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Tandem bike makes triathlon accessible for mother-daughter duo

It was about 10 years ago that Wendy Leseman watched a video about a father and son who completed an Ironman Triathlon in mind-boggling fashion. Because cerebral palsy left his son unable to swim, bike and run on his own, the father attached a rope around his body to tow a boat carrying his son, rode on the front seat of a tandem bicycle and pushed his son in a wheelchair.

"I was just so blown away by it," Leseman said.

The extraordinary achievement documented in the video inspired something that has become quite ordinary for Leseman and her 30-year-old daughter, Courtney Fleischman, who was born with Down Syndrome.

On Sunday, they will dive into the Bartlett High pool for their ninth Gold Nugget Triathlon, an all-women's race consisting of a 500-yard swim, a 12-mile bike and a 4.1-mile run.

You'll know them if you see them, at least during the bike portion of the race. Leseman and Fleischman are the race's only participants who pedal a bicycle built for two.

Leseman, 58, and Fleischman did their first Gold Nugget in 2005 after successfully petitioning USA Triathlon to gain permission to use a tandem bike in the nationally sanctioned race. Gold Nugget officials, whose goal is to welcome racers regardless or experience or expertise, encouraged and supported their efforts.

"The whole purpose of the triathlon is to support women in their quest to be more active and to not set limits," said Leseman, who along with ex-husband Steve Fleischman, raised Courtney with a similar philosophy.

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Courtney started swimming lessons when she was a little girl. She ran in the Tuesday Night Race Series and entered various 2-kilometer and 5-kilometer footraces. She joined Special Olympics and learned how to cross-country ski. As she grew older, she remained physically active, adding weekly Zumba classes with stepmother Deb Burwen to her list of endeavors.

And so when Leseman learned about the father-son duo that did the Ironman despite the son's significant physical restrictions, she instantly thought about her daughter and the Gold Nugget Triathlon.

"I kept thinking this was really cool," she said. "The only thing Courtney couldn't do was the bike."

Because Courtney didn't have the balance necessary to ride a bike, or even an adult-sized three-wheeler, her dad got her a tandem bike. And that opened the door for mom and daughter to enter the Gold Nugget.

"I like doing triathlon," Courtney said Thursday while taking a break from a training ride. "I like being strong and healthy."

Courtney lives at an assisted-living home and works a couple of days a week at the Red Robin in South Anchorage. She celebrated her 30th birthday in February with a Zumba party at The Alaska Club.

Leseman said at times she has resorted to bribes – often in the form of root beer and Taco Bell burritos – to motivate Courtney to get out and be active.

"If it was up to her, she'd probably sit at home," she said. "For a long time, I didn't know how much she liked the triathlon, but last year she had a cold and I said we could skip this one and she said, 'No, I want to do it.' ''

Little wonder, given that Courtney is a bit of a Gold Nugget rock star.

"She loves that when she gets out of the pool, people are cheering, and when she gets on the bike, people are waving," Leseman said. "Oftentimes people call her by her name, because they see the tandem.

"On the bike I'll peek around at Courtney, and she's barely pedaling because she's so busy waving."

She certainly doesn't mind the spotlight. While being photographed Thursday, Courtney was all smiles every time she saw the camera. Seated on the back seat of the moving bicycle, she twisted her body toward the photographer and put a hand on her hip, posing like a celebrity on the red carpet.

One of her favorite parts of the Gold Nugget?

"My dad cheers me on," she said.

And when it's over?

"My mom buys me Taco Bell and Diet Pepsi."

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