LV triathlete gets little rest

Bob Cloud

Thursday, June 20, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

In a sport which puts a premium on pacing yourself, Kurt Ouchida is fitting right in.

Ouchida enters triathlons in his spare time -- that is, whatever time he can muster after working, attending graduate school and preparing for his upcoming wedding to fianc'ee Robyn Campbell.

"It really is a juggle," said Ouchida, a public relations director in Las Vegas. "I'm getting a graduate degree at UNLV, then there is a 40- to 50-hour work week, training, and, of course, time with Robyn. There's never a restful moment it seems, but I love it."

The triathlon is a three-pronged test of endurance, consisting of a 1,500-meter swim, a 40-kilometer (25-mile) bike ride and a 10K (6.1-mile) run. The sport has its origins in the Hawaiian Ironman competitions of the early 1980s, and will be an exhibition event at this summer's Olympics in Atlanta.

"It's a great sport," Ouchida said. "I've developed a great camaraderie with many athletes around town. I really enjoy the training, and the competition is the icing on the cake. We travel to competitions together and have a great time.

"I would consider myself a weekend warrior. I really love to do it, but, like most of us, I wish I had more time. "

Ouchida became interested in triathlons after moving to Las Vegas three years ago. He was introduced to the competition by friends Joe and Teresa Terlizzi, and progressed under their tutelage.

"I've always been challenged by swimming," he said. "I got involved with Las Vegas Masters Swim Club, where Joe and Teresa told me about the triathlon. From there, I got a bike and decided that it was all a lot of fun. With coaching and guidance from both of them, I just stuck with it."

An average Ouchida training schedule consists of five hours per week swimming, with another five devoted to biking and four more to running. He competes in local monthly events, and placed fourth in his age group at the San Diego International Triathlon earlier this month in his first major competition of the year.

"I died on the run," Ouchida said.

"To compete well in an actual triathlon, you have to put it all together. I learned I had to pace myself better on the bike and then let loose on the run. Someone like Joe, who has 10 years experience, knows how to conserve energy. I'm learning that now."

He'll test his newfound knowledge at a triathlon in Orange County, Calif., this weekend and also will compete at Big Bear, Calif., in July. Ouchida participated in five major events last year, and plans to fit in at least four in 1996.

Being a triathlete has many rewards, but Ouchida said he doesn't harbor thoughts of making it a career. He credits the sport with putting him on a track toward a lifetime of good health.

"My biggest highlight is each time I cross the finish line," he said.

"When the line is in sight the ache in your legs goes away. The adrenaline kicks in and you forget the pain. But as much as I enjoy it, I don't think I could ever have the time -- or the genes -- to be a professional.

"Triathletes look at the body as a motor vehicle. You have to know how to hydrate yourself and load up on fuel the right way. I'm not going to have a six-course meal the night before a race. That's the biggest thing triathlons have done for me -- a healthy lifestyle."

Do you know of a Weekend Warrior? If so, contact the SUN at 259-4085, or via e-mail at Cloud@lvsun.com.