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By Barry Siff
Boulder, CO, October 27, 2006 – The 30th running of the Ironman World Triathlon Championship in Kona, Hawaii took place on Saturday, October 21. Normann Stadler of Germany and Australian Michellie Jones were the top male and female finishers among the over 1,700 competitors from 51 countries. Considered by many as the world’s most challenging endurance event, athletes swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, and ran a full marathon – 26. 2 miles – in the heat, humidity, and searing lava fields that surround the course in and around Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Among these incredibly fit and determined athletes were 10 Chief Executive Officers (CEO’s) vying for the title “Fittest CEO in the World.” These individuals from 5 different countries qualified to race in Kona by beating other CEO’s at one of five official Ironman competitions in 2006 – South Africa, Australia, Lake Placid (U.S.), France, and Korea. It is in Kona – the home of the Ford Ironman World Championship - that the top ten CEO’s in 3 age categories compete, with the fastest finisher earning the title “Fittest CEO® in the World.” Now in its 6th year, some 170 different men and women have raced in the CEO Ironman Challenge, representing 10 different countries. They have ranged in age from 25 to 65, but they all have one thing in common – “These people are DRIVEN,” says Ted Kennedy, President CEO Challenges . “They have typically accomplished every goal they have set for themselves, and completing an Ironman is just another mountain to be conquered.”
Larry Smith is one such individual. Just talk for 5 minutes with Smith, President of Smith Chevrolet Cadillac in Turlock, CA., and you will feel the passion, excitement, and commitment to being an Ironman. Since his first Ironman in 1999, Smith has done 1-3 more each year, including a trip to last year’s race in Kona. Coming from a running background, Smith saw triathlon as “crazy, fun, and a nice change from just running.” After attending a Roch Frey – Paul Huddle (MultiSports.com) training camp in San Diego, though, Smith was ready, and has never looked back. “The key thing is the drive – I’m internally driven to be the best I can be, and that same drive works in business as to how to be better, smarter, increase the “wow” factor, and constantly seeking ways to get better in all areas … just like triathlon.” Well, Smith does get better and better, now winning the 50 and Over Division of the CEO Challenge for the second year in a row, with a time of 11 hours, 56 minutes, and 13 seconds (11:56:13). Smith is 54.
On the other end of the age spectrum is Gorm Eriksen, 25, from Roskilde, Denmark. In addition to the challenges of running his company, Installers A/S, which specializes in delivering high-end consulting services to Fortune 500 companies in the Nordic Countries, Gorm has had to overcome numerous other challenges along the way. “I have a history of alcohol abuse, weight problems, and general imbalance between work, sleep, family, and health,” confides Eriksen. After his wife, Grith, successfully finished her second round of surgery for brain tumors, though, Gorm decided to change his lifestyle to include regular training, fitness and nutrition classes, and practicing Buddhism to improve his mental focus and balance. With a 10:04 finishing time at Ford Ironman Lake Placid this year, Eriksen has certainly proven that his lifestyle is conducive to being a competitive athlete, as well as a successful business person. Eriksen finished second in the 39 and Under Division of the CEO Challenge in a very impressive time of 10:52:07.
Beating Eriksen – and the other 8 CEO fitness fanatics – was Jason Hayden, 36 years old, earning him the title “Fittest CEO in the World.” Hayden, Founder and Managing Director of Mortgage Maker, a mortgage/loans company in Australia, nearly did not make the trip to Kona. He and his wife gave birth to a child just 3 weeks prior to the race, and Jason considered foregoing the event. With blessings and support from his family, though, this Ironman CEO shortened his stay; but, was on the Big Island long enough to win the CEO Challenge. Hayden had qualified for the Championship at Ironman Australia in April, with an outstanding time of 10:02, the best qualifying time by any CEO in 2006. His performance in Kona lived up to everyone’s expectations, recording the second fastest time ever by a CEO Challenge participant: 9:52:29. His marathon time of 3:27:46 – after biking 112 miles and swimming 2.4 miles is certainly noteworthy.
Watching these “driven” executives before, during, and after the Championship leaves little doubt as to their competitive nature. “They are not here just to finish,” says Kennedy. “They are all super competitive and definitely want to beat the other CEO’s.” No doubt that this same intensity and drive makes them each champions in their respective business worlds.
CEO Challenge is the world leader in sport competitions for CEO’s. The events are open to CEOs, Presidents, Owners or C-Suite Executives of companies with at least $5 million in annual gross revenues. The goal is to provide incredible sporting opportunities for CEOs and their guests, and ultimately to find the best CEO in the world in each sport. For more information, visit www.ceochallenges.com.
--- Barry Siff is a writer, triathlete, and owner of 5430 Sports in Boulder, CO. He spent the week in Kona with the CEO triathletes.
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