Meet Horseshoe Cove's IronMan

HORSESHOE COVE — Neil Wilson has always been active, but it wasn’t until he was in his late 30s that the Horseshoe Cove resident became involved in team sports.

He joined a masters swim program and began swimming competitively across the state. And it was while he was swimming in Fort Lauderdale that Wilson first heard about triathlons.

Wilson competed in his first triathlon in 1989. Now, more than 20 years later, Wilson is still active in the sport.

“If you don’t use it, you lose it,” Wilson said. “Not too many people can say they’ve been competing in a sport for more than 20 years and not have had an injury.

“I enjoy the people and the accomplishment of doing it,” he said.

On Nov. 13, Wilson competed in the IronMan 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, where he finished fifth in the 70-74 age group with a time of 6 hours, 21 minutes. The top four finishers had all just moved into the age group, while Wilson had been competing in it for a few years.

“It’s tough competing against kids,” Wilson said.

The IronMan 70.3 series, which is half the distance of a traditional IronMan, includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run.

“I was very happy with my race,” Wilson said. “I was within 10% of the goals that I set for myself, so I was very happy with it. Every race is different. There’s different competition and different conditions.”

Following the race, Wilson did what any championship competitor would do — he went to Disney World with his wife, Jean.

“It was neat to get away and take some time off,” Wilson said. “That’s what they do (after) the Super Bowl.”

This year marked Wilson’s second trip to the World Championships. Last year, Wilson qualified for the World Championships where he finished fourth. This year, Wilson automatically qualified for the World Championships after winning the Florida 70.3 IronMan.

In addition to competing in triathlons and the 70.3 series, Wilson has also done two full IronMans, including one in Panama City, where he finished fourth. Although over the past few years, Wilson has come to enjoy the 70.3 series.

“It’s a challenge to do your first IronMan,” Wilson said. “I did a full one, and then I went out and did a second one. (Although) I really like the 70.3 series. I like the distance. I’m competitive in it, and it’s easier to train for that distance.

Wilson trains six days a week, dividing his time evenly between the three phases of the race.

“When you’re mixing up your sport it helps your body recover,” Wilson said. “I don’t swim, run or bike two days in a row. I alternate it.

“Working out becomes a way of life,” he said. “It’s who you are and what you do.”

Now with the World Championships behind him, Wilson is taking some time off from competition. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be away from the sport entirely. Instead, he plans to cheer on his granddaughter, Chloe, who also recently began competing in triathlons.

“Whenever she goes to a triathlon I ask her, ‘What did you learn that you can use in your next race?” Wilson said.

As for next year, Wilson is undecided as to whether or not he’ll try to compete in the World Championships.

“We’ll see what happens,” Wilson said. “It’s nice to accomplish your goals and finish racing for the season.

“Where do we go from here?” he said. “I would probably never do a full IronMan again because I know what it takes to do it. When I change age groups again I may do another 70.3 IronMan. It’s always fun to do another race.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].