Ironman Reflections

I first started triathlons while in the seminary in order to rehabilitate after a knee surgery and I completed three short triathlons before ordination in June of 1989. After ordination I did not participate in triathlons for 10 years, when, in 1999, a couple years after becoming a pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe near El Sereno, I re-entered the triathlon world. In 2001 I completed my first full Ironman which includes 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. After doing that Ironman, my goal became making it to Hawaii where Ironman started and where the World Championship occurs each October. In order to compete in Hawaii however, you must qualify or get entrance through a lottery of 200 slots. For the next 10 years I pushed and tried to qualify, finally getting in through a lottery selection in 2012. That year, 2012, was my last year of full Ironman, and having competed in Hawaii, I felt I was done with that distance.

In August 2021 I was notified that an Ironman was going to Alaska. I’ve always wanted to spend substantial time in Alaska so I signed up, realizing I would then be committed to going to Alaska. The time in Alaska was incredible: the open space, the wildlife, the glaciers and the snow-capped mountains were amazing.

I went to Alaska Ironman well-prepared, but the marathon was a question mark as I had not completed a marathon since 2012. Race week was exciting, but the downside was the “atmospheric river” moving through Alaska. I checked in on Thursday and prayed that race day would not be raining for the start. On Saturday I checked in my bike and gear bags (gear bags are two different bags: one for my bike gear and the other my run gear) and it rained pretty hard most of the day.

I awoke early on Sunday race day to grey and overcast skies but not rain. After getting into my wet suit and going down to the swim start, we were informed the swim was being shortened (from 2.4 miles to 1.2 miles) because the water temperature was only 56 degrees. The start of the race was delayed half an hour and then it was time for a brisk morning swim. I completed the swim in a time of 41.53 and then headed to transition. After retrieving my bike gear bag, I went to the changing tent and readied for the bike. It wasn’t raining at the start, but quite cold (mid-fifties) and I wore long sleeve base layer under my race jersey along with gloves and a beanie. The 112-mile ride was up Glacier Hwy almost 30 miles, then looped back and repeated. It was off-and-on rain, sometimes raining quite hard. The route had over 5,000 feet of climbing and the return route also included a head wind. I prayed the rosary four times - Joyful Mysteries on the first leg out, the Luminous Mysteries on the return, the Sorrowful Mysteries on the second leg out and the Glorious Mysteries on the final return. So many people were included throughout this prayer time, as each rosary took over an hour to pray. I thought of the Mass times and the people who attend specific Masses and lifted you all up in prayer. Truly it was wonderful time praying for you all and enjoying the incredible beauty of Alaska. After nearly 7 1/2 hours I finished the bike (time was 7:28:43 at a speed of 15 mph) and entered transition. I retrieved my run gear, changed, and then started the course. Like the ride, the weather was still cold with off-and-on rain, sometimes quite hard. The run was a two-loop course and I stayed in a comfortable zone throughout, running every mile while walking each aid station. Aid stations are about every mile and include a variety of nutritional items, drinks and even chicken broth. The chicken broth was great because of its saltiness and warmth, and it helps settle the stomach which has issues with all the use of sweet nutritional foods and drinks throughout the day. I finished the marathon in a time of 5:23:55 at a pace of 12.28 min/mile. As I crossed the finish line the voice of Ironman, Mike Riley, could be heard saying: “63-year-old Fr. Tom Baker, you are an Ironman!”


Wow, after 10 years this old body can still perform, and I completed my 15th full Ironman. “I can do all things in Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13) and “keep your eyes fixed on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) are my mantras. I perform, I push forward, I complete, because I keep my eyes on Him and can do all through Him. Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. Thank you to all who gave cards of support before I left for this journey. Thank you to all who took time to watch some of the race on the Ironman tracking app and all who send congratulatory notes after I finished. I felt such a wonderful sense of accomplishment and I was proud you were part of it. Blessings and love.

Fr. Tom

Click here to view Fr. Tom’s Ironman Finish in 14:08:22.