This past August, before the 2015-2016 school year started, band director Michael Kernodle was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This not only changed his eating habits, but his way of life.

 

Kernodle participated in the St. Anthony’s Meek & Mighty Triathlon on April 23.

 

“My doctor said I’ve got the heart of a marathon runner, so my goal is to run a marathon,” Kernodle said.

 

Participants in the Meek & Mighty Triathlon had to swim 200 yards, bike 5.4 miles and run 1 mile. This year over 900 competitors attended the triathlon.  In preparation for the event Kernodle did weight training, swimming, running, and especially resting to avoid injury.

 

“I’ve been training since June of last year, but I really had to step it up some,” Kernodle said.

 

In June, Kernodle began bettering himself by eating healthier and changing his mentality about health. Kernodle has lost about 50 pounds since his lifestyle change.

 

“It’s not about being skinny; it’s about being healthy,” Kernodle said.

 

This is the first time Kernodle has taken part in a triathlon, but not the first time he has run. In 2015 he participated in the Gasparilla 5K. Out of swimming, biking and running Kernodle said that his least favorite is swimming due to the difficult breathing techniques.

 

“People don’t like doing any of the three, running, swimming or biking, so you are putting all three in one setting,” he said.

 

After the event, Kernodle said that the triathlon was great, but if he could change anything it would probably have been his bike.

 

“Maybe I would have had a better bike, a faster bike. Some people were out there with Olympic bikes, which helped them,” Kernodle said. “I also could have been faster on the swim.”

 

Kernodle came in second in his division for the Meek & Mighty with an overall time of 48:59. Kernodle completed all three activities himself, but said his family was right there supporting him the whole way.

 

“(I felt) relieved and accomplished. It was a dream of mine. I wanted to do something to reward myself before I turn 40. It was a bucket list goal,” Kernodle said.