Talk about covering some distance \u2014 97,075 yards swimming, 2,665 miles biking and 522 miles running. Then throw in about 15-20 hours per week working out in the gym. And those are just individual training numbers since October of 2014.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s some pretty serious commitment exhibited by two Delta State University employees \u2014 Doug Pinkerton and Chris Giger \u2014 both prepping for the May 16 Ironman race outside Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n
Ironman, known by many as the most extreme endurance race on Earth, begins with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and concludes with a marathon-distance 26.2-mile run.<\/p>\n
So why compete in this grueling test of fortitude?<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at it as a challenge not everybody can do. Everybody has their passion and this is just one of my passions,\u201d said Pinkerton, director of HPER facilities, operations and programming. \u201cI feel blessed with the ability of endurance. If you\u2019ve got it, you need to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pinkerton, also the university\u2019s cross country coach, completed his first Ironman in 2007 in Arizona. He\u2019ll be testing his will again thanks to a push from Giger, enterprise application director with the Office of Information Technology.<\/p>\n
\u201cChris came to me a couple years ago and told me he was interested in doing triathlons,\u201d said Pinkerton. \u201cHe got started, and just like me he got addicted to it. I didn\u2019t plan on doing this race, period. He came to me and said he was going to do it and so I decided I\u2019d get in there with him and train hard for eight months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since then, the two have relied on each other and trained together. They both cited accountability \u2014 leaning on each other to make sure they keep sight of the end goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoug\u2019s been there from the beginning,\u201d said Giger. \u201cThere\u2019s so much that goes into training for a triathlon. I can go to him with my questions, and training with him really has been a learning experience. There\u2019s a science behind it, and he\u2019s helped guide me through this process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pinkerton has been participating in triathlons since 1999, and Giger is now in his third triathlon season. Next week\u2019s Ironman marks Giger\u2019s first.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy ultimate goal is just to finish and be standing at the end,\u201d said Giger.<\/p>\n
Along with the support they\u2019ve given each other, both said they\u2019ve found motivation in the backing they\u2019ve received from family, campus and the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe neat thing about working at Delta State is that people show a lot of interest,\u201d said Pinkerton. \u201cChris got me fired up to do another one, but I\u2019ve also had a lot of support from Delta State and Cleveland.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelta State has allowed me the opportunity to access an Olympic-size pool,\u201d said Giger. \u201cI don\u2019t know where I would get my swim training without it. Spin class has been instrumental for my biking training. My coworkers have been very supportive and asked about my progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother big factor has been the support of my family, especially my wife. Training takes up so much time. She\u2019s been great supporting me and working with me on my training schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Pinkerton, this go-around has allowed him to return the favor for all the support he\u2019s received. In the months leading up to the race, Pinkerton led a fundraiser to benefit the Community Fund Program of the Ironman Foundation.<\/p>\n
The program benefits the communities where Ironman events are held by providing charitable support to a variety of local non-profit organizations working with citizens in need.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a few days ago I reached the $5,000 mark,\u201d said Pinkerton, who originally set a goal of $3,000. \u201cI just kept expressing how important this is, and Delta State and the people of Cleveland have been real supportive of the fundraising efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both competitors are itching for race day and to feel the ecstasy after crossing the finish line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already experienced several emotions \u2014 nervousness, anxiousness and excitement,\u201d said Giger. \u201cI\u2019m ready to get it started. I\u2019m always asking myself if I\u2019ve trained enough and if I\u2019ve done enough to prepare. I know I have, but you still question yourself heading into a race of this magnitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you challenge yourself with a crazy race like Ironman, or it\u2019s just walking a mile, I try to get everybody to see that you can do something if you put your mind to it,\u201d added Pinkerton. \u201cDon\u2019t ever think you can\u2019t. Set some goals and go out and achieve them. To me, it\u2019s all about the finish.\u201d<\/p>\n