected in her
Ironwoman status.
Sue Pope has been competing in triathlons since 2004. She started out with Sprint and Olympic
distance triathlons which included 1 mile swimming, 24 miles biking and a 10K
run. In 2008 she wanted another
challenge and entered the Half or 70.3 Ironman distance which included 1.2
miles swimming, 56 miles biking and a 13.1 mile run. She has participated in the Boise, Idaho Half
Ironman and placed 1st in her age group of 45-49. This qualified her for the world championship
in Clear Water, Florida where she place 13th in her age group.
In 2009 Sue dropped down to the Olympic distance triathlons
and competed in local and out of state races where she placed in the top 3. Due
to an injury she was out most of the season in 2010 and competed in a few local
Olympic triathlons towards the end of the season. 2011 found Sue competing in local Olympic
distance races, Two Half Ironman races in Boise, Idaho and Oceanside, California. She placed 1st in Boise and 3rd in Oceanside,
California for her age group. This
qualified her for the World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada where she placed
2nd for her age group.
Next, In 2012 Sue competed in the Oceanside, California ½ Ironman
where she placed 4th in her age group. 2012 also found Sue playing
in a National Volleyball master tournament for 2 weeks where she developed a
stress fracture in her sacrum. The rest of the summer she biked and swam
because of this injury. In November, she
participated in the Florida Ironman where she placed 1st in her age group of
50-54. An Ironman triathlon is 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking and a 26.2
mile run. This has qualified her for the
Kona, Hawaii Ironman in October of 2013 where she will be competing with some
of the top athletes in the world.
Sue is currently training 12-15 hours a week which consists
of working out 2-3 times a day with longer runs and bike rides on the
weekend. She trains year round and
focuses on her weak points in the off season.
Her next race is May 5th in the 70.3 Ironman in St. George,
Utah. She will spend some time in Kona,
Hawaii to acclimate to the weather and heat for the Kona Ironman in October
2013.
Sue is a great asset to Facility Operations. We are supportive of her Ironman journey and
wish her luck in her races this year.
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