What It Takes to Be an Ironman Triathlete
You may know him as NFL Hines Ward or Dancing with the Stars Hines Ward. Time to satisfy IRONMAN Hines Ward
Throughout his 14 years as a Pittsburgh Steeler, Hines Ward nabbed two Tremendous Bowl rings and was named MVP of Tremendous Bowl XL. He holds Steelers information for receptions, receiving touchdowns, and receiving yardage. And if all these soccer feats weren’t sufficient, you may additionally know him because the season 12 winner of slightly present referred to as Dancing with the Stars (try his finale Samba on YouTube!).
Despite his many accomplishments, Ward isn’t the sort to take a break—just a bit over a 12 months after retiring from the NFL, he’s now teaming up with ‘bought chocolate milk?’ to coach for the mom of all triathlons: the 2013 Ironman World Championship triathlon in Hawaii.
At this level I ought to in all probability point out that I’m from Pittsburgh and a huge fan. So after I bought the prospect to speak with Ward about his triathlon preparation and the way he stays motivated and impressed, first I had a minor freak-out second within the workplace convention room, after which I jumped on the telephone. Right here’s what we chatted about—the next Q&A has been edited for readability and size.
You’re doing the Ironman World Championship Triathlon in Hawaii in October. How is soccer coaching totally different from Ironman coaching?
It’s like night time and day. In soccer, every part is about pace, energy, quickness, explosiveness, whereas turning into an endurance athlete is all about pacing your self—to not solely go quick, however go the gap. In soccer, I by no means ran over a mile a day in my life. Now I’m as much as like 13 miles, the midway level.
Was that essentially the most difficult a part of the transition?
Essentially the most difficult [part] in all probability needed to do with operating and swimming. I truly beloved the biking half. However the swimming half, being that I don’t actually just like the ocean and watch too many Jaws motion pictures, it’s one thing that I’m adjusting to on the run. Within the open water, 2.4 miles is a lengthy means. And also you not solely do the two.4-mile swim after which 112-mile bike, it’s a must to run a marathon on the finish. I’m going about it backwards—normally folks do the half marathon, after which work their means as much as a marathon, after which transition over into the triathlon world. I’m getting the crash course, attempting to do an Ironman Kona. That’s just like the Tremendous Bowl of the triathlon world, and I’m attempting to coach for it in lower than a 12 months. However I’ve an ideal coach—Paula Newby-Fraser. She’s type of the Michael Jordan within the triathlon world. She’s simply been phenomenal, taking it gradual with me day-to-day, and serving to me perceive that it’s all about caring for your physique, refueling your physique.
The Ironman takes an insane quantity of endurance and dedication. Throughout your coaching, do you ever simply wish to stop? How do you maintain on?
No query, I wish to stop! I discover myself swimming and my shoulder—having a variety of shoulder accidents over the course of my 14-year profession in soccer, it takes a toll on you. And while you’re on the market operating—I did an Olympic triathlon down in St. Pete, the final half was 6.2 miles, and I hit perhaps the fourth mile, and I actually questioned myself, like, ‘Man, what on this planet am I doing?’ However all people is so encouraging. The opposite rivals, they’re like, ‘Come on, Hines, you’re doing nice!’ It’s onerous for me to cease when all people is so encouraging. They push me by means of these instances, after which while you get near the end line, and also you see the end line, while you cross the end line, it’s essentially the most rewarding factor ever.
You mentioned within the first episode of Change into One, which chronicles your Ironman coaching (ed word: as a part of Ward’s partnership with ‘bought chocolate milk?’), that seeing your self ending is what drives you. And also you mentioned on Dancing with the Stars two years again that you simply wish to envision your self scoring that landing, successful that mirror ball trophy.
Yeah. As slightly child I used to emulate the Tremendous Bowl MVPs. The day after Joe Montana received the Tremendous Bowl MVP, I’m outdoors at recess, I’m the quarterback pretending to be Joe Montana. So I’m an enormous fan of visualizing your self engaging in a aim, and that’s what motivates me. I can see myself crossing that end line and the announcer saying, “Hines Ward, you might be an Ironman.”
What recommendation do you may have for girls working towards their very own health objectives, and even life objectives?
Proceed to have enjoyable and set objectives. And actually when you set a aim, commit your self to that aim. As soon as I set my thoughts to it, I’m all in. I don’t get off beam till I obtain that aim, in order that’s the recommendation I’ve for everybody.
And envision your self reaching it!
Oh, no query.
Final query: What girl evokes you essentially the most?
My mom has at all times been my inspiration. She taught me the true worth of onerous work and set in stone the never-quit mentality. If you begin one thing, at all times end, discover a method to end it. With all of the issues she needed to endure in life, she by no means stop, she by no means gave up, and she or he by no means used excuses. She began this journey to come back over right here from Korea to America to offer me a greater life. And look how my life has turned out.
photograph: Paul Phillips, Aggressive Picture
Extra from Girls’s Well being:
You Can Be a Triathlete
Make a Change: Begin Working Intervals
Quick-Observe Your Health Outcomes
