Desiree Ficker
Encyclopedia
Desirée Ficker is an American long-distance runner and professional triathlete.
to Annette and Robin Ficker
, a perennial political candidate and well-known sports heckler. She has two younger brothers, Robby and Flynn. She currently resides in Austin, Texas
with her puppy, Pandora. Outside of training, she likes snowboarding, shopping for vintage clothing
, camping, sewing, photography, and reading.
fans. She traveled with her parents to places like France
and Italy
to go to track and field races. She started competing in the cross country
/track and field Junior Olympics
when she was nine. She continued running throughout high school and college at the University of Alabama
where she graduated in 1998 but became interested in triathlon from watching Ironman Kailua-Kona in Hawaii
. She bought her first triathlon bike in March 1999 and qualified for Kailua-Kona that summer.
. In 2007, Ficker was diagnosed with strep throat
before the race, but was feeling optimistic and started the race. Her swim time was 1:01:02. Her bike time was 5:14:30. Her marathon was 4:19:42. Overall, her time was 10:40:43. Her place was 643.
On 11 October 2008, Ficker finished 39th in the Women's Pro division at the Ford Ironman World Championship in a time of 11:07:48 (1:00:37 swim, 6:02:00 bike, 3:55:03 run).
in a personal best time of 2:39:30 (6:05 minutes/mile pace), earning $500. She was the second fastest American woman in the race.
On April 11, 2010, FIcker won the Austin Statesman Capitol 10K race for the third year in a row with a time of 35:36 (5:44 minutes/mile pace). On November 7, 2010 she finished 45th in the ING New York City Marathon, in a time of 2:52:30 (6:36 minutes/mile pace).
Personal life
Ficker was born in Potomac, MarylandPotomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth...
to Annette and Robin Ficker
Robin Ficker
Robin Ficker is an American attorney, real estate broker, political activist, and sports heckler who lives in Boyds, Maryland.-Education and professional career:...
, a perennial political candidate and well-known sports heckler. She has two younger brothers, Robby and Flynn. She currently resides in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
with her puppy, Pandora. Outside of training, she likes snowboarding, shopping for vintage clothing
Vintage clothing
Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g...
, camping, sewing, photography, and reading.
Athletic History
Ficker began running with her father at a very young age. Her parents were big track and fieldTrack and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
fans. She traveled with her parents to places like France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to go to track and field races. She started competing in the cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
/track and field Junior Olympics
Junior olympics
Junior Olympics and Jr. Olympics can refer to any one of many different sporting events and organizations around the world dedicated to youth sporting activities.*Junior Olympic Gold, American national youth singles bowling tournament...
when she was nine. She continued running throughout high school and college at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
where she graduated in 1998 but became interested in triathlon from watching Ironman Kailua-Kona in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. She bought her first triathlon bike in March 1999 and qualified for Kailua-Kona that summer.
Kailua-Kona Career
In 1999 Ficker completed Kona with a time of 11:15, and 2nd in her age group. In 2000 she took home a time of 10:45, and 2nd in her age group again. In 2006, she came in 2nd place overall at Kona, with a time of 9:24, behind Michellie JonesMichellie Jones
Michellie Yvonne Jones is an Australian triathlete. She has won two ITU Triathlon World Championships, an Olympic Silver Medal, and the 2006 Ironman World Championship.-Athletic career:...
. In 2007, Ficker was diagnosed with strep throat
Strep throat
Streptococcal pharyngitis, streptococcal tonsillitis, or streptococcal sore throat is a type of pharyngitis caused by a group A streptococcal infection. It affects the pharynx including the tonsils and possibly the larynx. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes...
before the race, but was feeling optimistic and started the race. Her swim time was 1:01:02. Her bike time was 5:14:30. Her marathon was 4:19:42. Overall, her time was 10:40:43. Her place was 643.
On 11 October 2008, Ficker finished 39th in the Women's Pro division at the Ford Ironman World Championship in a time of 11:07:48 (1:00:37 swim, 6:02:00 bike, 3:55:03 run).
2007
In the 2007 AT&T Austin Marathon, Ficker ran a 2:40:28 then personal best time to finish second.2008
On 18 January 2008, Ficker won the 2008 Spec-Savers South Africa 70.3 Ironman in Buffalo City in 4:46:46 (24:09 1.2 mile swim, 2:42:34 56 mile bike, 1:36:03 21.0975 kilometres (13.1 mi) run). She finished 12 minutes ahead of the next finisher, Heidi Jesberger of Germany.2008 Olympic Trials
On 20 April 2008, Ficker competed in the Women's Marathon 2008 U.S. Olympic Team trials in Boston, racing for club ASICS. She finished but did not make the Olympic team, placing 79th out of 161 entrants in 2:48:11 (6:25/mile pace).2009
On March 29, 2009, Ficker won the Austin Statesman Capitol 10K race for the second year in a row with a time of 34:56 (5:38 minutes/mile pace). On November 1, 2009, Ficker finished tenth in the ING New York City MarathonNew York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon is a major annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is one of the largest marathons in the world, with 45,103 finishers in 2010...
in a personal best time of 2:39:30 (6:05 minutes/mile pace), earning $500. She was the second fastest American woman in the race.
2010
On February 14, 2010, Ficker won the 8th Austin Half Marathon in 1:17:41 (5:56 minutes/mile pace), improving on her second place finish in 2009.On April 11, 2010, FIcker won the Austin Statesman Capitol 10K race for the third year in a row with a time of 35:36 (5:44 minutes/mile pace). On November 7, 2010 she finished 45th in the ING New York City Marathon, in a time of 2:52:30 (6:36 minutes/mile pace).
2011
On February 20, 2011, Ficker won the 20th Austin Marathon in 2:50:35 (6:31/mile), beating the second place finisher Jessica Mike by 11 minutes, 18 seconds. On March 27, 2011 Ficker failed to win her fourth consecutive Austin Statesman Capitol 10K race, finishing fifth with a time of 36:11 (5:50/mile).Personal bests
- Half marathon - 1:14:07 (2007 3M Half Marathon, Austin, Texas)
- Marathon - 2:39:30 (2009 New York City Marathon)