Sisters' Cotner is an Ironman

Kevin Cotner, health and physical education teacher at Sisters High School, crossed the finish line at Ironman Coeur d' Alene, on Sunday, June 24. Finishing the grueling race fulfilled a commitment he'd made to himself bedridden with cancer 15 years ago, where his incredible story really began.

Cotner, a four-year, three-sport athlete, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma his senior year in high school and missed out on a state berth to the track championships. Instead, he endured an exhausting regime of chemotherapy that literally nearly took his life. The night of graduation, Cotner was walked onto the stage to receive his diploma, arms locked between his best friends, Jay Yost and Scott Anderson.

"That night I went back to the hospital," said Cotner. "The doctors proceeded to tell my parents I wouldn't survive to the next morning and that they should begin funeral arrangements, although I didn't know that until about five years ago. It was such a rough day. I had blisters in my mouth and throat and I was spitting into a cup because I couldn't swallow my own saliva. As part of my chemotherapy regimen I was not allowed any IV nutrition so graduation night came at the tail end of almost two weeks without food. At one point I was down to 110 pounds, 70 pounds from where I was when diagnosed."

At that point, Cotner vowed to himself that if he did beat cancer that one day he would bring his ravaged body back to health and compete in an Ironman.

After six months of treatment, Kevin received the official report that he was cancer-free.

Eighteen months ago, while reading another individual's heroic Ironman adventure, Kevin decided that it was time to start training for an Ironman. He was in the pool and on the treadmill the following morning.

Cotner competed in three sprints, two Olympic and two Half Ironman triathlons, in preparation for the Coeur d' Alene Ironman. At the peak of his training, Cotner was averaging 18 to 20 hours per week, in addition to teaching full-time. He admits he was mentally and physically exhausted.

An Ironman is an endurance sport unlike any other. Thirty are held around the world, with only five in the United States, one of which is in Coeur d' Alene. It consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles on the bike and culminates with a 26.2-mile run.

At this year's race, 26 countries and 49 states were represented. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 79 years old.

The Ironman is a grueling challenge that requires mental focus, sheer will and determination, and many pre-race favorites at Coeur d' Alene failed to finish the race. Cotner completed the grueling course in 11:34 and was 403rd out of 2,421 participants.

"I wanted to come in under 11 hours, but by mile 15 of the marathon, I didn't care if it took 11 days, I just wanted to see the finish line," said Cotner.

Cotner's Ironman journey began at 7 a.m. when a cannon was fired to signal the start of the race. Competitors were stacked up in rows along the 50-yard stretch of beach on Coeur d' Alene Lake that had been roped off for the event. Swarm after swarm of bodies plunged into 53-degree water and jockeyed for position. The rush of emotion and initial terror was unlike anything Cotner had ever experienced.

"I had heard horror stories and seen the videos, and it lived up to its billing," said Cotner. "There was literally no way to get into any type of rhythm as over 2,400 people all tried to get where you were going at the same time, and in frigid water that took your breath away. It was a physical experience as people tried to go over or through you or your line. It truly is combat mentality for the first 10 minutes, but it opened up at about 700 yards and I was able to maintain my line for the remainder of the swim once I made the first turn at 900 yards."

Cotner was out of the water in 68 minutes, a much better time than he'd hoped for, and then transitioned to the bike area. His fingers were so stiff and numb he needed assistance in getting his bike gloves on.

The bike leg was a new course this year and was more challenging than Cotner anticipated. The idea of the new course was to decrease the technical aspects and instead add additional climbs. Kevin told The Nugget he was prepared for the 5,000-foot elevation gain, but the windy conditions challenged the mind.

"I felt good for the first 56 miles, but heading out of town on the second 56-mile loop, I began to feel the toll of the wind in my legs," said Cotner. "I backed off a little bit, knowing the marathon was yet to come."

The final leg was a 26.2-mile run that took athletes through town, past coffee shops and cafes that teemed with enthusiastic cheering supporters. Cotner admitted this was the most brutal part of the race. Kevin was able to stick to his splits for the first 13.1 miles, but as he hit the turn that brought runners into and then out of town he said that was one of the most mentally and emotionally challenging parts of the race.

"Knowing that I was nine hours in and still had another 13.1 miles to go was tough," said Cotner. "I was having trouble getting in any nutrition, and it caught up with me around mile 15. I think my sodium and electrolytes were low. I don't know if I can explain it, but my mind just began to fade and I had very limited control of my body or my thoughts for about five miles. I would randomly break down and sob, while swerving all over the course.

"I started to set small goals for myself to get to the next aid station, and then again for the next, and the next, until finally at mile 20 at the base of a two-mile climb an aid station attendant handed me warm chicken broth and I almost immediately started to feel better. The last six miles I was able to get my time back down," added Cotner.

Cotner crossed the finish line and Mike Reilly, "Voice of the Ironman," boomed out, "Kevin Cotner, teacher from Sisters, Oregon, you are an Ironman!"

Kevin described the finish as glorious.

"You came up through town and then took a corner where there were people lined up on both sides of the street for five blocks cheering you in," said Cotner.

"At this point the smile was on and the pain was gone.

It was special.

Emotional.

An 18-month journey and only five blocks until the 'You are an Ironman' announcement.

There was a sense of finality and a sense of pride.

It's very hard to explain.

It's a special moment for anyone to compete, but for me and where my body has been and the toll and sacrifice that my family was willing to make is something that will truly allow some sort of closure on my cancer journey.

My cancer experience will never be forgotten, but this was another win for all cancer survivors and anybody else willing to never give up."

The road has been long and hard, and Cotner's wife, Mindi, who was dating Kevin at the time of his cancer and has now been married to him for almost 11 years, has been by his side the entire way.

Mindi said, "This journey has been incredible, and I'm thrilled that the whole family got to be a part of it. I'm so happy for Kevin. He put in all the long, brutal hours. It was extremely special to see him compete in and then cross the finish line of the Ironman, especially after knowing how different things could have turned out 15 years ago. The Lord has been so good to us!"

Kevin admits he knew nothing about training for an Ironman going into it and says he is fortunate he had people willing to help. He gives special thanks to his training partner and endurance psychologist, Josh Nordell.