Kevin McKale didn’t get the urge to become a serious runner/triathlete until about age 40.
But now, 12 years later, man is he making up for lost time.
Take this past Sunday in the Bucks County Roadrunners Club’s Winter Series Terrible Tyler 15K.
He completed the 9.3-mile course through hilly Tyler in a brilliant time of just over 1:03, which at age 52, was good enough for third place overall.
McKale, a Langhorne native and Bishop Egan High School graduate, uses the Winter Series to get ready for the really demanding stuff that comes with the triathlon season.
How about this menu? While not an official Ironman, the Sea-to-Summit Triathlon consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 92-mile bike ride and then a grueling five, mile, 4,800-foot ascent up Mount Washington, one of the windiest locations on the planet.
For McKale, vice president of the Bucks County Triathlon Club, it’s all in a year’s work.
“It (training) is tough to get motivated when it’s 12 degrees outside,” he said with a chuckle during a recent telephone interview. “The ice. . .but having that group at the Winter Series is huge as far as being motivating and keeping you going, keeping you in shape.
“You’re challenged with hills, you’re challenged with a lot of fast competitors that you’re in friendly competition with. It really keeps you going when it’s cold and dark out.”
McKale, a LaSalle University graduate, is enjoying a standout year or so of competition, especially in the Winter Series.
“It’s probably my best year so far,” he said. “You learn to adapt to the hills, different training. I train with a small group and we’re all similar paces and times for marathons. So we really challenge each other. We’re up at 5 in the morning, we’re meeting at the track for a heavy workout.”
There’s nothing like keeping up with people you know to stay in top shape.
At weekend races, the training group gets together and compares notes on what they’re doing for different shoes, different diets, supplements. Anything that might be working for one individual which can help the others,
“That core group really keeps us motivated,” McKale said.
Kevin’s wife, Karen, serves as his race manager, supplying all the needs for her husband on competition days. That includes the Bryce Canyon (Utah) 60K.
When he isn’t competing at crazy distances, McKale is a regional merchandise manager for Giant Foods. He oversees 15 stores in the area.
Kevin and Karen have two children – daughter, Saige, 28; and son, Ethan, 25. Plus one granddaughter, Novalynn, who is 4.
McKale not only participates in races, he helps others train for them through his work with the Bucks County Triathlon Club. As vice-president, he assists president Anthony Accardo in keeping members active through training schedules.
Triathlons really help McKale in his quest to excel at long distance running. He’s run a sparkling 3:12 at Steamtown, his personal best.
Last year’s Love Run Half-Marathon will go down as one of his best. He completed those 13.1 miles in 1:27, good for second place in the 50-54 age division.
“It was just one of those days where everything clicked,” he said. “I never felt bad, was well rested. Had good training leading into it. It was one of those days where one day you feel it, one day you don’t but I was just really dialed in that day.”
>Race calendar
Sunday
BCRR Winter Series Pick Your Way 5.3-Miler, 9 a.m., Tyler State Park, Newtown. Contact www.bcrrclub.com
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