July 2012 Athletes of the Month

 

Scott Mangum -- Barrington 

  

Scott Mangum ran while in high school, but after graduating he gave it up for the next 15 years with the exception of the occasional 5K.  However, in 2008 he dove back in head first with a half marathon.  The following year he ran both the Wisconsin Half Marathon and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, his first full marathon.  The seed had been planted and was now growing, by 2010 he was training with Alpine Runners.

 

"One of the great things about running is the competition," Mangum says.  "At first, competition with myself to get back in form, run as I had back in high school days.  As I've gotten into it more I've enjoyed the competition with others."

 

Mangum, now 36 years old, is competing on the CARA Circuit, and doing it with a lot of success.  He has rattled off top ten finishes in almost every one of his races in his age group, even topping the list at the First Midwest Bank Southwest Half Marathon and most recently a fifth place age group finish at the 2012 Grandma's Marathon.  All of this has led Mangum to the top spot in his age group on the CARA Circuit almost half way through the season. 

 

 

Kristin Bagley -- Chicago

 

A high school and collegiate swimmer and runner, Kristin Bagley needed a new event after graduating college, so she brought her sports together and started competing in triathlons.  After a few years of competing casually, she decided to take a more serious stance, and it's paying off.

 

Bagley now works with a coach and prepares with rigor for each race.  Her first Olympic distance race of the year was Leon's World's Fastest Triathlon.  Despite a strong field, Bagley was able to finish in fifth place with a time of 2:14:05.  Coming off a strong finish she was more than prepared for the 2012 Batavia Triathlon.  Bagley dominated the competition, winning the triathlon and beating the next closest woman by over one minute.  

 

The 29-year-old physical therapist doesn't put much stock in her finishing time, instead she worries about how she does against the competition.  "You Can't really compare times because each race is so different," Bagley said.  "My goal is to try and win or be at the top of my age group in all of my races."

 

 Taking no time off, Bagley plans on competing in the Evergreen Lake Triathlon this month.  She is also expecting to compete in her first Life Time Chicago Triathlon in late August.