BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Sprinting Toward the Finish Line

By Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, Staff writer | September 28, 2015

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Joseph Sorena completed the Sprint Triathlon at the Katy Triathlon on Sunday, Sept. 27 in an unconventional way. After his bike got a flat tire, he ran the rest of the bike portion while pushing his bike!

Yesterday, Meyerland-area resident Joseph Sorena ran his first Sprint Triathlon at the Katy Triathlon. The race included a 500m swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 3-mile run. Well, that was the original plan…

Joseph finished the swim part without a problem. But on mile 4 of the bike ride, his bike got a flat tire and he didn't have a repair kit with him. So he decided to run the rest of the bike portion while pushing his bike – a total of eight additional miles!

Sophia Sorena cheers on her dad during the triathlon.

Ultimately, Joe’s personal tri race included: 500m swim, 4-mile bike, 8-mile run with his bike and then a 3-mile run.

He ran this race for Hannah's Hope For GAN, raising $3,500 that will go toward research to find a cure for GAN, a rare, fatal genetic disease. Justin and Lexi Clark, friends of the family, both have GAN. (Read about Team Justin's TRIumph at the Houston Texans Kids Triathlon this spring.)

Despite difficulties, Joseph didn’t give up. Maybe because his friends and family had pledged money toward a cure for GAN. Maybe he had Justin and Lexi in mind during the race. Maybe it was because his daughter, wife and parents were waiting for him at the finish line. Probably all of the above. Way to go, Joseph!