Pollock: Portville’s Hunt doing Ironman for colitis cure – Olean Times Herald

For even accomplished athletes, the concept is overwhelming.

The idea of doing a 2.4-mile open-water swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run, back-to-back-to-back is almost unthinkable.

Its official name Ironman Triathlon, almost seems to trivialize the accomplishment.

But imagine trying to complete one while coping with a digestive disease.

Meet Portville native Ryan Hunt.

Hunt, a sales representative for Universal Plant Services, which supplies equipment to the oil and gas industry, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a chronic condition of the large intestine some eight years ago.

He controls the disease, in part, with medication, but mostly via diet eating gluten-free and whole foods and minimizing his intake of dairy products.

Its pretty much what the medical field recommends for everybody, said Hunt, who graduated with a degree in mathematics from Alfred University.

But his physique has changed.

Back when I was doing a lot of (weight) lifting, I weighed just short of 200 pounds, he said. Now Im a lean 152.

Part of the reason, of course, is that he and a friend have been working out and have already competed in three half-Ironman events: 1.2- mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.

But they decided to take a step up.

IM 39 YEARS OLD and the two of us decided we had to do a full Ironman before we turned 40, said Hunt, who lives in Mechanicsville, Virginia, just outside of Richmond.

Hence, come Sunday, July 23, Hunt, a married father of two, and his buddy will compete in the grueling Lake Placid Ironman.

The events three segments consist of two loops, a pair of 1.2-mile circuits on Mirror Lake, a couple of 56-mile circles on a bike and two 13.1-mile running loops.

But Hunt is competing for a purpose.

Hes using the Lake Placid Ironman as a fundraiser as part of the Team Challenge (Race in Orange) of the Crohns & Colitis Foundation.

Hunt has a goal of raising $5,000 -- hes now at $2,000 -- and has been told Universal Plant Services will match whatever he generates.

He noted on the Team Challenge web site: I have decided to make a difference in the fight against Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. On July 23 I will participate in the Ironman Lake Placid. This will be a big undertaking, but it will all be worth it because your donations will not only motivate me to the finish, but they will help us get closer to the cure. I want to make this journey about more than an individual accomplishment. I want to bring awareness to a condition that isn't very well understood, and raise some money to help find the cure!

HUNT competed in football, baseball and track at Portville but was more of a grinder than a star, a trait manifested in his pursuit of the Ironman.

I wanted to see if I could push my limits and right now (the Ironman) is unfinished business, Hunt said.

And his shot will come 24 days from now along with the other 2,000 participants in the countys second-oldest Ironman event, behind only the famed Kailua-Kona competition in Hawaii.

Hunt explained that there are no prerequisite milestones for competitors at Lake Placid, but noted that performance eliminates participants along the way.

You have to complete the swim in under two hours and 20 minutes and the combined biking and running in under 10 hours, Hunt said.

He admits, in the case of the Ironman, its worst first.

The swim is absolutely the hardest, Hunt said. There are a lot of people in the water, youre getting kicked and some are trying to swim over you. Ive learned to start slowly and get into a groove until you can swim free (of surrounding competitors juiced by an adrenaline rush).

I never was much into biking but, as Ive trained for Ironmans, I realize theres a sense of relief when I get on the bike and go its my strongest event. The run is the run, youre wearing down and just trying to get to the finish.

Hunt concluded, This (distance) will be new for me, but doing it to raise money for Crohns and colitis research is giving me a lot of motivation and Im really anxious to do it.

(Chuck Pollock, a Times Herald columnist, can be reached at cpollock@oleantimesherald.com)

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Pollock: Portville's Hunt doing Ironman for colitis cure - Olean Times Herald