Gerry Halphen

Coach: Matt Russ

Age: 39

Personal: Perhaps not surprisingly given my genetic predisposition of Cajun French and German ancestry, but throughout my life, I have always sought out and reveled in difficult challenges, especially if others have told me that I can't or shouldn't. Somehow, the harder the task or the loftier the goal, the more I want to go after it. Despite the prevailing sentiment these days of avoiding pain and suffering, I believe there is much value to be found in the sweet feeling of what I call 'purposeful suffering.'

A lifelong interest in sports has followed me since I was three years old in Baton Rouge, LA, growing up convinced that I was going to play both football and basketball for LSU. While my body never really caught up to those childhood dreams, I did enjoy a diverse athletic childhood, participating in such varied sports as basketball, football, track, cross-country, and finally, wrestling.

Throughout my college years at Georgetown University and my time in the Army as an aviation officer and helicopter pilot, running became my fitness outlet. I never competed in races at that time, but I probably put in 25-40 miles per week, including some â€œfunâ€ miles in boots and fatigues carrying a ruck sack and a weapon. Those were the days!

It wasn't until 2002 that I got my first taste of cycling when I competed in the Dannon Duathlon near my house in Alpharetta. Even though I was on the wrong bike, a 60 cm steel frame that weighed about as much as I do, and despite the fact that I got my ass kicked during the bike segment of the race, somehow, I was hooked.

Since I didn't really learn to swim until I was in my mid-thirties, swimming remains the bane of my athletic existence. When I started training for my first triathlon, I couldn't swim 25 yards without stopping. However, hard work and perseverance have afforded me the title of 'mediocre swimmer,' a moniker I will continue to try to improve.

I competed in my first triathlon in 2003 and my first Ironman in 2005. Ever since my first one, I've been addicted to the rush that comes from being around so many incredible people of all shapes, sizes, colors and creeds, all with the same mindset of pushing themselves beyond their own self-imposed limits.

Speaking of incredible people, my wife of more than 16 years, Christy, and my daughters, Emily (8) and Olivia (5), are at once both my inspiration and my support team. It may take a village to raise a child, but it certainly takes an entire familyâ€™s sacrifice and commitment to chase an Ironman dream. Christy has crossed the line with me each time, and I'm not sure who gets more out of it.

I've always been fascinated with the intricacies of human motivation: what makes one person persevere and push through to a new level of performance while others never even try to challenge themselves or quit when things get difficult. Competing in triathlons and coaching others to do the same, is my way of studying that topic up close and personal.

As one friend of mine put it: 'I think I've figured out why we do this endurance sports thing it's to strip away the non-essential things in our lives, and to focus on the few nuggets that really matter. ' The key to success is to make sure that you love what's left in the mind when the body begins to give out that is what gets you through.'

Athletic Accomplishments:

2007
o ING Half Marathon Overall Time 1:25 (13th in Age Group, 40th overall)
o Gulf Coast Half Ironman Overall Time: 4:32:21 (5th in Age Group, 20th overall)
o Ironman Coeur D'Alene Overall Time: 10:25:08 (23rd in Age Group, 90th overall)
o West Point Lake (Olympic) Overall Time: 2:20 (6th in Age Group, 32nd overall)
o Tugaloo (Olympic) - Overall Time: 2:20 (6th in Age Group, 20th overall)

2006
o Ironman Coeur D'Alene Overall Time: 10:47 (28th in Age Group, 122nd overall)
o South Carolina Half Ironman Overall Time: 4:42:09 (5th in Age Group, 40th overall)
o Atlanta Half Marathon Overall Time: 1:25:29 (18th in Age Group, 90th overall)
o USAT All American Honorable Mention

2005
o St. Anthony's Olympic Overall Time: 2:10:56 (9th in Age Group, 84th overall)
o Ironman Coeur D'Alene Overall Time: 10:47 (41st in Age Group, 164th overall)
o Atomic Man Half Ironman Overall Time: 4:52:09 (1st in Age Group, 5th overall)
o Atlanta Half Marathon Overall Time: 1:31:30 (18th in Age Group, 90th overall)

2004
o Fort Yargo State Park (sprint) Overall Time: 1:07:01 (8th in Age Group)
o Rock n Roll Half Ironman Overall Time: 4:51:54 (1st in Age Group, 19th overall)
o Atlanta Half Marathon Overall Time: 1:28:23 (18th in Age Group, 90th overall)

2003
o Powerman Alabama Duathlon Overall Time: 2:52:20 (24th in Age Group, 88th overall)
o Gulf Coast Half Ironman Overall Time: 5:07:41 (41st in Age Group, 143rd overall)
o Atomic Man Half Ironman Overall Time: 4:52:09 (3rd in Age Group, 11th overall)
o Atlanta Half Marathon Overall Time: 1:27 (15th in Age Group, 103rd overall)

2008 Goal: My goals this year are quite lofty: break 10 hours at IM Coeur D'Alene and qualify for Kona; celebrate both my and my wife's 40th birthdays in Hawaii, savoring every minute of the Ironman World Championships. I also plan on racing Gulf Coast where I hope to break 4:30 and a few other local races such as West Point Lake and/or Tugaloo.

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