Laarni Paredes, The First Filipina to Finish Norway Triathlon
Ironwoman, Laarni Paredes has accomplished a feat no other Filipino did, except her husband, has done before, to finish the grueling Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon held in Norway last August 6, 2017.
/IMAGE HERBALIFE
The story of the race began with a bright idea in Norseman founder Hårek Stranheim’s head back in 2003, at a time when the prospects of the sport looked pretty glum. Triathlon, a popular sport in the early nineties, had fallen into a slump around the turn of the millennium. Norway had been struck particularly hard, and the sport was all but extinct.
Laarni Paredes used to swim back in high school and college. Aside from that, she also loves to run, but when she learned how to ride a bike at the age of 28, it marked the start of her calling to try triathlon. “I race because I love this. After completing the race, you will definitely feel more confident in life”, she adds.
/IMAGE FACEBOOK
Laarni grew up in the town of Los Banos where a big community of triathletes are residing, and whenever she sees them, she feels the gush of jealousy running all over her body. She pushed herself to train further and waited for a long time before becoming a triathlete herself. Her first race was a 70.3, white rock, back in 2008 and afterwards, she decided to engage being a triathlete for the rest of her life.
As the second Filipina in history to qualify for the Ironman World Championships, the most prestigious endurance race in the world, Laarni Paredes is part of a very exclusive group of elite athletes. In her professional career, she boasts more than 10 top-four finishes in triathlons all over the world.After being hailed as an ironwoman, Laarni managed to survive a 4 km swim in an icy-cold water; a 180 km uphill bike and; a 42 km run, finished after 17 hours, 34 minutes and 57 seconds, placing 19th among 20 “white shirt” finalists.
Written By: Patricia Antoinette M. Nacianceno
Image Source: Facebook, Herbalife
Source: Business Mirror
