PROVIDENCE — When Father Luke Willenberg crossed the finish line of the third annual Amica Ironman Rhode Island Triathlon July 13 on the State House lawn, the sheer joy of accomplishing a longtime goal outweighed the pain in his legs and the oppressive 95 degree heat.
Father Willenberg, assistant pastor of St. Luke Church, Barrington, had just completed the challenging 70.3-mile course in 5.02 hours, outpacing many of the 1,200 athletics who traveled to Rhode Island from all over the world to participate in the triathlon, which included a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run.
“I beat my expectations,” said Father Willenberg. “I had a great time on the bike.”
He said the most difficult part of the triathlon was the early morning swim at Roger Wheeler State Beach in Narragansett.
“The start was tough,” said the 28 year-old priest. “The waves were high.”
Despite sometimes hilly terrain and a prevailing northerly wind that the cyclists had to battle as they traveled through Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, Scituate and Johnston before arriving in the capital city, Father Willenberg remained optimistic that he’d complete the triathlon, which included a two lap run through downtown Providence and the East Side.
For Father Willenberg, who also serves as a master of ceremonies to Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, completing the triathlon was a personal victory; he didn’t set out to win a prize or break records.
“I feel great,” he said, hydrating himself with a bottle of ice-cold water. “I was so emotional on the way up to the State House. It’s a great event.”
The priest noted that he developed a love for sports in his native Poland, where he played high school soccer and ran cross country.
“I was always competitive,” he recalled.
During his junior year of high school, Father Willenberg participated in a seven-month-long sailing training program for young men from Catholic schools throughout Poland.
For two years, he trained on lakes near his hometown of Ilawo, and on the Baltic Sea during summer breaks.
The young sailor and his fellow crewmen began their unforgettable odyssey by sailing around Cape Horn, visiting several ports along the east coast of South America, and spending a few weeks sailing in the Caribbean. All classes, including theology, were taught by the ship’s officers.
“We lived according to bells,” Father Willenberg remembered, adding that the cadets studied, cleaned, cooked and performed other duties in four-hour long shifts.
“I had to mature very quickly,” he added. “I had to be self-sufficient.”
Following visits to several Caribbean islands, the ship sailed across the Atlantic to the Azores, before visiting several ports in Europe and eventually sailing back to Poland.
“It was a wonderful time; it went by very quickly,” Father Willenberg recalled. “It was a great experience for all of us.”
For the busy assistant pastor, running road races and entering the triathlon is about testing his limits.
“I want to push myself to the very limits,” he emphasized, adding that he is constantly challenging himself both physically and intellectually.
“That’s the secret to accomplish anything in life,” he said. “That’s the way to success in everything.”
Father Willenberg emphasized that the pain he sometimes suffers in his legs after a long run is outweighed by the satisfaction and thrill of accomplishing the goal.
“Nothing comes easy,” he admitted. “When you make a sacrifice and it hurts, the satisfaction from reaching your goal is greater.”
To prepare for the triathalon, Father Willenberg rises every morning at 5 a.m. and swims at a local gym in winter or at a nearby beach in warmer weather. He also runs throughout Barrington and across the state border into Swansea, Mass., and rides his bike when he has the opportunity.
“It’s a challenge to find the time,” he admitted. “I get up early and whether its hot, cold or raining, I just do it.”
Father Willenberg added that while he receives a lot of encouragement and support from his priest-friends, none have yet to join him in his strenuous athletic pursuits.
The active priest-athlete added that while he has a healthy appetite, he watches what he eats, despite having a fondness for sweets.
“Food is fuel - hydration is very important,” he said. “I walk around with my water bottle. I thank God every day for my health.”
Father Willenberg stated that he often uses the time spent training and participating in athletic competitions to pray and plan homilies while enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.
“It’s active meditation,” he reflected. “I return with a fresh mind.”
