Completing a swim, bike and run in a triathlon punishment enough. To be a champion long-distance triathlete is almost beyond imagination.
But a Langford husband and wife team have broken into the rarified world of elite level triathletes and are competing against the best in the world.
Heather Wurtele, 28, a molecular biologist at Pacific Forestry Centre, turned pro last year and took first at Victoria’s New Balance triathlon at Elk Lake. Trevor Wurtele, 29, a foreign currency analyst, turned pro this year at the Wildflower triathlon in California.
Both took to triathlons only four years ago, but both were keen athletes already. Heather was a varsity rower for the University of British Columbia and at 6’2” had a natural frame for athletics. Trevor spent five years as a top Canadian junior cyclist and competed with U-23 teams in France and Italy.
They began entering Mind Over Mountain Adventure Racing events — kayaking, mountain biking and trail running — but found orienteering through a hilly forests frustrating.
“We would be ahead and would get lost,” Heather says laughing. “We wanted something with a distinct start and finish, where the winner isn’t the one who can find their way on a map.”
Long-course triathlons were right up their alley and they fast became competitive amateurs. Typically they enter half-Ironman or Ironman distance events —3.9 kilometre swim, 180 km bike and 42.2 km run. Olympic distance is shorter, with a 1500m swim, 40 km bike and 10 km run.
“I like the aerobic challenge, the mental challenge,” Heather says. “To be an Olympic-distance triathlete you have to be incredibly fast. For the long-course triathlon it’s about strength. My physique can go fast for a long time.”
In 2006, Heather came out of nowhere to take the New Balance Half-Iron in Victoria in 4:35, setting a new course record, beating Ironman champion Lori Bowden and taking the Canadian long-distance championship. It was a massive upset that stunned the triathlon community.
Trevor too roared out of the gates in 2005, making respectable times at Ironman events in France and Canada at slightly more than 11 hours. He came in third for his age group at 2006 Ironman Canada (9:44) in Penticton and first for his age group at the New Balance Half-Iron (4:18).
“Penticton was a breakthrough Ironman for me. Past Ironmans I had difficulty in the last 10 km of the run, but I held steady the whole way,” Trevor says. “I figured out nutrition issues and pacing issues.”
Deep into triathlon competitions, they even spent their honeymoon at the 2006 Hawaii Ironman, the world’s premier long-distance triathlon event.
“We did the race as a honeymoon, but planning a wedding is not the best pre-Ironman training,” Heather says.
Heather began competing in the elite the next year but ran into trouble at Ironman in Penticton. Second off the bike and heading into the run, her eyesight started getting blurry. Apparently wind turbulence from her cycling aero-helmet caused corneal abrasions, which quickly healed, Heather says. In the moment she feared she was going blind and medical crews recommended dropping out.
“I didn’t know what was happening. It was a random thing,” she says. “Ironman is a long day and anything can happen.”
Both are quick to point out they are “pro” in name only — sponsorship for up-and-coming triathletes is thin. Triathlon can be an expensive sport. Wurtele’s pay out of their own pocket for their $5,000 road bikes, travel costs and other gear.
Heather hopes her fifth place showing (4:45) at the gruelling Wildflower Half-Iron will start catching the eye of corporate sponsors. Trevor took 20th (4:25) in a deep field of professionals.
“A 4:25 time would normally put you in the top 10. Five of the guys were in the top 10 in the world,” Trevor says. “To be on the start line with those guys gives an idea of what you need to get to that level.”
These days the majority of their non-work hours are dedicated to training for upcoming events, such as the Coeur d’Alene Ironman in Idaho, June 22. They push each other out on the road and water, biking and swimming together. They tend to run separately, but they have a healthy competition to rack-up training miles.
“I wear a white lab coat during the day, the rest of the time I’m riding, running or swimming,” Heather says.
Leaning up to big events the Wurtele’s might put in more than 25 hours of training per week — cycling more than 400 km, swimming 4,000 m at a time and running marathon stretches. This on top of full-time jobs.
Still, to be competitive at the top of the elite, Trevor says they would have to train full time, a prospect they are considering. Trevor says they are working on a plan to earn enough income to afford them constant training in the U.S. Both are aiming for first at Ironman Hawaii, the holy grail for triathletes.
“My goal would be to win the Ironman world championships,” Heather says. “My ultimate goal would be able to make a living as a real professional athlete.”
To read more about Heather and Trevor check out their website at www.fyzz.ca
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Local triathletes, Heather and Trevor Wurtele, were featured in the Goldstream Gazette this morning. Heather and Trevor are fresh off the Boise 70.3 Half-Ironman where Heather finished 3rd overall and Trevor finished 9th overall in the womens and mens pro divisions. Frontrunners Westshore has proud to support Heather and Trevor for the past season and wish them the best of luck in their next race, The Lake Stevens 70.3 Half-Ironman. Read the Goldstream Gazette article below.
