<p>Rushton has an abundant cheering section. He and his wife Kristen have nine children.</p>

JOHN DAY Dr. Michael Rushton, a podiatrist, really uses his feet.

The Baker City resident, who sees patients in John Day and La Grande as part of his practice, will soon step into the World Championship level in the sport of triathlon.

In three separate events this spring, Rushton clocked times that moved him into the upper level. He is busy preparing for two separate World-level triathlons this fall.

I used to run and cycle a lot, said Rushton, 41, who first entered a triathlon 17 years ago.

The years went by, and a friend invited him two summers ago to enter one in La Grande. He won it.

The following year he entered again, this time with a wetsuit to streamline his profile while swimming in chilly waters.

After a half Ironman competition and another triathlon later, Rushton was hooked.

I trained all winter and entered three of them this spring, he said.

In late April, he jumped into the Wildflower Triathlon in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and won his age group, men 40-44. He was first among 273 competitors in that class.

Most recently, Rushton took sixth place, qualifying for the International Long Course Triathlon World Championships, on June 11. In the Boise event, the Long Course Ironman Triathlon, he cut 17 minutes off his time, gaining the spot for the world competition.

Rushtons next event is on Sept. 11, when hell compete with Team USA in an Ironman series event following international rules. As luck would have it, he said, the competition is being held for the first time in 50 years on American soil. The IM 70.3 World Championships event is set for Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev.

The doctor is also planning for the International Triathlon Long Course World Championships, to be held Nov. 5, also in Las Vegas.

Its all very exciting, said Rushton, who manages to fit triathlon training into his already busy life.

Working three full days a week, he runs during lunchtimes. He swims and cycles when he can, too.

Ive commuted by bike to (work at) La Grande the last two weeks, he said, but I havent figured out how to commute to John Day yet. From Baker City to John Day is 79 miles each way.

He runs short segments when necessary, such as during lunch times. 

I have three months to learn how to swim, he joked. In the triathlon, the aquatic portion is his least strong.

The doctor gives a lot of credit for his success to what could be known as Team Rushton.

He and his wife Kristen have nine young children, and they join him on traveling trips.

This is a family thing. Theyre all there cheering me on, he said.

Mike makes his training a family event and involves us all, said his wife, Kristen. When he ran through the finish line (at Boise on June 11), it was as if we all finished with him. It was special for the whole family.

The Rushtons have lived in Baker City for 11 years.

I know I can get a lot faster. I will get better, said Rushton of work toward this falls competition. I will do well if I work hard this summer.

A link for a video showing Rushton in the Wildflower Triathlon can be found at Rushton video in Wildflower Triathlon:

youtube.com/watch?v=mzGeVSgL_KW.