FITNESS & WELLNESS
Triathletes Gear Up to Race F
or a shining example of what it looks like to make a plan, stick to it, put in weeks of hard work, and accomplish something spectacular, look no further than the triathlon and running community at MAC. There’s the weeks of training — both mentally and physically. There’s choosing the right gear and practicing how to transition from swimming to biking to running. There’s figuring out how to fuel oneself for several hours of taxing physical activity. Then, eventually, there’s the thrill of crossing the finish line on race day. It’s all part of the experience that keeps triathletes like MAC members Dave Hanna and Charles Turner coming back for more. They’re both gearing up for Ironman 70.3 Oregon in July — a test of endurance that takes racers on a 1.2-mile swim in the Willamette River, a 56-mile bike ride through Salem, and a half marathon run through Minto-Brown Island Park.
The Why Behind the Tri Hanna is a seasoned runner and triathlete who’s completed many races, including Olympic distances, two 70.3 Ironman races, and one full-course 140.6 Ironman. “I love the variety that triathlon brings to exercise,” he explains. What drives him isn’t the desire to win or compete with anyone besides himself but rather an intrinsic motivation to challenge his own limits. “For Ironman, the likelihood of winning your age division is minimal, and if that’s the recipe for success or enjoyment, you’re likely to be disappointed,” he says. “My favorite part of training might be the
48 | The Wınged M | MAY 2023
individual time to think, plan, pray, and converse with myself. I love knowing that I’m doing something that is truly challenging.” Turner has also been active in the tri scene for a while, having been persuaded by a cycling buddy to sign up for an event four years ago. He’s completed five Ironman 70.3 races and two full Ironmans, and ran his first marathon in April. “I was absolutely not a runner,” he declares. “I started running in 2018, figuring if I couldn’t run a half marathon, a 70.3 wouldn’t happen. I vowed not to buy a tri bike until completing one, but the bike I was looking at went on sale. I bought the bike so had to figure the running out.”
Training Preparing the body and mind for a race like an Ironman 70.3 could mean 12 to 16 weeks of workouts, pushing up to 10 to 15 hours per week — plus the right balance of rest and recovery, adequate sleep, equipment and mechanical maintenance, and proper nutrition. According to MAC personal trainer Patrick Fisher, the most important aspect of any training plan is consistency. “Depending upon the event and the distance required, the mix of activities should be training Tuesday through Sunday. Some training plans may require two sessions a day,” he says. “Making a spreadsheet or writing in a journal detailing each workout helps when looking at the days, weeks, and months leading up to the event. Include days off for recovery and a couple of days a week for mobility and strength work.”