Committed to the triathlon challenge

  • By Mike Cane / Herald writer
  • Friday, July 21, 2006 9:00pm
  • Sports

LAKE STEVENS – Peer pressure makes people do crazy things.

Take Bailey Granstrom.

The Lake Stevens High School senior is a fine athlete, having qualified for the Class 4A state cross country championships during each of her first three prep seasons. But when it comes to competitive biking and swimming, Granstrom, 17, is essentially a novice.

So how the heck did she end up competing in triathlons, which fuse the three activities (swimming, biking and running, in that order) in an uncommonly punishing test of endurance and will?

It started with a suggestion – more of an order, really – from Josh Fountain, a recent Lake Stevens High graduate (and Granstrom’s boyfriend of eight months). Fountain, 18, has completed nearly 20 triathlons over the last four-plus years. Not long after he and Granstrom paired up, he convinced her to join the “fun.”

“He was like, ‘Come on! Do it! Come on!’ the blonde, bubbly Granstrom said before laughing.

“Yeah,” Josh conceded, unveiling a sly grin. “I pretty much peer-pressured her into doing it.”

Luckily for Fountain, Granstrom’s debut went very well. She competed in the recreational portion of the Padden Triathlon June 24 in Bellingham, placing 12th overall and first in her age group on a course that featured a quarter-mile swim, a 10-mile bike ride and a 2.6-mile run. Sure, there were hiccups – she struggled a bit in the water and her bike chain popped off about 1 mile in – but Granstrom pushed on. In fact, she may have found a new passion (“I liked it. I think I’ll do more.”).

Granstrom has a way to go to match the enthusiasm of Fountain, who does several triathlons every summer – he’s scheduled to do seven this summer alone – and hopes to join a triathlon club at the University of Washington after he starts classes this fall. For Fountain, a triathlon isn’t merely a way to push his physical limits. It’s flat-out fun.

“I never really stop training at all, so really they’re not that hard for me,” said Fountain, who competed in cross country, swimming and track for four years at Lake Stevens. “I have a lot of fun training (see graphic) and doing these kinds of things. That’s just my idea of fun, I guess.”

One chiseled young man’s entertainment is an average Joe’s nightmare. But Fountain, who did the competitive Padden course in Bellingham (half-mile swim, 21-mile bike ride, 5.2-mile run), believes triathlons will enrich his life for decades.

“I want to do triathlons the rest of my life,” he said. “You meet people that are like 70 and they’re still competing in triathlons. It’s a good goal for myself, I think – a good way to stay in shape the rest of your life.”

Fountain is especially excited to have a new training partner: “I’m totally pumped Bailey likes to do these triathlons. It’s kind of something I can share with her.”

The remarkably-fit couple trained together all summer, and last weekend they did the Benaroya Research Institute Triathlon in Seattle (half-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride, 3.1-mile run). Fountain finished in 1 hour, 9 minutes and 5 seconds, good for second place in his age group and 60th overall; Granstrom’s time was 1:24:49, No. 2 in her division, 415th overall.

But on Sunday Granstrom will take a break while Fountain significantly ups his workload in the Lake Stevens 70.3 Triathlon World Qualifier, part of the town’s annual Aquafest activities. More than 1,000 athletes are expected to tackle the demanding event (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1-mile run), which is the Pacific Northwest qualifying race for the 2006 Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship.

It’s Fountain’s third straight summer competing in the Aquafest triathlon. Last year he took first in his age group, finishing in 5:45.16. Yep, that’s nearly six straight hours of intense exertion. This year he hopes to cover the course in less than five hours.

At age 14 Fountain, who started swimming as a child and began running competitively in middle school, became the first member of his family to do a triathlon. Miles and miles of swimming, biking and running later, keeps plugging away. The extremely driven young man craves a degree of glory, but mainly he’s just having a blast.

“Eventually I want to end up trying to win these things,” Fountain said, “but as long as I still keep on having fun, that’s all that matters to me right now.”

Said Granstrom, Fountain’s girlfriend-turned-training partner: “I think he’s crazy. I think he works too hard.”

Wait a second: Fountain convinced Granstrom to try his grueling hobby, right?

So who’s the truly crazy one?

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

Cam Schlittler’s strong debut freezes Mariners

The Mariners fell to the Yankees, 9-6, on Wednesday night.

Storm flies too close to the Sun, loses in an upset

Connecticut snapped a 10-game losing streak to beat Seattle 93-83 on Wednesday morning.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in New York. (Evan Bernstein / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Raleigh, Judge heat up homer race at Yankee Stadium

In the battle of baseball’s biggest sluggers, Aaron Judge… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks linebackers Derick Hall (58) and Boye Mafe (53) celebrate a defensive play during the 2024 season. (Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images / The Athletic)
Season to reveal long-term plans for Seahawks linebackers

The Seattle Seahawks selected edge rusher Boye Mafe with… Continue reading

Silvertips defenseman wins U20 Ball Hockey World Title with Canada

Rylan Pearce helps Canada win gold at the ISBHF U20 World Championships in Slovakia.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.