Local Ironman Tri-athlete raising cancer research funds  

Miles Mischke, a 2010 graduate of Owego Free Academy, started running when he was 13 years old. Now, at the age of 26, Mischke is training for his second Ironman competition, the IRONMAN Lake Placid, to be held on July 22.

This year, Miles will participate at the internationally known Ironman event as part of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation “Team for Cures.” His goal is to raise $5,000 or more.

Celebrating its 20th year, the IRONMAN Lake Placid event is home to one of the most challenging courses. Upwards of 3,000 Tri-athletes from all around the world are drawn to the Adirondack community that is known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics.

As a student in Owego, Mischke ran cross-country for five years and track for two years. In turn, he has incorporated that experience into his fitness lifestyle ever since. Fast-forward to today, and Miles will compete for a second time in an event that involves 140.6 miles of incredible endurance. Mischke previously competed in six “half-Ironman” events, and also qualified and finished in a world championship in 2014 at Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, Canada. 

The first leg of the IRONMAN Lake Placid, a 2.4 mile open water swim in Mirror Lake, which is known for its pristine beauty and cleanliness, starts bright and early at 7 a.m. Following the swim, tri-athletes move on to a 112 mile bike ride. The two-lap trek consists of 56-mile loops and takes cyclists on a hilly Adirondack course, with each lap culminating on a ten-plus mile climb up a segment coined the “notch.”  

Third, a 26 mile run challenges tri-athletes on a two-loop course that takes competitors through the city center four times, and where runners race by the famous Olympic ski jumps and along the shores of Mirror Lake. 

Miles explained that the bike ride’s elevation gain is about 7,000 feet, and then the lake’s water temperature in July is roughly 60-plus degrees. Transitioning from one leg to another takes adept skill, too, and where Mischke described “the zone” as the point where tri-athletes quickly transition from one leg to another.

Last year Mischke finished in 11 hours, 1 minute and 15 seconds, and ranked 187 overall. For his age group, and amongst 109 tri-athletes, Miles finished tenth.

The 2017 Ironman winner, Canadian Brent McMahon, finished in 8 hours, 13 minutes and 53 seconds.

Miles’ goal this year, he said, is, “To break the eleven hour mark.”

Following his graduation from Owego Free Academy, Mischke furthered his education at Broome Community College and is currently working full-time. He trains 20 or more hours a week, and that means the alarm sounds early most days.  

A 4 a.m. wake-up takes Miles out for a ten to 15 mile run before work, and a training bike ride is typically 120 miles. Miles plans to make several trips to Lake Placid to train as well. Also in the mix is a job transfer, and where Mischke will move to Tampa, Florida before the July event.

Mischke chose to participate in raising funds for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in honor of Chris Greklek, a former athlete and organizer of the Peasantman triathlon. Mischke met Greklek, who has been unable to compete since being treated for Multiple Myeloma, in Lake Placid last year.

Multiple Myeloma is the second most common form of blood cancer in the U.S. and has one of the lowest five-year survival rates of all cancers. Although no cure is available, research has helped make progress. Ten new FDA-approved treatments have been released, four of which occurred in just the past 18 months, and, according to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, triples the lifespan of myeloma patients.

“I’m doing this not only for myself, but to also help others with Multiple Myeloma. I am happy to be racing for a cause that is much larger than me,” Mischke said.

He further explained that the emotional factor involved during the event is incredible, too, and added, “The entire town, some 5,000 spectators, comes out to cheer on the tri-athletes.”

Donations toward Miles’ event can be made to his fundraising page, https://endurance.themmrf.org/2018IMLP/MilesMischke.

Additional information about the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation can be found at www.themmrf.org.