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He takes us out to play football!

He knows a lot about just about everything!

He lets us practice our math facts - fast!

He gives us free stuff!

Those are some of the responses fourth graders gave when asked, “What’s the coolest thing about Mr. Krenz?”

Teaching math facts, how to play games and “knowing just about everything” are all pretty standard skills for elementary school teachers. But, “giving us free stuff” was an unexpected answer.

The “stuff” Tom Krenz gives to his fourth graders at Lakeside School in Chisago City is usually posters and other memorabilia that he collected at Ironman Triathlons.

Born in St. Paul, Krenz considers himself a native of Osceola, Wisconsin, where he still lives and does most of his training. He’s been a fixture at Lakeside, where he’s influenced fourth graders for the last 22 years.

His interest in endurance competitions began in the 1980’s when he became involved in bicycle racing. For a variety of reasons, including fading interest and dangers inherent in bike races, Krenz gradually migrated to cross country skiing as a way to maintain his level of fitness.

He still loves to ski and is very involved in competitive racing. Much of his ski training is done at Trollhaugen's 2 1/2 miles of lighted trails in Dresser. He lights up when talking about the Birkebeiner in Hayward, Wisconsin and the Finlandia in Bemidji.

But, it’s tough to ski all summer in our climate, so he’s become a triathlete. Other people paint or fish or golf. Fitness and competition take up Krenz’s free hours. He, and a group friends from the Osceola area train together. They ski in the winter and swim, bike and run in the summer. He says the group gives him a support system that makes it easier to keep pushing himself.

Completing an Ironman Triathlon is not for everyone. The three-legged competition includes a 2.4 mile swim and 112 miles on a bike, followed by a marathon (26 plus miles)...ALL in the same day!

His first Ironman was in Madison, Wisconsin in September 2005. The very challenging, urban terrain in Madison is considered one of the most difficult of nine locations around the U.S. The hilly course was made even more difficult by the 95 humid degrees.

Krenz’s students may be surprised that even he had lots to learn. He learned that competitors need to select their path in the water very carefully. With 2500 swimmers heading the same direction, at the same time, a swimmer can become very claustrophobic. The wetsuit itself can be quite confining.

It’s also important to find the right person to follow. “I found that you can lose three or four minutes if you’re not in the right place,” said Krenz. He pointed out that drafting is allowed and advised in the swimming leg.

On the other hand, drafting is not allowed during the middle leg of the triathlon. In fact, bikers who follow closer than four lengths are required to spend time in penalty tents. The biking leg is the opportunity for the contestants to replenish their nutrients. “On the bike, you need to eat enough to sustain the run, but not enough to get bloated or sick,” Krenz said.

In the hot and humid triathlon of September, 2005, Krenz finished 85th overall. The 2006 Madison Ironman conditions were very different. “In ‘05, we had to walk quite a bit because of the heat. In 2006, people were suffering from hypothermia,” Krenz commented. Rain, wind and 55 degrees greeted the participants this year.

Overcoming the conditions, Krenz finished 74th overall and 2nd in his age group, which qualified him for the World Championship Ironman in Hawaii in 2007.

Krenz listed several factors for his strong finish this year. The experience he gained in the 2005 event helped him compete this year. He also felt he was better prepared and conditioned for the 2006 race. Krenz’s self established goal for the biking leg of the event was to average 20 m.p.h. He averaged 19.7.

It took him 10 hours and 30 minutes to complete the 2006 race (Some of the elite athletes finish in a little over nine hours). Krenz commented about how helpful it is to have encouraging fans along the route and at the finish.

Many fans and participants return for “The Midnight Hour.” Between 10 p.m. and midnight they come back to cheer on the last competitors. Some are older, some have physical disabilities and one man even tows, pushes and pulls his adult, physically disabled son the entire distance. Krenz describes this portion of the competition as, “very inspirational.”

Krenz credits the more than 4000 volunteers for their dedication to the triathlon event. “They weathered out the tough day for hours, making sure the participants were safe and taken care of. They truly were the real “Ironmen” of the day.”

The “Ironman Teacher” says he has no special talents other than, “determination, consistency in training and a mind set that says... why not me.” He hopes sharing his experiences with his students will help motivate them to be physically active, now and in the future.

When polled about participation in this summer’s Chisago Lakes Triathlon, seven of Mr. Krenz’s 27 fourth graders said they were in the inaugural event. More than half (16) said they wanted to be in the 2007 CL Triathlon. It seems Krenz’s hopes are being realized.

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