Ann Seifert, 51, is one of the top triathletes in the Pacific Northwest. Seifert has competed in 92 triathlons in a career that spans over 25 years, and she has won nearly two-thirds of them.

She is one of only four Helenans -- along with Randy Beckner, Ann Gilbert and Janet Robinson -- to compete in the Hawaii World Ironman Triathlon.

Seifert has participated in five Hawaii Ironman Triathlons altogether, beginning in 1986, when she placed fourth in her age group (25-29). Seifert clocked a time of 11 hours, 35 minutes for the 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2 mile run.

At the 1989 Ironman, she experienced calf and hamstring cramps, finishing 17th in the 30-34 class. In 1993, Seifert performed her career-best at the Ironman, posting a 10:35 and placing second in her age group (35-39).

In 1997, her appearance in Hawaii was "a nightmare," as she battled bouts of nausea, dizziness and headaches to survive in 14:52.

Her last World Ironman appearance was in 2002, when she finished sixth in the 45-49 class in a time of 11:33.

Seifert is a two-time All-American, honored by Inside Triathlon Magazine in 1993, and in 2002 by USA Triathlon. She captured two Northwest TRI-Sport Series overall championships, in 1993 and 1994.

One of her career highlights was winning the 1994 Ironman Canada championship in Penticton, BC, in an age-group record time of 10:12. Another benchmark occurred in 1992, when she captured the overall Garden City Triathlon, beating all male and female competitors.

Seifert has established course records at numerous races, including Missoula's Garden City and Grizzly triathlons, Kalispell's Summer Solstice, the Scenic Challenge in Couer D'Alene, the Lake-to-Forest in Sandpoint, Idaho, and the Whiskey Dick in Ellensburg, Wash.

Her regional victories include the Vineman (Sonoma County, Calif.), Desert Sun Half Triathlon (Grand Junction, Colo.), Troika (Spokane), Evergreen High Country (Colo.), Black Hills (Olympia, Wash.), Heritage International (Provo, Utah), Titanium (Richland, Wash.), Blue Lake Midsummer (Portland, Ore.), X-Treme Sprint (Lewiston, Idaho), All Women's Sprint (Portland), Onionman (Walla Walla, Wash.), Pacific Grove (Calif.), Pacific Crest (Sun River, Ore.) and the Post Falls Biathlon.

Canadian triumphs consist of the Alpineland in Lethbridge, the Canadian National Short Course and the Royal PePage Stampede, both in Calgary.

Seifert became renowned for her grueling, out-of-this-world training regimen. During the mid-1990s, her weekly workouts were comprised of 12,000 yards swimming, 200 miles bicycling and 40 miles running.

A mediocre high school and college athlete in the 1970s, Ann Lehmann ran track and cross country for Helena High, and was a member of the Carroll Saints' first-ever volleyball team.

In 1983, she and Kris Roby ran the Governor's Cup marathon together. That summer, Seifert entered the inaugural Universal Challenge Triathlon at Spring Meadow Lake, consisting of a 1.5K swim, a 40K bicycle and a 10K run. After finishing fourth, Seifert was aware of two things: that she'd have to train harder, and that she had fallen in love with the sport.

She won the second Universal Challenge in 1984, and since then has won nine more Spring Meadow crowns.

Seifert, who was a two-time Mount Helena Run champion (1984-85), still maintains her year-round triathlon workouts. Her latest victories have been the 2007 Jordanelle Regional Qualifier in Park City, Utah, and the 2008 Spring Meadow Sprint.

Q Did you have any sports idols as a young girl?

AYes, my hero was Wilma Rudolph, and I wanted to run in the Olympics. But I didn't have much success for the Lady Bengals, due to my asthma and a few extra pounds.

QWho were some of the folks who influenced you most when you first started competing as an adult?

AAnn Danzer, Bill Schneider and Phil Bird.

QWhat are the details about your 1992 overall Garden City victory, when you beat all the men and women?

AThey were lacking in contestants that year, and I passed Helenan Scott Schneckloth near the end to win. It was funny, because Scott's weakest leg is the run, and he joked with me after the race that he "knew it (me passing him) was coming."

QAny other hobbies besides torturing yourself?

AWell, there's not much time for anything else after that, but I am an avid beader. I enjoy beading and reading.

QWhat types of adversity did you have to overcome in your record-setting victory at the 1994 Ironman Canada?

AThe swim was the most grueling, hand-to-hand combat swim I've ever experienced. Then in the bike race, at about mile 70, my legs started feeling tired and heavy, signaling muscle cramps. I really struggled through the next 40 miles, trying to relax my calves and quads. In the run, I ran pretty well for the first seven miles. Then near the turnaround, I could feel my hamstrings start to twitch, but they didn't actually cramp until mile 15. But I was able to hobble to the finish and get the record.

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net