Denver Woman's Life Essentially Saved By Participating In Triathlon

DENVER (CBS4) - During a triathlon to benefit breast cancer a Denver woman got a devastating diagnosis. One year later she came back to run the same race.

Kit Hovey competed in Tri for the Cure on Sunday, a women's sprint distance triathlon the 69-year-old is very familiar with.

"I've got a fair drive and I'm adventurous," Hovey said.

It's a race that in way saved her life. Last year at the start Hovey noticed problems swimming and had to be pulled from the waters.

"At the paramedic tent they said, 'We can hear some fluid in your lungs, did you inhale swallow some water?' I'm like, 'No,' " Hovey said.

On site paramedics eventually took her to the hospital where doctors found out what was wrong.

"They could see a growth on my aortic valve. So they said it was the size of a blueberry."

Hovey needed it removed right away.

"So then they did open heart surgery."

Over the next few months as Hovey recovered she says she took in one day at a time, walking a little farther each day from a few minutes up to an hour. Now just shy of her 70th birthday she came back to take on her sixth triathlon -- a 5-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run.

"I just really wanted to do it and finish it and see what kind of time I could get."

Sunday morning Hovey made it through nearly half the race but unfortunately felt short of breath. Doctors decided to pull her out of the competition. She hopes to try again next year.