COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — In a testimonial to the toughness of triathletes, Aly Houghton fell off her bicycle, broke her tailbone — and still finished the race.
This was in 2008 at the Ironman triathlon in Coeur d'Alene; Houghton, then just 18, says the accident came after just a moment of inattention.
One minute she was in her aerodynamic handlebars 70 miles into the race, the next she was sprawled on the asphalt.
Though she completed the 112-mile bike ride and finished the 26.2 mile marathon, Houghton's injuries took a summer to mend.
The pain — and painful memories — kept her out of the 2009 race.
Houghton is returning for this weekend's edition and hopes to beat her time of nearly 14 hours — without falling off her bike.
