Tackling the tri
Hy-Vee Triathlon returns bigger and better
By Jared Curtis
Caleb Pike opens his eyes and peers at his alarm clock. It reads 4 a.m., time for him to leave his fiancé and their warm bed to train. Pike rises early so he can get back in time to enjoy breakfast with his family before his workday begins. He can hear the wind whipping the tree branches as he laces up his ASICS running shoes. It’s miserably cold even with numerous layers of clothes on. He knows windburn is a given. But even though the roads are desolate and the sweat begins to freeze as it rolls down his face, Pike knows it’ll all be worth it once he crosses the finishing line in four months at the Hy-Vee Triathlon.
In only its fourth year, the Hy-Vee Triathlon, June 11-13, has established itself as one of the premier athletic events in the Midwest. Last year, the event brought in 1,600 participants, and officials report it surpassed the 2,000 mark in late May. The event features amateur and professional athletes swimming, biking and running numerous distances.
“We set the participant cap at 3,000, but this could be a record year for us,” said Ruth Comer, assistant vice president of media relations. “And with attendance being free, we estimate 28,000 to 30,000 in attendance over the three days.”
The big draw of the weekend is the Hy-Vee ITU Elite Cup events. Each race features 65 men and 65 women representing 20 countries. Athletes earn points toward World Ranking, and the race is an Olympic qualifying event for respective federations. Not only do the athletes earn points toward their Olympic dreams, but the event offers a $1 million prize — the world’s richest triathlon purse — to the victor.
The event draws a number of world competitors including Alistair Brownlee (2009 World Champion, Great Britain), Simon Whitfield (2009 Hy-Vee Triathlon winner, 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 12-time World Cup winner) Bevan Docherty (winner of the 2010 Sidney World Cup, currently ranked No. 2 in the world) and Alexander Brukhankov (currently ranked No. 1 in the world, runner-up at 2010 Sidney World Cup) in the men’s event. Woman competing for the title include Barbara Riveros Diaz (currently ranked No. 1 in the world, winner of the 2010 Sidney World Cup), Emma Moffatt (currently ranked No. 2 in the world, 2009 Hy-Vee Champion) and Daniela Rfy (currently ranked No. 4 in the world, 2008 U23 World Champion).
“We have a number of world class athletes competing, but we also have many U.S. athletes as well,” said Comer. “Hunter Kemper and Sarah Haskins are always ones to look out for, and this year we have a couple of Iowans competing as well — Nathan White and T.J. Tollakson.”
The Hy-Vee ITU Elite Cup is the only point’s race in North America, which only adds to the popularity of the event.
“It’s a great chance for fans to see world class athletes compete,” Comer said. “And after only three years, we are already internationally known in the track and field world.”
Although the event draws a massive audience, one of Hy-Vee’s goals for this year’s event was to create more of a family environment, allowing parents and children to spend the entire day at Raccoon River Park.
“We’re really excited about expanding the Kids Triathlon this year,” Comer said. “We have seen a great jump in registration, and hopefully we’ll have a record year.”
The Hy-Vee Kids Triathlon introduces the three-sport event to children ages 5 to 12. Each age bracket (5 to 6, 7 to 9, 10 to 12) will have different levels of competition.
“It’s exciting to see so many kids signing up for the event. It’s a great way to promote healthy lifestyles,” Comers said.
Along with the Kids Triathlon, a Youth and Junior Triathlon (ages 13 to 17) will be offered for the first time.
“We didn’t have this before, so it’s nice to offer an event to that age bracket,” Comer said. “Other events offer kids’ races, but they don’t focus on it like we do. Plus it’s fun to see the kids so excited about competing. ”
Along with all the youth-featured races, the event also offers a wide variety of fun to keep kids entertained and active. PepsiCo is sponsoring the PepsiCo Stage, which features an emcee entertaining the crowd with fun, interactive games, distributing premium items and playing music throughout the day. Local celebrity and Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson will be on hand giving out awards and medals on Saturday, June 12. And if football is more of interest to you than competing in a triathlon, the PepsiCo Minicamp Football Experience has you covered. The camp, which is regularly set up at the Superbowl, offers contestants a chance to test their skills against some of the NFL’s top players in 40-yard dash time, vertical jump, shuttle run, precision throwing, field goals and bungee run.
“We have really expanded the entertainment this year, and the Hy-Vee Triathlon was named one of the ‘five most family friendly triathlons in the world’ by Triathlete Magazine,” Comer said.
Along with handling the massive task of media relations for the event, Comer is also competing this year as part of one of the Hy-Vee Triathlon teams.
“Hy-Vee has more than 130 employees participating this year as part of teams or competing as individuals,” she said. “It just made sense that we competed. We have been training together, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
The Hy-Vee Triathlon is in a league all its own and offers locals an up close and personal look at some of the most talented and dedicated athletes from all over the world.
“Triathlons as a sport is the one of the fastest growing participation sports out there,” Comer said. “The event has taken hold, and the popularity continues to spread. Not only do spectators get to see world class athletes, but the amateurs competing get to experience something amazing.”
Along with all the fun for kids and the ITU Elite Cup, local athletes get their shot at the course early Sunday morning. Amateur athletes can compete solo or as a team. Among them are three athletes from different backgrounds, but all with the same goal in mind — finishing.
The Fighter
Competing in her first Hy-Vee Triathlon, Bonni Newton is like a lot of people. She had a goal in mind to compete in the Hy-Vee Triathlon, worked hard toward it and looks forward to fulfilling that goal. But Newton also has a daily fight she deals with that is much tougher than competing in a race — she is battling Follicular
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
“In 2003, I had thought about getting back on a bike, so my husband, Ken, bought me a road bike,” Newton said. “But then I was diagnosed. It wasn’t until later that year, after my surgery that I was able to get back on a bike.”
As they say, the strong rise out of the fire, and that’s exactly what Newton has done. Although her cancer is incurable, it has been in remission since 2005.
“I started the treatment in 2003, and they told me I only had 10 years to live,” she said. “Although it is not curable, it’s very treatable and not aggressive. Sometimes I think I’m one of the lucky ones; sometimes I think I’m not.”
Newton climbed back on the bike of life and hit the road. She began working with Team In Training and hasn’t stopped pedaling since.
“Team In Training has been an immensely supportive group and helped me in more ways than I can imagine,” Newton said.
Team In Training (TNT) began in 1988 and has grown into the world’s largest endurance sports training program. With more than 40,000 runners, walkers, cyclists, hikers and triathletes who will participate in the world’s major marathons, triathlons, hiking adventures and century rides, Team In Training helps raise money on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
“The year after I joined Team In Training, I decided to ride the Tahoe Century Ride (100 miles). I had never rode a distance like that, but I rode with more than 3,000 people, and for my first organized ride, it was a great experience. Plus it was a very emotional because I rode with a lot of people who had lost someone to the disease. I ended up crying at the end, but it was very therapeutic.”
From then on, Newton has been hooked on cycling.
“I ride about five times a week, up to 35 miles a day,” she said. “I have a lot of friends who ride and I’m part of the Wild Woman Bike Club, and we have two us competing the triathlon this year.”
When the idea of competing in the Hy-Vee Triathlon came about, Newton knew she could ride it but wasn’t sure about the other two legs of the race.
“From process of elimination, I decided I would do the cycling part because I don’t like to run or swim,” she laughs. “My daughter, Andrea, is swimming for me, and one my Bridge partners is taking care of the running section.”
Newton has mixed emotions about the upcoming event.
“I’m scared, but I’m also excited.” She is looking forward to competing in such a prestige event.
“It’s fun to prepare because of the anticipation, but there is nothing like pushing past your comfort zone and having that feeling thst you can do whatever you want as long as you put your mind to it,” she said. “My goal is to finish, but it’s also to push myself to compete in all three events in the future.
“It’s tough to plan ahead when you have cancer, but you can never give up,” she said. “You always have to have something on the horizon you’re looking forward to, and you always have to push yourself and strive to achieve your goals.”
The Life Changer
Whenever someone becomes a parent for the first time, his or her life automatically changes. The same can be said for Caleb Pike. After his daughter, Cadence, was born, Pike knew he had to make some lifestyle adjustments. At the time he weighed nearly 290 pounds and knew if he wanted to keep up with his extremely active daughter, that a change was going to have to be made.
“My fiancé, Nicole, and I started working out at a gym to become healthier,” he said. “Five months after we had finished our program, we decided to compete in the Des Moines Half Marathon. It was really fun and even though we didn’t break any records, we finished, which was the most important part.”
As soon as Pike had finished the half marathon, he was hooked.
“I wanted to try everything I could. I figured out what I wanted to do next and set another goal,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to work towards something, rather than just saying you’re going to train.”
Pike began running 20 miles a week, and, over time, dropped more than 100 pounds. His interest of competing in the Hy-Vee Triathlon came about after watching an athlete almost 40 years older than him competing in the Ironman World Championships.
“Just seeing people push themselves to the limit made me know I could do it,” he says. “They showed a woman who was 75 years old. If she could do it, then I could do it.”
Pike signed up for swim and spin classes to help him prepare for his next goal — The Hy-Vee Triathlon.
“I have been training since January. I get up about 4 a.m. every day and go to the gym. I swim once a week, bike four days a week and run three days a week,” he said. “I’m trying to do a lot of different events leading up to the Hy-Vee Triathlon.”
Since he started working out, Pike has competed in 15 different events including the Oklahoma City Half-Marathon Memorial Run, the Mud Run at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park and the Summer Daze Triathlon in Newton. He says of all the events, the triathlons are the most challenging.
“A triathlon is a whole different kind of beast. It’s not just running, swimming and biking. You have to be able to transition from one to another, which is tough.”
Now weighing 175 pounds, Pike is looking forward to tackling the Hy-Vee Triathlon this weekend.
“It’s the big event of the summer, and I knew I wanted to take on the challenge,” he said. “I’m working with Team In Training to help raise money for cancer research, and I’ve also been training with the Altoona Triathlon Club, which has been a ton of help.”
Although this is his first time participating in the Hy-Vee Triathlon, Pike isn’t worried about his performance.
“I’m anxious and ready to do it. It’s going to be a blast and I’m excited to not only be a part of it, but also see all of it happen,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the professionals compete, because they are on a whole other level.”
Although Pike stays busy with his family, work and school, he still has time to train and looks forward to finishing the Hy-Vee Triathlon and moving on to bigger obstacles.
“My next goal is to compete in an Ironman, but that is still a few years away. I’m looking forward to the Chicago Marathon,” he said. “Determination is the biggest key. That and setting a goal and letting people know about it so you can be held accountable.”
What started as a lifestyle change for Pike has changed his outlook on life completely. Both he and Nicole continue to strive to be the best they can be for not only Cadence, but for themselves.
“Last year my goal was just to finish something. This year my goal is not only finishing, but also performing at a level I never expected from myself. It feels really good,” he said.
The Ironman
For most people, competing in the Hy-Vee Triathlon is a goal all in itself. But for Jason Bernstein, president of the Altoona Triathlon Club, the Hy-Vee Triathlon, is just the next challenge in his preparation to compete in an Ironman event.
“This is my second year competing in the Hy-Vee Triathlon, and this will be my wife’s fourth time,” said Bernstein, who is also a firefighter. “I got involved in triathlons about seven years ago as a result of my wife competing in them. She started training to lose baby weight, and I looked at the success she is having and thought I could do it as well. We have been participating in them ever since.”
Jason describes himself and his wife, Kerrie, as “fitness fanatics.” They are extremely active from training for triathlons to cross training and rock climbing. When Bernstein started competing he was averaging nine to 10 events a season, but has slowed down to two to three events a year, focusing on more events he likes to participate in.
“The triathlon lifestyle and community is so welcoming, and Hy-Vee has done an amazing job with the event,” he said.
Bernstein helped found the Altoona Triathlon Club almost a year-and-a-half ago to not only keep his family healthy but to help spread the enthusiasm to other families in the greater metro area.
“We looked at other clubs and what they had to offer. We wanted to be more family and newbie orientated. A family that trains together is very well rounded,” he said. “Plus there is great camaraderie at these events, and you meet people from all over the world.”
Bernstein is excited for the Hy-Vee Triathlon and all it offers.
“It’s such a positive environment and a really neat experience,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, and you get to be physically active on the course. It’s a testament to the event that if you stay focused and positive, you can accomplish a lot of things.”
Jason and Kerrie are not the only family members participating, as their 8-year-old son, Conor, will also. He has been competing in Triathlons since he was 5.
“We encourage our kids and never make them do anything they don’t want to do,” Jason said. “Connor has three races he wants to do this summer, and he always races with a smile.”
As soon as Bernstein finishes the Hy-Vee Triathlon, he sights will be set on his next challenge — completing a full Ironman event later this year.
“I raced a half-Ironman in April and didn’t quite accomplish my goal, but I did finish the race,” he says. “I have been training 20 hours a week since January. It’s great preparation for the triathlon and has helped me build mental toughness.”
Although participating in an Ironman is part of Bernstein’s big picture, it’s events like the Hy-Vee Triathlon that keep him hungry for competition.
“If you stay positive and focused, you can accomplish a lot of things and improve your quality of life. And you’ll never find a more encouraging event than the triathlon,” he says. “No matter what shape or condition you’re in, someone is always there encouraging you to finish.” CV
