Some people visit Hawaii to lay on a beach and vacation. Others travel to the Pacific Islands to conquer the world… At least, that’s what it feels like to many competitors in the upcoming Ironman World Championships.
An article posted recently in the New York Daily News told the story of Jessica Marino, a 31-year old triathlon competitor from New York, who has dedicated more than a year of her life to training for the October race in Kona, Hawaii.
Marino, who according to the article works full time as a finance professional, told the Daily News she spends at least 25 hours a week training her body for the event.
“It’s tough because there are only so many hours in the day,” Marino admitted to reporters. “I don’t really have a social life. Every minute is taken up working, eating, working out or sleeping.”
Why such a rigorous routine? The race (arguably the most demanding in the world) consists of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and, as the cherry on top, a 26.2 mile marathon to finish. Despite the daunting figures, Marino has competed in three Ironman Triathlons. This, however, will be her first time racing at the World Championship, the author writes.
The Daily News writes that Marino’s craving for competition dates back to her days as a soccer player at the University of Richmond. When she arrived in New York City in 2005, she got her first glimpse of what the Ironman had to offer.
“I watched the New York City marathon the first year I lived here and I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m on the wrong side of the fence… So I signed up for the next year.”
Marino is one of 20 competitors from New York who qualified for the upcoming event, and, according to the article, she will be racing with roughly 2,000 athletes for the World Championship.
via Barry Oberholzer http://barryoberholzer.net/getting-physically-and-mentally-prepared-for-a-triathlon/
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