Bob Hepler headed for sixth Ironman Machias man last did Hawaii event in ’98

Even to seasoned runners, the things Bob Hepler is willing to endure probably seem to border on the extreme.

Like the time in early June when the Machias 40-year-old decided he wanted to supplement his triathlon training by combining a good, hard cycle with a nice, brisk road race.

He hopped on his bike, pedaled the 40 miles to Pembroke … then won the Cobscook Bay 10K.

“That’s just a way to get used to running hard after a fairly hard bike,” Hepler said with a chuckle.

Actually, Hepler planned to ride his bike home, too. The combination of some mechanical difficulties and a downpour inspired him to accept a ride after “only” 10 miles of cycling.

On Oct. 19, Hepler will put all his hard training to the test, as he competes in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The race, which combines a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a full 26.2-mile marathon run, will mark Hepler’s sixth trip to Hawaii for the world championship.

Hepler, who is the director of athletics and the Center for Lifelong Learning at the University of Maine-Machias, moved to Maine three years ago. He competed in the event each year from 1994-98.

“This will be the first year since I’ve moved to Maine that I’ve had the time and been able to focus and gone to the qualifying race,” Hepler said. “The first time since 1998. I had to transition to my new life here [after moving from California], and my wife and I have a 1-year-old.”

Hepler earned his berth among about 1,500 other competitors in Hawaii at a race in Cambridge, Md., one of several qualifying events.

Hepler, who says he was among the top 50 or so triathletes in the nation at one time, finished 28th in a field of 1,700 in Maryland.

But that race, Hepler points out, was a half-Ironman, with athletes facing a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run.

While he has completed the Hawaii course in an outstanding 10 hours, 2 minutes, he admits the longer distance isn’t his specialty.

“For some reason, my physical makeup, I can push myself all-out for 4 to 41/2 hours, but after that it kind of goes downhill,” Hepler said.

Add in the conditions on the big island of Hawaii, and athletes face a grueling test of their endurance.

The temperatures are typically around 90, with 90 percent relative humidity. Wind gusts of 50 mph or more aren’t uncommon on a highway that runs through lava fields.

Hepler, who swam and played water polo for two years at San Jose State and who has been competing in triathlons for 14 years, said that his previous five Ironman trips have helped him learn to beat the heat.

“At every aid station, which is every mile during the run, I fill up my hat with ice and fill up my running shorts with ice,” he said.

Hepler said that when he moved to Maine, he figured he’d give up triathlons. Now he’s amazed at the number of people who take the time to ask him about his training.

“It’s just so much more friendly here than in Southern California,” Hepler said. “The whole town has been really supportive of me. People honk and wave when they see me on the bike or running. They’ll stop and roll along at whatever speed I’m going and ask how I’m doing.

“It’s been vastly different from anywhere else I’ve been.”

Finishing kick: Runners have a few racing options this holiday weekend, including one of the state’s oldest tests.

On Friday, the Maine Running Hall of Fame 5K is set for Portland.

On Monday, the 40th Bangor Labor Day 5-miler will be held at 9 a.m. Registration will be staged at the Bangor Parks and Recreation building on Main Street. Also Monday, the Caribou Labor Day Viking Run/Walk/8K is on tap. The Viking run is set for 9 a.m., the walk will be held at 10:30 and the 8K starts at 11. All begin at Caribou High School.