Courtesy Photo Alpena native Kevin Konczak, center, stands on the podium after winning the Tri Boulder Triathlon on Saturday in Colorado.

Alpena native Kevin Konczak finished first overall at the Tri Boulder Triathlon in Boulder, Colorado on Saturday. Over 400 athletes competed in the olympic distance race, which was a 1.5-kilometer (nearly one mile) swim, 42-kilometer (26 miles) bike, 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) run, at Boulder Reservoir.

Konczak, 56, won by nearly five minutes over second place, which went to Kevin Fonseca, who was listed in the 30 to 34 age group. Third place went to Reece McGregor, who competed in the 40 to 44 age group.

“I won by just under five minutes,” Konczak said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “I was the only one under 40 minutes,” he added, referring to the 10K run. Competitors swam first, then biked, then ran.

According to the race results posted on the Tri Boulder Triathlon website, Konczak completed the triathlon in 2:09:57.9, which included a swim time of 25:36.8, a 1:16 transition, a bike time of 1:02.25.7, a 1:01 transition, and a 10K run time of 39:37.5, which amounts to a pace of 6:23 per mile.

“I think it was the shoes,” he said with a laugh. “I just got new shoes.”

He said he had just raced at Boulder Peak six days prior to winning the Tri Boulder Triathlon.

Konczak has won triathlons before, but he is happy to be back in good shape after having knee surgeries on both knees last year. He had torn meniscus in each knee, having surgery on his right knee in June 2024, and the left in November.

“I was surprised that an old guy could pull off a win in such a competitive field like Boulder, at the age of 56,” he said.

He had only signed up for the triathlon the Monday prior to the race.

“I just love to race and have fun being fit,” Konczak said.

Next up for Konczak is the USA Triathlon National Championship on Aug. 9 and 10 in Milwaukee, Wisc., where he said he would be running two races back to back, two days in a row. He said it might sound crazy, but he’s ready for the challenge.

Then, on Aug. 22 and 23, he will compete on a team of 12 in the Hood to Coast Relay, considered “The Mother of All Relays,” in Oregon.

“We set the super masters record two years ago, and I anchored it,” Konczak said. “We broke a 21-year-old record two years ago, so we’re going to try to do it again.”

He explained that each person on the relay team runs at least three legs of the race, which are about seven miles long each.

“You run to the coast of Oregon from the top of Mount Hood,” Konczak said, adding that the location is where Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” was filmed. The 1980 film was based on a Stephen King novel and starred Jack Nicholson.

Konczak said people from 50 countries are expected to be at the Hood to Coast Relay, which is about 198 miles in total.

“You don’t sleep, basically,” he added. “You’re up for two days straight.”

He added that two years ago, they were behind the record until Konczak made up the difference in the last leg, running anchor, to beat the record, which they intend to beat again this year.

Reach News Community Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com.