Douglas Gemin, a 67-year-old Kenmore resident and Boeing retiree, devoted 10 months to training for the Aug. 15 Lake Stevens Half Ironman, which consisted of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.

He’ll be at it again for the Sept. 25 Black Diamond Half Ironman.

He had been an active member of Mieko’s Fitness in Canyon Park, but he had never focused on a competition. He had never entered a race, a bicycle ride or a swimming competition.

Last November, while watching a triathlon on television, he announced to his wife, “I can do that.” And his training began in earnest.

Gemin’s wife of 40 years and his five adult sons think he’s remarkable, determined and passionate with this goal — and somewhat crazy. They support him, but do not share his desire to train and compete in an Ironman.

He joined Team Fastt, a loose-knit group of athletes training for several different athletic competitions. Under the tutelage of a coach, his training intensified. He worked out daily for several hours, including a 6 a.m. swim in the Juanita High pool or an afternoon swim in Martha Lake. He trained for the biking and running portions of the competition on the Kenmore, Kirkland and Bothell hills and trails.

Training for a physical competition of this magnitude became a job for Gemin, as he arose at 3 a.m. to eat the first of five or six small daily meals. He then went back to bed until 5 a.m., when he awoke for the day, ate another small meal and began the first of two daily workouts. He tucked two naps into his schedule and bedtime arrived at 10 p.m.

To prepare for the biking portion of the Lake Stevens Half Ironman, Gemin bicycled the 2010 STP (Seattle to Portland) in mid-July. To acquaint himself with the rigors and intricacies of a swim, bike and run competition, on July 31 he participated in the Federal Way Escape, an Olympic-length triathlon. (The three events in an Olympic-length triathlon are approximately half the distances of those in the half Ironman.)

Gemin knew he did well in both the STP and Federal Way Escape and felt well-prepared for the Lake Stevens Half Ironman.

He planned to finish this event in under seven hours, and he is proud of the times he earned in the swimming and biking portions of the half Ironman, but the 13.1-mile run challenged him. In the 95-degree heat of the day, Gemin was forced to walk much of the course. He finished the run amid the cheers of the other athletes and spectators. But his longer-than-expected time of 7 hours, 23 minutes and 15 seconds challenged Gemin to try again at the Black Diamond event.

“It was a learning experience,” he says in assessing his performance in the Lake Stevens Half Ironman. “I think I can do better; I’m going to try again. I just hope it isn’t so hot!”

Gemin is hooked on these competitions. His goal after the Black Diamond event is to train for and compete in a full marathon in the summer of 2011.