Salt Lake's Max Burdick has been a model of fitness consistency for nearly 20 years now, and to his credit, he's hardly lost a step.
Never mind the fact that he's 79 years old.
A survivor of World War II and Pearl Harbor, Burdick loves to participate in triathlons. He entered his first Kona, Hawaii, Ironman competition in 1982 and has returned almost yearly. He consistently completed the 2.4-mile swim, the 112-mile bike trek and the 26.2-mile run. Besides ironman competitions, Burdick has run in more than 26 marathons. Considering everything he's done, Burdick figures he's completed nearly two full laps around the earth — roughly 50,000 miles — without so much as a knee problem.
"It's so thrilling," he said. "Even though every muscle is throbbing and aching."
Burdick made his first trip to Hawaii at age 17 when he ran away from a "mean" father to join the Navy and was stationed as a chief gunner's mate on the U.S.S. St. Louis in Pearl Harbor in 1941. After the war, he came to Utah to operate his own underground pipeline contracting company and raise a family.
But for much of his life, Burdick wasn't into staying in shape. That didn't happen until he experienced a change of heart at age 43, because doctors were concerned about his health. They told him he needed to start exercising.
Burdick took the advice to heart.
"I started running a timed mile a day and 10 years later, at age 54, I ran my first marathon," Burdick said. "I haven't been back to see a doctor since I was 43 and don't take any medication."
Since then, Burdick — a 5-foot-7, 135-pound Idaho native — has been living life to the fullest. After running the underground pipeline contracting company for 40 years, Burdick now dedicates his time to his wife, Dorothy, a strict vegetarian diet and his training.
As for training, he doesn't consider himself to be very dedicated.
"I don't train wisely," said Burdick, who prefers to train alone. "I have no real schedule. Sometimes I do three of four events in a day, other days I do none."
All the same, Burdick has proven he can at least finish the events. He recently returned from his latest Hawaii competition where he finished the biking and running but was five minutes short of completing the swim contest. Actually, he hasn't finished an entire race in Kona since 1992. But for Burdick, it's all about staying healthy.
Aside from the doctors telling him he needed to start exercising at age 43, Burdick's physical phenomenon was also the result of an inspirational discussion he had one day with a friend named Milt Hunt. Before he died, Hunt was a health care specialist, Burdick said.
"He challenged me to read (the scriptures) for 21 days straight and pray for understanding," said Burdick, a devout Mormon. "He said there was magic in it and that people don't know about it."
The scripture he was referring to is found in the LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants , section 89. The section contains health-related guidelines and promises that if followed bring good health. For Burdick, the counsel was almost like finding the legendary fountain of youth, and it changed his life.
"It mattered to me to have good health," he said. "As I've understood (the 89th section) and lived it, having good health has been nothing short of a miracle. It's become a habit."
As for the future, the aging war veteran who received the Congressional Medal of Honor on the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor says there are a million reasons to keep going the distance. Besides being addicted to the competition itself, health is at the top of his list.
Max Burdick
Born in Idaho in 1923
Has lived in Hollady for 35 years
Four children, 21 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren
U.S. Navy — WW II, Pacific Fleet — 5.5 years, Pearl Harbor survivor (chief gunner mate) aboard the U.S.S. St. Louis. Finished the war aboard the U.S.S. Biscayne in Okinawa, received honorable discharge at age 23.
Master plumber, Underground Pipeline Contractor.
1966 — Began running one mile a day.
1977 — Ran the Deseret News Marathon (4 hours, 36 min.) in first running competition.
1983 — Entered first Hawaii Ironman event at age 60.
1983-2002 — Competed in Hawaii 19 of 20 years, finishing six times.
1985 — Age group winner in New Zealand Ironman.
1992 — Last finish in Kona.
1999 — Oldest triathlete to finish the Panama City, Fla., Ironman Triathlon.
E-MAIL: ttoone@desnews.com