The Ironman Triathlon does not get its name for nothing.
A grueling competition involving a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon to top it off, the Ford Ironman World Championships is a real test of endurance.
Nursing senior Eric Bowles not only finished the race, but his record - 10 hours, 6 minutes - earned him first place in the 18 to 24 age group in the Louisville qualifying round.
On Oct. 13, he will be one of 1,700 taking part in the championship round in Kona, Hawaii.
Bowles sat down with The Daily Pennsylvanian to discuss his athleticism, love for sports and why ranking in the top 10 is good enough.
The Daily Pennsylvanian: So how do you feel about qualifying for the competition?
Eric Bowles: Good! It was my goal, so I've been training for this race since December last year. It's definitely been a long time coming.
DP: How are you preparing yourself for the championship?
EB: I do two sports a day, for at least an hour each. For instance, this morning I swam for an hour and after this meeting, I'll go bike for an hour and a half.
DP: What were some of the main challenges?
EB: The most important and toughest challenge was managing my schedule between school and doing this and having a job. That was a lot to balance.
The other biggest challenge was keeping motivated. It was eight months of training without seeing any real reward, so that's pretty tough to do.
DP: What is your goal for the upcoming competition?
EB: I hope to get top 10 in my age group.
DP: Did you want to give up at any point during the race?
EB: During the bike [race], you want to give up just because it's five, six hours on a bike. And that's a long time in the heat. And then by the time you get to the marathon, it doesn't seem so bad - at least to me, it doesn't.
DP: Has sports always been an important aspect of your life?
EB: I've run since I was 12, so racing's been a big part of my life. I just couldn't manage track with my schedule. I needed to find a new way to race that wasn't a part of a team.
DP: So would you say you are more excited or nervous about the championships?
EB: Oh, I'm definitely excited. There is nothing to lose at this point since I've already made it there. It'll be a lot of fun. I'll get to spend my fall break in Hawaii and just enjoy myself.
DP: What is the most enjoyable aspect of taking part in this?
EB: Looking back on it afterward, knowing that you did it is definitely cool. I'm still digesting it.
