In 2009, Trevor and Heather Wurtele were taking a risk when they dove headlong into the life of full-time professional triathletes.
With no other means of income and no guarantee of success in a mentally and physically demanding sport, it was a leap of faith for the Wurteles.
Eight years later, the 麻豆精选 couple has no regrets.
At 38 and in the primes of their careers, the Wurteles are two of Canada鈥檚 most successful long course pro triathletes.
Heather is a two-time North American Ironman 70.3 champion, a three-time podium finisher at the Ironman World Championships, and a four-time Canadian Long Course Triathlete of the Year.
This weekend in Penticton, she hopes to add to her extensive collection of hardware when she competes in the long distance event at the ITU World Multisport Championships.
Trevor, a consistent top-five finisher wherever he competes, is coming off a big victory earlier this year in Belgium at Challenge Geraardsbergen.
The 2013 Ironman Canada champ, Trevor also had three second-place showings last year in Ironman 70.3 events.
To see how far they鈥檝e come since those uncertain early days is a source of satisfaction and accomplishment for the husband-and-wife team.
鈥淟ooking back, it was the best decision we could have made at the time,鈥� said Trevor Wurtele who, like Heather, grew up in Vernon. 鈥淲hen we made that full commitment, the first year or two were nerve-wracking because we weren鈥檛 making much money. But we just hung in there and stuck with it and it鈥檚 worked out,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine what else we鈥檇 be doing now.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been quite an adventure and we consider ourselves to be incredibly lucky and happy to be doing this for a living.鈥�
Still, the Wurteles鈥� prosperity in the sport hasn鈥檛 come without its share of blood, sweat, tears and hard work.
For 5 1/2 years, the two spent their competitive seasons living out of an RV.
The level of training required, managing recovery, attention to nutrition, remaining on top of social media, and staying connected with their sponsors has been a full-time endeavour for both athletes.
Nothing quite like the fitness (and fatigue) that comes from hard open water swimming! The scenery and mental stim鈥� https://t.co/g2FElcLo86 pic.twitter.com/AaIPJmjZ9Z
鈥� H & T Wurtele (@TeamWurtele) August 23, 2017
Heather said having their training and life partners beside each other for every step of the journey has been crucial to both their longevity and success in the sport.
鈥淲ith some of the tough times and hard work along the way, we wouldn鈥檛 be doing this if it wasn鈥檛 for each other,鈥� said Heather who, like Trevor, typically trains 26 to 29 hours per week. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been very supportive of each other and when there are struggles, we鈥檙e there for each other and pick each other up. We goof around, too, when it鈥檚 needed and just have fun when we can.
鈥淲hen we decided to do this, we were staring a life change in the face, so we knew we had to stick together. There are no regrets in having gone for it.鈥�
When Heather takes to the course this weekend in Penticton, Trevor will be in Austria preparing for his next race on the European Challenge triathlon circuit.
In addition to vying for a podium finish at the ITU Multisport World Championships, Heather plans on enjoying all the benefits that competing at home has to offer.
鈥淎t ITU events we wear Team Canada kits so the focus is more about racing for your country than usual, it鈥檚 nice to feel like part of a team,鈥� Heather said. 鈥淎 lot of people in 麻豆精选 are talking about this event, so that makes it fun, too. I think it鈥檚 just a fun festival throughout.鈥�
Heather and Trevor will reunite later this year when both prepare to compete at international triathlon competitions in Sardinia and Mallorca, Spain.
