Lancaster Native Qualifies For Ironman World Championships
In October 2021, Manheim Township High School graduate and Franklin & Marshall College (F&M) alumnus Cody Kalinowski qualified for the Ironman World Championships to be held in Kona, Hawaii, in October 2022. He did so by placing in one of two open slots in his age group of males 25 to 29 in the Ironman Indiana event.
Kalinowski did his first Ironman in Philadelphia in 2015 and has averaged at least one event a year, plus half Ironmans, since then. In addition to qualifying for the world championships, Kalinowski noted that the event was especially meaningful for two reasons. First, he underwent hip surgery in October of 2020, so completing the race well cemented his recovery. Secondly, Kalinowski recalled that it was the first time he was able to really "race" as opposed to pacing during an event. "I came off the bike at around 10th place overall," he recalled. "I could stick to my race plan or race a little bit and see how far that gets me." He decided to race and was able to go all out until about mile 14 of the running portion.
Full Ironman events require a participant to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles. Kalinowski also likes to do half Ironmans. He completed the 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in St. George, Utah, a few weeks prior to the Indiana event. "I was 300th of about 2,500 (overall)," he said of the Utah event. "I had a good day."
Kalinowski is often asked about how he finds time to train for such feats while working full time at Eurofins in Leola. "At points throughout the year, I will spend 12 to 24 hours a week training," he admitted. "In a typical week over the summer, I might do 200 to 250 miles on the bike, 40 to 50 miles running, and swim 8,000 yards." Finding time to train is something Kalinowski feels passionate about. "I think people are capable of a lot more than they realize," he said. "If you can carve out 10 hours a week, you can put together something you might not be able to do otherwise." He noted that most people have 30 minutes a day they could utilize. "Everyone has the time ... (although) that might result in spending a little less time in front of the television."
Kalinowski said that training with others offers accountability. "Lancaster has quietly been building a really great endurance sports community," he noted, saying that he runs with the F&M Track Club, led by Dr. Jeff Kirchner, which meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m., and includes about 100 runners. He also bicycles with the West End Riders, a local group of several dozen in part led by Jason Cavallaro.
Kalinowski feels strongly that there are positive benefits from taking part in triathlons, and he does not mean just the physical benefits. "It's extremely important to me to encourage others because I think sport can be a positive driver (to) make them better in aspects of their lives outside sports," he said. "I'm a very firm believer that most people are capable of a lot more than they think they are, and doing something you didn't think was possible is an extremely powerful thing for a person."
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