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Son will pull/push dad with MS through triathlon

Jim Cornick takes a selfie with his son as they make their way through the streets of Washington D.C. during the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon. (Provided photo — Jim Cornick)

TUPPER LAKE — Jim and Jeff Cornick had a typical and ideal father-son relationship years ago. Jeff, the son, loved being involved in sports with his father Jim.

Playing basketball and riding mountain bikes were just two of many activities they enjoyed together when Jeff was growing up in the Saratoga Springs region. The two have had plenty of experience on the endurance scene as well. Jim is a veteran of nine marathons and many more half-marathons, while Jeff has recorded two finishes in the Ironman Lake Placid triathlon during his career as a distance athlete.

On Saturday, they’ll be together again as entrants in the 35th annual Tupper Lake Tinman triathlon. But this time, they won’t be racing side by side like they did when Jeff completed a solo competition for the final time with his son at his side in the 2014 half Ironman in Maryland.

In 1998, Jim was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The symptoms became progressively more severe and ultimately took away his motor abilities a little more than two years ago.

So this time around, Jeff, who is 38, will be pulling and pushing his 63-year-old father in an adaptive wheeled chair during the Tinman as they aim for a bigger feat: to participate as a team next June in the full-distance Ironman Boulder.

Jeff Cornick, left, and his dad Jim run together during a 2013 triathlon in Clifton Park. (Photo provided)

On Tuesday, the father-and-son team spoke to the Enterprise in a three-way conference call. Jim, who is also known as “Pops” retired from the Saratoga Springs Police Department 10 years ago and lives in Queensbury, and Jeff lives in Balston Spa and works for Saratoga’s police as a computer technician.

If there’s a team identity, Jim will most likely be the guy supplying the humor with Jeff taking on the physical strength and endurance duties.

“Ever since he was a kid he’s wanted me to be doing stuff with him — running, mountain biking, playing ball, all types of sports. I guess he doesn’t want to give that up yet,” Jim said. “We got him a mountain bike when he was 12, and he thought I should get one too. Of course, I hadn’t been on a bike in 30 years, but I did it. And we played basketball together all the time.

“Genetically, I have to thank Pops for a very special gift of athleticism,” Jeff said. “He was always doing something with me, spending time with me, and to continue to do things with him through athletics is a very big deal. If this is the route we go, that’s alright. A lot of people don’t have their dads around. Probably, by the end of the day I will have had enough of him.”

The Cornicks will attempt to complete Tinman’s Olympic distance, which includes a .93-mile swim, a 26-mile bike ride and a 6.2-mile run. That’s the minimum distance they need to finish in order to qualify for the 2018 Ironman Boulder.

“Boulder and Wisconsin are the only two Ironmans where we would be able to do this,” Jeff said. “And when you look at the scenery, the venue, why wouldn’t you go to Boulder?”

During Saturday’s race, Jim will swim while pulling Pops in an inflatable kayak, pull him on the bike leg and push him during the run in what they affectionately call “The Chariot,” which is a wheeled chair Pops will be sitting in.

“I think our big goal is Ironman Boulder in 2018,” Jeff said. “In order to do that we have to do an Olympic distance race prior to the Ironman. Tupper Lake looked like a good fit for an Olympic distance triathlon. It’s all we have scheduled, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we try to put something on the plate later in the year.”

Jim joked that his training mainly consisted of relaxing in his lawn chair enjoying a sunny day.

“He’s going to be pulling on ahead of me, and he’s going to be pushing me,” Jim said. “I have a lot of confidence in him. He’s been training for the Ironman Lake Placid. He’s a beast. Jeff’s going to be the arms and the legs. My job — I’m the nutrition engineer. I’ll be making sure he’s eating and stays hydrated.”

Jeff will be looking to complete his third Ironman Lake Placid on July 23.

The pair haven’t trained a lot together with their set ups, but have tried them out.

“We’ve done each element of the race,” Jim said. “Obviously, Jeff is in great shape. He’s training for the Lake Placid Ironman. As far as my training goes, I’m relaxing in a lawn chair.”

The adaptive wheeled chair the pair will be using isn’t cheap. Jim said it costed $5,500, and they’ve embarked on a bottle and can drive to help pay for it. Part of their final preparations this week for the race include redeeming $3,000 in returnables.

“No need to do the math, that’s 60,000 cans and bottles,” Jim said.

“It’s been hard work,” Jeff added. “It’s difficult to ask people to donate money in this financial world, and this seemed to be a good fit. We’ve had restaurants and families donate, and there’s been some dumpster diving involved.”

The Cornicks are participating in the Tinman to continue their personal bond, but, more importantly, they are shedding light on a nation-wide organization known as Ainsley’s Angels, which is named after the daughter of Marine Corps Major Kim Rossiter. Ainsley was born in 2003 and passed away at the age of 13 after succumbing to Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, a rare terminal illness of which only 20 active cases are known across the United States.

“Pops has been involved in Ainsley’s Angels,” Jeff said. “It’s named after a Marine Corps major’s daughter who had a fatal illness. He started taking her for runs in the wheelchair and she really enjoyed it. Today, they have races all around the country.”

The organization provides adaptive equipment for athletics, as well as assistance, including pushers for running chairs at events. The Cornicks purchased their Adaptive Star-manufactured chariot through Ainsley’s Angels. They have used it in a number of running races, including the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon, but Saturday will mark their first triathlon experience as a team.

The Cornicks will definitely be one of the most visible triathletes in Saturday’s race, and Jeff said that’s just fine with them.

“I’m not going to deny that we will be noticed,” said Jeff, who is a certified USAT coach. “I’m happy about that. If a person can’t do something due to their health, it doesn’t mean somebody can’t help them out. When people see us, maybe they will realize that anything is possible. Maybe they say ‘Hey, I can do that.'”

The determination Jeff displayed during the summer of 2012 could very well back up the words “Anything is possible.” That year marked the only time Jeff has entered the Tupper Lake Tinman. He broke his clavicle in a bike crash during the race, but a month later, he one-armed his way through the Ironman swim, completed the bike course with 45 minutes to spare and crossed the Lake Placid Ironman finish line wrapped up in a sling.

“Our only goal is to finish, and finish safely,” Jeff said.

The Cornicks will also be quite visible near the transition area Saturday. They plan to arrive in Tupper Lake Friday evening and will park their RV and trailer at Municipal Park, where they will camp. Their vehicle will be emblazoned in Ainsley’s Angels colors and the organization’s logo.

Jim’s wife Terry and Jeff’s girlfriend Kristin Kandiel will make the trip as the team’s support crew.

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