A couple years ago, Cliff Worden-Rogers could barely swim. On July 13, the Wentzells Lake native qualified for the Ironman world championships after completing not only a 1.9-km swim, but also a 90-km bike ride and 21.1-km run, in about four and half hours at the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island.

He finished first in his age group and 27th overall out of about 1,500 entrants.

“I knew that if I wanted any chance of qualifying for worlds I’d have to finish the swim in under 36 minutes. When I saw the time clock as I got out of the water - 32:00 - I knew this was going to be a great day,” said the 2007 Canadian long-distance duathlon championships silver medallist.

Next up was the bike course, which he compared to riding Route 3 between Bridgewater and Lunenburg - over and over and over again.

“My bike went really well. I passed hundreds of athletes. My bike and swim were the two things I focused on this spring and both paid off.”

Nobody passed him during that stage.

“On the run is when I started thinking I might win. During my first loop I didn’t see any of my competitors. I ran as hard as I could just in case someone was ahead of me that I missed. Crossing the finish line I still didn’t know I won.”

He found out about an hour later.

“‘Mission accomplished’ is all I thought.”

Mr. Worden-Rogers said he couldn’t swim while attending the University of New Brunswick three years ago, so he concentrated on running, cycling and duathlons.

“But in the back of my mind, I knew I would have to learn to swim. I just didn’t know when that would be.”

It was around that time he started swimming regularly, and by last spring, he’d competed in his first half Ironman.

“I was a terrible swimmer. I hated it because I was so competitive in my bike and run, but swimming put me so far behind. The only good thing is you get to pass a lot of people once you get out.”

Still, his swimming turned the corner in May.

“I joined a swim group - actually I joined three - to help get some speed. What I needed was to chase people - simple as that - it brought me out of my comfort zone and this really helped me improve,” said the Ottawa resident.

“I swallowed a lot of water and was frustrated a lot, because I was always chasing, but I kept with it. I’d always come home with a smile though, telling my girlfriend how my times just kept getting better and better.”

That hard work paid off at his fifth career triathlon earlier this month in Rhode Island.

“I stuck with a plan for six months that was strict and painful, but I knew would work. It made me fix my problem areas instead of just focusing on my strengths. I pushed my limits and exceeded my expectations. Isn’t that the way we should all live?”

Mr. Worden-Rogers plans to post a video journal of his progress towards November’s world championships in Florida at www.LiveMultiSport.com.