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Novice to Ironman: Cathi Koehler’s 40-Year Triathlon Journey
There are stories all around us. We just have to stop for a moment to listen to them. This story about Cathi Koehler’s journey in triathlon is as inspiring and enduring as any other. The difference is that it may be longer because her triathlon lifestyle journey has spanned four decades. Cathi’s journey from a novice athlete to a seven-time Ironman finisher is about lifestyle and a desire to consistently show up. Her story not only highlights the physical challenges of triathlon but also showcases how the sport can shape one’s entire approach to life.
The Beginning of a Lifelong Passion
Cathi’s triathlon journey began in 1983, at a time when the sport was still in its infancy. “I got started in 1983, and so I’ve been racing nearly every single year since I started,” Cathi recalls. Her introduction to the sport came through a friend who recognized her potential based on her existing swimming, biking, and running abilities.
The triathlon landscape was vastly different back then. Cathi remembers her first race vividly: “For $40, we got a cocktail party on Friday night, we got the swim preview on Saturday, we got a barbecue chicken dinner Saturday night, we got the race, a bar-b-que party after the race, and then a party, like two parties after the race for $40.” Today, a $40 entry is hard to find especially if you are also looking for swag.
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Triathlon didn’t just offer Cathi a new athletic pursuit; it also provided a healthy outlet for personal struggles. She candidly shares, “I developed anorexia when I was in high school and I had bouts of it. Triathlon seemed to keep my weight in check all the time, so I used it as a way to help me deal with my anorexia.”
While Cathi acknowledges that her relationship with food and body image remains complex, triathlon has given her a focus beyond these challenges. “Triathlon can do some really strange things to your brain. A notion of staying thin, then when you start winning. That can begin the negative spiral. It’s dangerous for me in some respects, but it also gives me a goal. It is a complex relationship but one that I can acknowledge and work with,” she explains.
The Impact of Title IX
As a woman who started her athletic lifestyle journey before the implementation of Title IX, Cathi has witnessed firsthand the transformation in women’s sports participation. She reflects on her high school experience: “When I was in high school, a friend of mine and I tried to get on the boys track team, and they told us, it was only boys. They said to us, ‘Well, you can train with us, but you can never compete with the boys.'”
The contrast with today’s landscape is stark. Cathi is now involved with USA Triathlon and sees the growing opportunities for women in the sport. “We’ve been trying to get more and more youth and women involved in the sport, because women are about a third of the participants and we want that number to increase,” she notes.
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The Camaraderie of Competition
One of the aspects of triathlon that has kept Cathi engaged for so long is the unique blend of competition and camaraderie. She describes the dynamic with her training partners and competitors: “My really good friend that I train with, she and I just have fun with our competition. All the time she beats me out of the water. I can never beat her in the water. That doesn’t happen. So I’m always on the catch-up side of things. Sometimes I can beat her, sometimes I can’t.”
This friendly rivalry extends to races as well. Cathi takes pride in seeing younger athletes succeed, even when it means they beat her. “I’m glad they’re beating me because I hate it when I go to a race and I’m in the top five, because, you know, 67-year-old women should not be winning races,” she says with a laugh.
The Ironman Experience
Cathi’s triathlon journey and lifestyle in the sport has taken her to the pinnacle: the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. She has completed seven Ironman races, including two appearances at Kona. Her first Ironman experience came after watching Julie Moss’s famous crawl across the finish line in the 1986 televised broadcast of the event.
“Crossing that finish line was like nothing else that you’ve ever experienced,” Cathi says of her first Kona finish. “You would think that you would be tired. You’re not tired. but you are jazzed. Absolutely jazzed because you just did something that was a dream. Oh,.and you’re hungry. I was really hungry.”
Advice for Newcomers and Veterans
With four decades of experience, Cathi offers valuable advice for both newcomers to the sport and those looking to reignite their passion:
- Get a Coach: “I would suggest hiring a coach because they can bring you through everything. They can bring you through nutrition. They can bring you through workouts.”
- Focus on Transitions: “Get to know transition. That’s another piece of advice, because races are won and lost in transition. You can make up more time in transition than you can [elsewhere].”
- Make it a Lifestyle: “Whatever you do in life, make it your lifestyle. Because when it becomes your lifestyle, it becomes part of you and then you will continue it.”
The Lasting Impact of Triathlon
For Cathi, triathlon is more than just a sport; it’s a metaphor for life. “What triathlon has taught me is that I have control,” she reflects. This mindset has helped her achieve goals beyond the race course, including earning her Ph.D. “I got my Ph.D. because I knew if I could do an Ironman, nothing is harder than that. What’s a Ph.D.? It’s just swim, bike, run.”
As Cathi looks towards the future, she continues to set goals and inspire others. Her passion for the sport remains as strong as ever. Cathi’s story shows us how endurance sports can impact our lives. From overcoming personal challenges to breaking barriers for women in athletics, Cathi Koehler’s 40-year triathlon journey is an excellent example of a lifestyle becoming the spirit of the everyday athlete.
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