Triathlons become a way of life

For most people, completing a 140.6-mile triathlon is considered, among other things, plain crazy. But for those who will be at the start line for today’s Ironman Arizona, it’s just a way of life.

“It gets in your blood, you know?” said Scottsdale resident Marc Rubin, a co-founder of the Tri-Scottsdale Club. “It just becomes a part of you.”

Participants from nearly every state and more than 30 countries are scheduled to compete in today’s sixth event — which features a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run — held in Tempe and the surrounding area.

For many of these athletes, it will not be their first Ironman event.

“I never thought of it before, but I guess you don’t run into many people who do just one Ironman and then that’s it,” said Mary Knott, a 32-year-old Gilbert resident. “I think it comes down to the experience you have in the first one. If you have a bad experience you might call it quits.”

Knott has caught the bug and doesn’t see an end in sight.

Sunday will be her third race in Arizona and she has also done events in Madison, Wis., and Cour d’Alene, Idaho.

She and her husband both compete in Ironman races, and having another person who understands how much time it takes to train is a huge plus.

“We can relate to each other, and help each other get through those 20-hour training weeks,” said Knott, who completed Ironman Wisconsin just 10 weeks ago. “I think we just feed off the endorphin rush. When we don’t get a workout in you can tell because we’re kind of cranky. At least I am.”

Scottsdale’s Jeff Bassett has completed each of the previous five local events (Ironman Arizona was originally held in April before moving to November last year in which two events were held). He also competed in at the world championships in Kona, Hawaii, just six weeks ago.

Bassett said the Ironman allure for him was earning a qualifying spot into the world championship. He said he’s doing today’s race just to enjoy the day.

“It will be nice to not have the stress of trying to race hard to earn that qualification spot,” said Bassett, who was the top Arizona amateur finisher in Hawaii. “I’m hoping to enjoy the day. Or at least enjoy an Ironman day as much as you can. You still have to cover 140 miles.”

Rubin also earned a qualifying spot into this year’s world championship, but had what he described as a “nightmare of a day.”

“So I still have that carrot dangling out there,” said Rubin, who has also competed in Germany and New Zealand this year. “I want to get back. I have some unfinished business in Kona.”

Bassett said he continues his Ironman lifestyle because, well, maybe even he doesn’t really know.

“I’ve asked myself that a few times lately,” he said with a giggle. “I think it just gets in you. It’s always a challenge. You can always get better at one of the events, but when you do that, one of the others suffer. You can never perfect them all.”

Rubin said Ironman will probably always be a part of his life.

“I like to be a role model for my kids and others,” said Rubin, who started doing triathlons to lose weight and has finished an Ironman in less than 10 hours. “Promoting a healthy lifestyle and fitness is what this is all about.”

Ironman Arizona
What: 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run
When: Professionals begin at 6:50 a.m.; all other runners start at 7 a.m.
Where: Tempe Beach Park
Who: More than 60 professionals and nearly 2,900 amateurs are competing for a $50,000 purse and 72 qualifying spots to the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailuna-Kona, Hawaii.