Newton’s Carkhuff to compete in Ironman Triathlon

When first hearing of an Ironman triathlon, Scott Carkhuff thought there was no possibility it could ever be something in which he’d complete. The Ironman triathlon is considered the ultimate triathlon — a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. To become an “Ironman,” participants must finish the triathlon in 17 hours or less.

Carkhuff, a 2002 Newton High School graduate, decided to attempt “the next big thing” after competing in several triathlons, sprints and marathons. The father of two and salesman at Cline Tool spends anywhere from 16-18 hours per week training for the Ironman. But he didn’t always know he wanted to be an endurance athlete. In high school, Carkhuff played basketball and football, but was always getting injured in those sports, he said.

“I got a bike after high school, and discovered I really liked it and really wanted to race,” Carkhuff said. “A little while after that, our YMCA did a small local triathlon and me and a buddy did it, and I just got hooked after that.”

In the past year, Carkhuff competed in about 10 events, he said. He was sponsored by Kyle’s Bikes, a bike shop in Ankeny, and was provided with gear and discounts.

Carkhuff said the endurance training and competing in triathlons is really a hobby, and his passion.

“I am honestly pretty competitive, and I think that is what drives it,” he said. “I just like it; it’s fun. Why do something you don’t like? You have to like it to want to do what I’m doing.”

Before training for the Ironman, Carkhuff had already built up his endurance for a half-Ironman. He has since followed a 20-week-plan leading up to the race. On most mornings, he swims at the YMCA, then bikes or runs for three hours in the evenings, after he is off work. On the weekend, Carkhuff said he will bike on highways for five to six hours.

“I always feel like his drive to train is not just endurance, it’s speed,” Carkhuff’s wife Kylie said. “So he’s got to be fast and be able to endure the fast.”

Carkhuff uses a Garmin, which he said is basically a bicycle computer and GPS that tracks where he’s going, his speed as well as heart rate.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of a triathlon is learning how to fuel throughout the race.

“If you just drink water all day, you’ll die,” Carkhuff said. “You have to figure out what works and how to fuel your body throughout the day so that you can keep going while you’re burning all of that energy. Part of training is your body figuring out what kind of food you can put in it … I call it training your gut.”

The Ironman triathlon has multiple fuel stations throughout the course, and two volunteers per athlete.

Carkhuff said that the aspect of the race he is most anxious for is the swim start, which marks the beginning of the race and features a couple thousand athletes beginning the 2.4 mile swim — kicking, shoving and sometimes punching along the way. Carkhuff said his strength will be “anything out of the water.”

Training in open-water has proven difficult in Newton, but the family has made a few trips to Raccoon River so Carkhuff can prepare for the Ironman.

“If you were to ask me if I think he’s prepared, if I think he can go out and do it tomorrow, I would say yes,” Kylie Carkhuff said.

Everybody is betting on what time Carkhuff will finish the race, although he will not give a definite answer to what his goal time is.

“I don’t want to say how long it will take me because really, anything can happen,” Carkhuff said.

The weekend of Sept. 13, Carkhuff and his family will go to the site of the 2015 Ironman Triathlon in Madison, Wis. His family will be there to cheer him on, and his older daughter will even get to compete in the Ironkids event for children of competitors.

Carkhuff will be wearing a special-designed “kit” — a type of suit he can wear through all of the conditions of the triathlon. The kit will have logos from local business and will be a neon green color, with “Run JWP” on the side, in remembrance of Joe Purvis, a local man who died of cancer last year. Purvis loved running and wanted to get into biking as well, Carkhuff said, and part of his motivation to do the race is in remembrance of Purvis.

“I’m not sure what it will feel like in that moment, but I’m most excited to hear the guy say ‘Scott Carkhuff you’re an Ironman,’” he said. “People have said that to compete in an Ironman, it takes an iron family, and I’m really lucky to have that,” he said.

Carkhuff is grateful for the people and businesses who have supported him: Kyle’s Bikes, Discounttrisupply, Bridgehouse, Cline Tool, El Sombrero, Newton YMCA, First Newton National Bank, Bisom Trucking, Leavens Construction and Terry and Patty Purvis. He also said special thanks are in order for his friends and training partners as well as his wife Kylie and two daughters, Payton and Teagan.

Contact Savannah Eadens at newsroom@newtondailynews.com