934th NCO completes Ironman

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Paul Zadach
  • 934th Airlift Wing
Minneapolis St. Paul IAP ARS --  Tech. Sgt. Mike Bier once thought to himself, "I won't feel satisfied until I have that Ironman Brazil finisher medal hanging around my neck." The medal is now his, as he completed the grueling test of endurance at the end of May, then returned to complete a week-long training exercise with the 934th Security Forces Squadron where he is assigned.

For those unfamiliar with the competition, the Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run all done consecutively. Bier competed in Brazil, which is one of the qualifying events for the championship held each year in Hawaii. Not many people could complete one leg of this test, but to earn the medal, all three must be completed in less than 17 hours. Bier, in his first attempt, crossed the finish line in 12 hours, 51 minutes and 11 seconds. "I did a lot of training in preparation, but since I had never competed in the actual event, I wasn't sure if I would finish. The swimming was the toughest for me. The ocean swimming was harder than I expected, there's really no place locally that duplicates actual ocean conditions. I had a goal to finish in less than 14 hours, so I was pleased with my time," he said.

By his own admission, Bier was not an exceptional athlete during high school and used to be a cigarette smoker. "I ran cross country and track in high school but never got above the junior varsity level. I was a recreational weight lifter, never ran more than 10 miles at a time and didn't have much cardiovascular endurance."
Soon after quitting smoking, he competed in his first triathlon in 1998 at age 29 and was hooked on the healthier addiction of triathlon. The event consists of a ½ mile swim, 17 mile bike ride and 4 mile run. Bier continued to ramp up his training from there. He ran his first marathon in 2000 and in 2003, on a dare, he ran 2003 miles over the year. No money involved, just one man's determination to live up to his word.

Looking for some assistance and support in improving his times, he joined a local Triathlon club. "I was intimidated at the thought of joining a triathlon club, being surrounded by people on fancy expensive bicycles, wearing the latest high tech clothing who wouldn't give you the time of day unless you could correctly spell the last name of the top ten finishers of last year's Tour de France. I couldn't have been more wrong. Everyone in the club goes out of their way to make new members feel welcome. From the elite athletes, to the back of the packers, everyone cheers for one another to do their best."

The low key helpful nature of the club members also describes Bier himself. Employed as a computer technician for the St. Louis Park School District in his civilian job, Bier comes across as humble and approachable, no sense of the cockiness you might expect at his level of athletic prowess. In fact, he helps his fellow 934th members with advice and encouragement in passing the Air Force fitness test. While Bier scored a perfect 100 on his test, he says the test is hard. "It's not something you can just go out and pass once a year. In order to be successful, you have to have a fitness program you work on all year long," he said.

Bier's desire to do the best he possibly can doesn't change when he puts on his uniform. "I'm proud to be a part of the 934th. Our officers and senior NCOs demand our best at all times. We know we are expected to work and train hard, and always receive recognition when we go above and beyond. I feel that the better I perform, the better of an example I set for the airmen to follow, which will only make us stronger and more effective as a unit."

This year's Ironman was certainly not his last according to Bier. He is determined to do it again, even though financial and logistical hurdles are difficult as well. In order to compete, he has to do it on his own. Sponsorship deals are only available to the very top contenders. "I was told by others who completed an ironman that the feeling you get crossing the finish line is like no other, now I know what they were talking about."