Meet our March Athlete Spotlight, Paul Wilson. Paul is part of Team Paragon now for the third year, and he has regularly pushed himself at our evening adult swimming practices. Paul is on his way to his first full IRONMAN event at IRONMAN Wisconsin in September 2020! He lives and trains by the mantra, "I Will Not Quit."
Age: 57
Occupation: Pastor, Life Coach
How long have you been swimming, cycling, running, or doing triathlons?
I embarked on my triathlon journey six years ago. At the time, I was nearly forty pounds overweight, terribly out of shape, and completely inexperienced in anything to do with triathlons. Never swam competitively. Never biked much further than a few miles recreationally. Absolutely hated running. I was starting completely from scratch. When I was a teenager, I read an article in Sports Illustrated about the first IRONMAN race. I was astonished; amazed that any human could even do such a thing. I spent the next forty years convinced I could never do that. At age 52, I decided I didn’t want to die without having tried. I set a goal to become an IRONMAN before the age of 60.
I will attempt my first full-distance IRONMAN on Sunday, September 13, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin at the age of 58.
Why do you like endurance sports?
I like endurance sports for what they teach me about myself, about life, and about the human spirit. I like triathlons for the variety. If I had to do any of the three sports by themselves, I’d get bored. Juggling the three disciplines keeps me interested
What is your favorite training or racing event, and why?
I have done two Sprint, five Olympic, and three – soon to be, four – 70.3 distance triathlons. I have found I enjoy the 70.3 distance the most. It all just moves at a more reasonable pace for my current ability as a triathlete. I hope I find the full distance event even more fascinating. Doing triathlons well into my eighties is my podium strategy.
What is your favorite post-workout or race meal?
Honestly, at about the half-way point of the run – when I am really struggling – I start thinking about the chips, salsa, and ice-cold glass of Coca-Cola with a lemon wedge I am going to savor as my reward for completing another race.
What is one recent accomplishment you are proud of?
Last December, I completed my second full marathon as another step in my IRONMAN journey. By better managing my hydration, nutrition, pace, and heart rate, I ran the entire course without stopping to walk…taking an hour and eight minutes off of my finish time from the same race a year earlier. It was a huge confidence builder for this struggling runner.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
An inspiring person who lived my life to the fullest, motivating a few people along the way to join me for the journey.
What is something no one knows about you?
I am a sculptor. I create works of art with clay that become bronze sculptures for sale.
Paragon Training - San Antonio Triathlon Team - San Antonio Triathlon Coach
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