Deputy takes part in Ironman competition
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Swimming, biking, or running, Corky Houseworth stretched his limit in a recent event - the Ironman Arizona, coming in overall at 1580. He noted there were more than 2000 competitors that braved the 90 degree temperature.

First the 37-year-old Milan man swam for 2.4 miles. Then he took to wheels, two wheels on a bike and rode for 112 miles, followed by running 26.2 miles to complete his time in 15 hours 42 minutes and 58 seconds, well under the 17 hour cut off. His swim time was 1:52:18; biking 6:45:47; and running 6:38:35.

“It was the pinnacle of all the races I’ve ever done,” noted Houseworth, who said it was the largest, most demanding.

A few years back Houseworth participated in what he now refers to as a “mini triathalon”. He swam for one half mile, rode a bicycle for 18 miles and then ran for only three miles.
Houseworth, who is a deputy for the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, says he works out on a daily basis and only changed his routine a little to begin to train for the Arizona event. He said he usually maintains a low fat diet and continued with that throughout his training. He said the only thing he did different was to stop weight lifting during this period.
The father of two boys, Joey 15, and Jacob 12, Houseworth says his wife is a big support. “I couldn’t have done it without her,” he noted. The Houseworths packed up and went to Tempe, Arizona and visited with family and friends before the competition.

He thanks his family and friends for their support and the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, who in part, sponsored him for the event.

How long will he continue to train and compete? Well, Houseworth said there was a 75-year-old man in the latest competition that served as an inspiration to him. He says he enjoys the challenge and the “work-out” keeps him fit in his job. “You never know when you’ll have to chase someone,” he laughed.

What’s next on Houseworth’s agenda? He will compete in the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati on May 7.