Calvin News

With light rain tumbling down and his three sons running by his side, Calvin College swim coach Dan Gelderloos realized a longtime dream last weekend, completing the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile Michigan Titanium Triathlon in a time just over 12 hours.

Video Interview: Dan Gelderloos reflects on race

Preparing for the race

The triathlon was held at official “Ironman” distance and allowed the 40-year old Gelderloos to achieve a goal he had set his eyes on long ago. “I’ve always wanted to do an Ironman Triathlon (held every year in Hawaii)  but the expense to fly there and do it was too much,” said Gelderloos. “When I found out that there was going to be a local triathlon at the Ironman distance, I heard it calling my name. I’m not getting any younger and with the fact that it was being held in my own back yard, it was time to get going.”

Gelderloos did just that this summer, training arduously for the grueling event that is capped off by a full marathon. A native of Upper Arlington, Ohio, Gelderloos was often seen logging long miles on the bike or on the run through searing temperatures this summer.

”You get used to it (the heat) after awhile,” said Gelderloos, a 1994 Calvin College graduate who has been the head swim coach at his alma mater for the past 16 years. “I think it helped me prepare for the actual race.”

Indeed.

Although the Michigan Titanium Triathlon held in Grand Rapids Township and its northern surrounding townships began in pleasant 60-degree temperatures with the morning swim in Versluis Lake, the weather quickly cranked up into the mid-80’s and later the 90’s during the biking and running portions of the race.

Strong off the blocks 

Gelderloos cruised through the swim portion, finishing first out of the water in 47 minutes before taking about 13 minutes of time to grab a bite to eat and change into his biking gear. One of roughly 100 competitors in the water, Gelderloos was surprised to be in the lead as he closed in on the beach. “I thought I would be in the top group of swimmers but I didn’t expect to be in the lead.  When I looked to my left and saw that I was in the lead, I said ‘alright,’ I’ll take that.”

The smooth swim quickly transitioned into a mind-numbing bike ride that included loops through Greenville and Cedar Springs and then back down through Rockford and into Grand Rapids Township.
                 
“The bike was really tough,” admitted Gelderloos. “It was hot, there were hills and there was a lot of wind. Some of the other guys on the course came up near me and told me it was the toughest bike course they’ve ever been on. When I finished the bike, I wasn’t sure how I would run five miles, let alone an entire marathon.”

Fueled by peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during his changeover from the bike-to-run, Gelderloos found a second wind and began to make his way through the hilly marathon course that enveloped much of Grand River Drive.

“I just kind of waddled along and started to feel my legs again,” he said. “I started talking to some people along the way and started to enjoy myself.  It also helped that the sun went behind the clouds and it cooled off.”

With his wife Vicki snapping photos in rapid fashion, Gelderloos ran the final quarter mile of the race with his three sons, Ryan (13), Will (11) and Luke (8). Together all four crossed the finish line. “I feel a lot better than I thought I would,” said Gelderloos shortly after finishing the race. “To be honest I don’t think I will be doing another one of these (races) but I’m very pleased with the result.”

His official time of 12:00.16 was good for 13^th place overall including fifth in his age group (40-44).  Of the approximate 100 competitors that began the race, only 37 finished the race according to the final on-line results.

When asked how he would translate some of the lessons learned during the competition to his exercise classes and his swim team, Gelderloos was succinct. “I’m planning on getting back into the office tomorrow and writing some notes down,” he said. “In a race like this, you learn to feel. You learn to feel what it’s like to be thirsty, hungry and tired and you learn how to respond to that. I’m hoping to teach some of those things to my students.”