NORMAL - The couple that swims 2.4 miles, bikes 112 miles and runs 26.2 miles together - all in the same 12- to 16-hour period - sticks together.

At least that is how it has been for Laura Vedeen and Dan Wheatley.

The 24-year-old Illinois State graduate students are engaged to each other. The other love in their lives is the Ironman triathlon, of which they have completed six since 2005.

Their most recent 140.6-mile race was Sunday's Ironman Arizona in Tempe, where Vedeen lowered her personal-best by over 41 minutes to 11 hours, 52 minutes, 47 seconds and Wheatley lowered his best by more than 21 minutes to 13:57:27.

Wheatley, a former Ridgeview High School athlete from Colfax, and Vedeen, a Roselle native who attended Hoffman Estates Conant, say their sport has made their relationship stronger.

There is no such thing as an awkward silence when you're dying to know how your loved one's weekly 15- to 20-hour training routine has gone.

"We've probably done more together for this one than we have in the past," said Wheatley prior to Sunday's race.

"This year, especially on the runs, we did a lot of talking, catching up on the day," Vedeen agreed.

Appropriately enough, Vedeen and Wheatley met as members of ISU's triathlon club. That is how Wheatley heard Vedeen had signed up for the 2005 Ironman Wisconsin.

"I was kind of interested in her," he said with a smile. "So I was like 'Maybe I should sign up for this and we could train together or something.' "

By March of 2005, they were dating.

"We were dating when we did our first (Ironman), and we've been dating ever since," he said.

Also keeping them together and in their sport are their studies. Vedeen is in exercise physiology and Wheatley biomechanics. His undergraduate degree was in exercise science.

Rest assured, they apply their scientific knowledge to their training.

"All the time," said Vedeen.

The couple aims to get married in December 2009, which should give them plenty of time to recover from the Ironman Canada in August, which they have already signed up for.

There was a time when Vedeen thought completing an Ironman triathlon was impossible. But a short, "sprint" triathlon intrigued her and seemed doable.

"Pretty much when I started training for that, I got hooked," said Vedeen, who progressed to Olympic distance triathlons next. "The sense of accomplishment kicked in and then - six Ironmen in four years."

Wheatley, who has had several knee surgeries, has a 2-4 record against his fiancée.

"In her age group, she's phenomenal," he said.

"We've both improved a lot, especially him having to cope with injuries," said Vedeen, who is proud Wheatley finished June's Ironman Coeur d'Alene despite missing several weeks of training because of National Guard duty.

"He's missing key training or he's injured and he still manages to do well."