Iowa lawyer known for dramatic finishes will compete in the Des Moines Ironman on Sunday
Bobby Rehkemper is used to working under pressure.
The 45 year old spends his days as a trial attorney and partner at GRL Law Firm, a personal injury and criminal defense firm with offices in West Des Moines and Mason City, prepping to defend his clients.
But his mornings begin, before walking into Polk County courtrooms, with runs and rides off gravel roads, along trails and over pavement as the father of two trains for his third full Ironman in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
"It's early mornings, getting up early and going and doing stuff early morning, so that it's out of the way because you got kids things in the afternoon, you got family things in the afternoon," he said. "Work can go late but nothing starts early so that's when you're seeing the sunrise and that's when you get to work."
On June 11, Rehkemper is set to join the estimated 1,650 participants who will run, swim and bike their way through a 56-mile ride in Des Moines, pushing their physical abilities and mental limitations. Rehkemper said Sunday's race will mark his "10th or so" half Ironman.
"Growing up I did football and basketball and that kind of thing, but the running was always what I absolutely hated. You would never see me go on a distance run ever," Rehkemper said. "And then the older you get, the more you start looking for other avenues to keep you busy and get that dopamine drip back."
Each race is like conquering another fear and adding another adventure to the mental scrapbook in his mind.
"I did a relay first, the HyVee Triathlon, way back when, I did the run part of it and then was getting passed by old ladies who had done the full thing and then you realize, 'You know, I should probably try to do the full thing,'" he added. "Once you start it, it grabs you and doesn't let you go and here I am 12 years later still doing this stupid stuff."
Rehkemper is known among friends and race insiders for his dramatic finish line behavior, but his unique brand of humor begins where his triathlon story first started.
'It's gravel therapy'
Rehkemper began running in his early 30s in 2006 with small roads races and then progressed to marathons followed by current stints in triathlons because he needed a new hobby and a fresh way to push himself.
"You maybe start with a little bit and then you start to go bigger, got to go bigger. It is a drug," he said of the addiction that competitive racing creates. "And then you get to the point where, well, that's not the biggest one, now what can I try to do? And so, it draws you in that way."
"The training, the experience associated with endurance sports is a release. It's a breakaway from all the other crap. I always say, 'I love riding my bike on gravel. It's gravel therapy,'" he said. "You know, you get away and you disconnect. Nobody can call you. Nobody can talk to you that you don't want to talk with."
Rehkemper has crossed paths with a bear during an Ironman race in Alaska and left a course during his Ironman "claim to fame" last year in Oceanside, California, to buy a six-pack of cold beer amid a calf injury, but only drank five cans as he handed one off to an onlooker who kept his spot in the race to prevent potential disqualification.
Rehkemper is trained by his wife, Summer, who he said encourages him to keep going, and Matt Zepeda from triathlon training company Zoom Performance.
More: The Ironman 70.3 is coming to the Des Moines metro, here's what you need to know
Crossing the finish line is like 'conquering' Mt. Everest
He said he is drawn to the diverse group of people who decide to take part in Ironman races.
"It's a blast, Like I think people would be surprised how much fun it is to spectate and cheer and just watch the foolishness that goes on. It's an inspiration though," he said. "They'll see people of all ages. There'll be 70-, 80-year-old people out there doing this thing. There'll be teenagers, there'll be big people, little people, slow people, fast people, and it's just an awesome environment."
In September, he will compete in Chattanooga surrounded by Tennessee mountains. But first, he wants to finish at home.
"Everybody is conquering their own Everest, right? This is their challenge and that's what they're going after. It's a super cool experience whether you're doing it or watching."
Rehkemper has crossed the finish line while chugging beer, holding his sons' hands and diving headfirst into grass.
There are no plans for how he may end this race. In fact, he never writes the endings because "that's the fun part of the adventure."
"You learn to deal with things, you have to roll with things that happen, right? You go and you buy a six pack and finish the run, or you know, you sh-- yourself when the bear runs in front of you, but you clean up and keep going."
Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bobby Rekhemper will compete in Des Moines Ironman race on Sunday
