Phegley slows down long enough to post her best triathlon time

For Missy Phegley, competing in a triathlon is almost like slowing down.

She swam, biked and ran through the Sept. 11 Coors Light/Trail of Tears Triathlon in 1 hour, 48 minutes and 12 seconds, setting her personal best for the course and becoming the first female finisher from the area to cross the finish line.

Phegley, 35, finished fourth in the 35-39 age division.

"I didn't realize I was the first local woman finisher," Phegley said. "I was happy with how I did compared to what I did before. It was the best time I've had so far."

Phegley has competed three times in the Trail of Tears and also has competed in the Steamboat Classic triathlon.

"I started doing triathlons in 2001," she said. "I like competition. I had a baby in December 2000, and I wanted to get back in shape. I like the endurance events, but I'm not ready to try a marathon. I feel comfortable doing each of these events. I don't feel like I'm going to drown."

The Trail of Tears triathlon, which takes place at the Trail of Tears State Park, includes a half-mile swim, a 15-mile bicycle ride and a four-mile run.

That's probably a slow day for Phegley, who lives in Cape Girardeau with her husband, Scott, and their two children. She teaches English at Southern Illinois University, is pursuing her doctorate from SIU and works out by teaching fitness classes at Universal Health and Fitness Center.

Phegley grew up in Iowa, where she played tennis and ran cross country, and attended college in Indiana, where she continued to play tennis. She received her master's degree from Southeast Missouri State.

As for the future, she still may run that marathon someday.

"I'm not sure," she said. "I would probably try a half-marathon first."