With his 60th birthday closing in, Mick Hewson decided he needed a new challenge in life害羞草研究所攂oth mentally and physically.
The Kelowna man expects to get his fill of both when he competes this summer in his first ever triathlon.
On July 30 in Whistler, along with more than 1,300 other competitors, Hewson will take on the considerable demands of a 3.8-km swim, 180-km bike ride and 42.2-km run.
A team sport athlete all his life, Hewson felt the time was right to put his personal strength and resolve to the test.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e never challenged myself like this as an individual person,害羞草研究所� said Hewson, who moved to Kelowna from Vancouver in 2014. 害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e in a team environment you rely on other people and they rely on you害羞草研究所ou can kind of take a breather.
害羞草研究所淲ith (triathlon) you害羞草研究所檝e got to go for it. There害羞草研究所檚 no one else to depend on, it害羞草研究所檚 all on you. That害羞草研究所檚 what害羞草研究所檚 appealing about it.害羞草研究所�
Undaunted by the heavy training schedule, Hewson began his regime in the pool in December, swimming three to four times per week. In the months since, he has added extensive training sessions both running and on the bike and is gaining strength, stamina and confidence with each passing week.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a progressional thing, phenomenal really,害羞草研究所� said Hewson, who has played rugby much of his life. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 doing a little bit extra each time out, and looking back just a few months, I would have never been able to do the things I害羞草研究所檓 doing now.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a real path of self discovery for me.害羞草研究所�
Hewson害羞草研究所檚 primary objective for his first Ironman Canada is to finish before midnight, getting in before the 17-hour cutoff time.
害羞草研究所淚 would really like to finish by 10 in the evening but that might be too much to ask. I just want to finish before midnight, before the massage therapist goes home, so I can get a free massage,害羞草研究所� Hewson added with a laugh.
Hewson, a former member of the British Air Force who is now semi-retired and drives a school bus part-time, hopes Ironman Canada will be the first of many challenges he conquers over the next decade.
Next year, Hewson has plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
