Performing well enough to finish within the top 18 runners in the 45-49 age group in Burlington, Va., at the National Championships earlier this fall, Pam (Ruppert) Freeman, 48, earned a spot on the U.S. national team, which will compete at the World Championships on Oct. 18 next year in Auckland, New Zealand.

“I have ran a total of 16 triathlons since starting in 2009,” Freeman said. “I first got into triathlons when people started suggesting them to me when I was having trouble running road races with my foot injury, plantar fasciitis. After my first race, I really committed myself and became a serious about my training because I loved it so much.”

Freeman graduated from GVSU in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. After transferring from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Freeman choose GVSU for its well-known physical therapy program and for a chance to run at the collegiate level. She ran cross country and the 3k during track and field season under then head coach Greg Bell. Her personal record in the 3K was 11 minutes and 7 seconds during her senior season.

“We are always proud when our alums do great things as Pam has,” said GVSU Athletic Director Tim Selgo. “Accomplishments such as this bring great recognition to Grand Valley State University reflect well on our school. Our congratulations go out to her.”

After her collegiate years, Freeman continued to run road races around the area, giving GVSU credit for starting her off on the right foot.

“If it wasn’t for my sister, Melissa, who talked me into running cross country in high school and Grand Valley have some amazing talent with hard work ethic, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said. “When I first started triathlons I was my own coach. I taught myself how to swim and bike competitively. You’re not going to mess with me in the water or on the bike. I am beast.”

At nationals, Freeman finished with a time of 1 hour and 28 minutes, only 19 seconds slower than her personal best due to the heat hazards during the race.

The race started of with a 750-meter swim that transitions into a 12.4-mile bike ride and culminated in a 3.1-mile run to the finish. Freeman said it really it is not as bad as it sounds.

With the World Championships just a little less than a year away, Freeman is in the middle of preseason training. She trains with the Trilanders, a local multi-sport club and personal trainer Mark Talbot from Kentwood. Together, they put together a program that will help Freeman learn and improve for the upcoming season.

“Pam is extremely supportive,” said Trilanders member and training partner Tina Keesman. “She is a competitive beast, but while training she doesn’t put her ability above the rest. She is just very intense — that’s who she is, and why she is so successful.”

No matter the outcome at worlds, Freeman said she will take pride in that she made it, but also stay serious about her goals.

“These are the best times of my life,” she said. “I am going to continue with this as long as I’m going in the right direction. Each year, I learn new things to during training about what to do and not to do. It’s a process. Just to get to the next level, I need more insight with more people. I don’t want this to be my only year. I am hoping to be back the next.”

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