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Tag: ironman triathlon

  • Orlando half-marathon welcomes inspiring athletes with disabilities

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    The 49th annual OUC Orlando Half Marathon is set to take place on Dec. 6 at Lake Eola, welcoming more than 5,000 participants to its inclusive event. Chris Nikic, a Special Olympics Florida athlete who made history in 2020 as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon, is preparing to run the hometown half-marathon for the first time.”To blow past everyone,” Nikic said. “I have been doing half-marathons, which is pretty cool, and the crowd.” He is also proud to be a leader in recruiting athletes to participate, saying, “I am the top leader in recruiting athletes to come out and participate.”Chris’s father, Nik Nikic, shared insights into his son’s training regimen, noting, “Noah and his friends are helping him train by running at a faster pace for him. And teaching him what it feels like to run at, say, an eight-minute pace versus a 10- or 12-minute pace.” Nik also praised the event, saying, “OUC is wonderful, especially with track shack being part of it,” and emphasized the importance of the marathon, stating, “I think this is a great opportunity. For us to be an example for the rest of the world, and Central Florida and Orlando is a hub for all these things anyway.”Another inspiring participant is Caleb Prewitt, who, along with his mother Karen, will be traveling from Jacksonville to run the OUC half-marathon and the 5K. Caleb has completed 127 races, and they enjoy running together while raising community awareness and promoting inclusion. Karen expressed their passion for the sport, saying, “Do we love running? Yes. We love running — we love racing — we do triathlons as well, so we are kind of crazy.”She highlighted the importance of inclusion, stating, “For him to be included – for people to see him out running – to see what people with Down syndrome and other disabilities can do.”Caleb shared his favorite aspect of running.”So, running with mom,” Caleb said. “We usually run together. I think it’s just the community — we are part of a number of running groups. We just have a lot of fun with it.”Chris and Caleb are among the many remarkable runners to cheer for during the OUC weekend in downtown Orlando.

    ORLANDO, Fla. —

    The 49th annual OUC Orlando Half Marathon is set to take place on Dec. 6 at Lake Eola, welcoming more than 5,000 participants to its inclusive event.

    Chris Nikic, a Special Olympics Florida athlete who made history in 2020 as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon, is preparing to run the hometown half-marathon for the first time.

    “To blow past everyone,” Nikic said. “I have been doing half-marathons, which is pretty cool, and the crowd.”

    He is also proud to be a leader in recruiting athletes to participate, saying, “I am the top leader in recruiting athletes to come out and participate.”

    Chris’s father, Nik Nikic, shared insights into his son’s training regimen, noting, “Noah and his friends are helping him train by running at a faster pace for him. And teaching him what it feels like to run at, say, an eight-minute pace versus a 10- or 12-minute pace.”

    Nik also praised the event, saying, “OUC is wonderful, especially with track shack being part of it,” and emphasized the importance of the marathon, stating, “I think this is a great opportunity. For us to be an example for the rest of the world, and Central Florida and Orlando is a hub for all these things anyway.”

    Another inspiring participant is Caleb Prewitt, who, along with his mother Karen, will be traveling from Jacksonville to run the OUC half-marathon and the 5K.

    Caleb has completed 127 races, and they enjoy running together while raising community awareness and promoting inclusion.

    Karen expressed their passion for the sport, saying, “Do we love running? Yes. We love running — we love racing — we do triathlons as well, so we are kind of crazy.”

    She highlighted the importance of inclusion, stating, “For him to be included – for people to see him out running – to see what people with Down syndrome and other disabilities can do.”

    Caleb shared his favorite aspect of running.

    “So, running with mom,” Caleb said. “We usually run together. I think it’s just the community — we are part of a number of running groups. We just have a lot of fun with it.”

    Chris and Caleb are among the many remarkable runners to cheer for during the OUC weekend in downtown Orlando.

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  • LI leader’s new book links Ironman grit to cancer fight | Long Island Business News

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    THE BLUEPRINT:

    • LI leader beat cancer twice using Ironman mindset

    • ‘‘ offers lessons from triathlon to treatment

    • Balances personal story with leadership and coaching insights

    • Book addresses healthcare inequality in cancer care access

    In his new book, “Every Mile Matters,” local leader Jeffrey Reynolds shares how his experience as an Ironman athlete became a powerful tool in his fight against cancer – not once, but twice. Reynolds, president and CEO of Family and Children’s Association, said he approached cancer treatment with the same discipline and determination he brought to endurance training, transforming adversity into resilience.

    At 55, Reynolds joined an elite group of athletes in 2021 completing a 140.6-mile in Florida. But the victory was short-lived. A routine PSA test led to a prostate cancer diagnosis, followed by a more severe blow: Stage 3B colorectal cancer. Reynolds found himself applying the same grit and strategy he used in endurance sports to navigate a high-stakes medical battle.

    “I went from being at the peak of physical fitness to facing my own mortality,” Reynolds said in a news release about the book. “But I quickly realized that triathlon had been preparing me for this race I never signed up for.”

    Reynolds said he found the discipline to push through “the wall” at mile 20 of a marathon, and the ability to stay calm in chaotic open water –  all of which equipped him with the tools to face cancer head on.

    With that approach, Reynolds said he persevered through months of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, while continuing to lead one of Long Island’s oldest and largest organizations and also coaching others who had been newly diagnosed.

    In the book, Reynolds offers practical wisdom for anyone facing life’s biggest challenges. He also shares “training tips” for building holistic resilience – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – that transcend the athletic arena into everyday leadership.

    The book also delivers a sobering critique of America’s healthcare system. Reynolds contrasts his access to top-tier care with the stark disparities that influence cancer outcomes – where race, education, income and geography can play a role.

    “‘Every Mile Matters’ is a triumph of heart and soul in battling the demons of cancer,” Mike Reilly, an ambassador caption for the Ironman Foundation, said in the news release.

    “Jeffrey Reynolds has captured each defining moment of his with honesty, passion, and remarkable clarity,” Reilly added. Through his story, he teaches us powerful life lessons – and more importantly, how to live them daily.”

    The book is available on and through its dedicated website of the same title.

     


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    Adina Genn

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