Kevin Konczak

ALPENA — For Kevin Konczak, the road to becoming a world-class triathlete and Ironman competitor didn’t begin with a starting gun; it began behind the camera lens. Now, Konczak’s legacy in endurance sports will be recognized as he will be inducted into the Alpena Sports Hall of Fame on June 7.

While still in high school, Konczak found himself on the sidelines of the Hubbard Lake Triathlon, photographing his friend and fellow Alpena native Jeff Blumenthal. That single experience, watching a top cross-country skier struggle against triathlon’s unique challenges, sparked something in him.

What started as a casual rivalry evolved into a lifelong pursuit of excellence in one of the world’s most grueling sports. Konczak’s first race ignited a passion that carried him from the roads and trails of Northeast Michigan to the beaches of Kona, Hawaii.

What followed was a decorated career spanning decades.

Konczak is a 20-plus time USA Triathlon All-American, a five-time Team USA member, and a former Professional Triathlete who held his Pro Card in 2003. His athletic resume boasts a long list of national titles, including U.S. Long Course Triathlon and Duathlon Championships, Rocky Mountain Region titles, and multiple Bolder Boulder 10K age group wins. Most recently, he captured his first-ever overall victory at the 2025 U.S. Winter Duathlon Championships.

But Konczak’s success wasn’t born overnight — it grew from early adversity and relentless self-improvement.

As a teenager, he described himself as a self-proclaimed “nerdy arcade kid” who struggled in youth sports and finished near the bottom of his freshman cross country team. Determined to improve, he began training seriously, especially after teaming up with Blumenthal, who introduced him to Nordic skiing. That friendship and competitive drive helped Konczak fall in love with endurance training, and he quickly outgrew the local competition.

Encouraged by his brother, he moved to Boulder, Colorado — home to elite endurance athletes — where he has lived and trained ever since.

Konczak’s mindset has evolved from chasing his peers to chasing his best self.

“Where do you go from (being the one others are chasing)? You stop chasing others and chase a ghost of yourself up the road,” he said.

Even now, after dozens of Ironman finishes and World Championship appearances, Konczak is driven by the search for the perfect race — the elusive performance where everything clicks.

Among his proudest moments is completing his first Hawaii Ironman in 1995. He had once thought the 140.6-mile feat insurmountable, but when he crossed the finish line, it felt almost effortless.

“It seemed rather easy,” he recalled. “The 140.6 miles felt like a cake walk.”

That sense of triumph remains etched in his memory alongside personal milestones like the birth of his son.

Konczak, who also works in real estate and plans to leave the corporate world soon, credits his longevity in sport to the joy he finds in the journey itself. He urges young athletes not to focus solely on results or finish lines but to embrace the daily process.

“It’s a journey — there is no finish line until the day we die,” he said.

His philosophy emphasizes consistency, positivity, and surrounding oneself with people who uplift rather than discourage.

From being one of the last finishers in high school races to becoming a national champion and world-class competitor, Kevin Konczak’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the belief that your future self is always worth chasing.

And as he puts it, he’s “nowhere near done yet.”