Meet this month's Athlete Spotlight -- Zack Dorman! Zack is coached by coach Mark and has been involved with sports since he was little, and would eventually run in college. Now Zack is an accomplished triathlete who is always hungry to learn more! Check out the Q & A with Zack:
Age: 40
Occupation: Consultant
How long have you been swimming, cycling, running, and/or doing triathlons?
Growing up I was always involved with sports, including baseball and ice hockey. I started running Track and XC when I was in 7th grade, and would eventually go on to run in college. I got my first road bike right after graduating college and was into cycling and running on and off through my 20's and 30's. Eventually I got the itch to start competing in triathlons in 2020 so I started learning how to swim freestyle.
What aspects of training and/or racing do you enjoy most?
Running will always have a special place in my heart but I really just enjoy training in general. I love the structure it provides, and often times find my problem solving abilities at an all time high while in the middle of a really long swim, bike, or run workout. I wish I had this perspective when I was younger, I think my PR's would have been a little faster!
What has been your favorite training or racing event, and why?
I really enjoy ALL races because I get to see other teammates from Paragon! I do the large majority of my training alone so it's nice to see everyone in person during race weekends. If I had to pick a favorite event though it would be Ironman Texas. It was my first full Ironman and ended up being a very long but memorable day. Honorable mention goes out to Winnerval Wednesday. Everyone from the team who joins makes waking up at 4:30 AM to punish your legs worth it.
What is your favorite post-workout or race meal?
VERY cold tart cherry juice followed by fajitas with extra salty chips and salsa 🤌
What is one recent accomplishment you are proud of?
Taking 2nd place in my AG at Ironman 70.3 Waco this year and accepting a slot to the 2025 70.3 World Championships! I had hopes of possibly getting a roll down slot but didn't think I'd ever place so high in my AG. It was a nice validation of how consistent my training has been over the past few years and how much progress I've made.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Retired, healthy, and happy.
What is something no one knows about you?
I come from a very athletic and competitive family. Along with my Dad, my brother and all of my cousins were also athletes in college. I'm very proud that we have multiple state championships, NCAA records, and even professional experience in our family tree. Our medal room would be quite large.
Why do you race/train?
For me endurance sports are a nice way to put the other stressful areas of life into perspective. It teaches me a lot about discipline, hard work, and problem solving. And along with the health benefits, I also hope to set a good example for my daughter as she grows up and hopefully finds a sport or two that she enjoys. The non-philosophical answer is I really just love to eat food and get 8 hours of sleep!
I enjoy the strategic planning aspect of training and racing the most it reminds me of the analytical approach I use in business management assignment help. Breaking down goals, setting milestones, and continuously improving feels both challenging and rewarding. The sense of achievement after reaching a target is unmatched. It's all about growth and perseverance.