I started working out in high school and continued through college, mostly lifting weights and doing little cardio. I also played recreational sports during this time. That ended once my career began. Not only did I “not have enough time,” but I had burnt myself out. That was 20+ years ago.
I have been interested in competing in the Ironman for quite some time now. I signed up back in 2022 but never showed up. I didn’t even start training for that one. Last year, I decided that I was going to give it a shot this time. In June of 2023, I got off the couch and joined BRF. I needed a place to swim. Little did I know that it would be much more than a place to swim!
I took advantage of some of the services offered here, such as a nutritionist, personal trainer, and assisted stretching. I also took advantage of some of the classes offered such as spinning, yoga, and Boot Camp. Melissa, Matt, Josh, Jon, and Kim have all played an important role in accomplishing my goals. A big thanks goes out to all of you! I appreciate all of your support and encouragement.
I signed up for the Ironman because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. That I wasn’t too old.
I did face an obstacle in the very first week of training. I tore my calf muscle while playing tennis. This definitely put a damper on my game plan, but I pushed through. However, it was not until I changed my nutrition lifestyle that things really improved. My nutritionist, Matt, introduced me to some very eye-opening changes that could be made in my diet.
My initial plan was to start doing the 70.3 Ironman, working my way to qualify for the World Championship race within the next 3-5 years. However, I ended up qualifying for the World Championship race in the first year. I will be going to New Zealand to compete in December. After that, I will be starting on the 140.6 Ironman by competing in the North American Championship in April of 2025. Wish me luck!
My advice to anyone wanting to go from “couch” to whatever their fitness goal may be, is to think about the following questions:
• How do I know what I should be eating, and how much?
• How do I know what exercises I should be doing?
• Do I need to stretch?
• Should I be taking any classes?
Register for the Beechmont Racquet & Fitness Indoor Triathlon | Sunday, February 23, 2025