SOLDIER TACKLES IRONMAN A brigade NCO became made of iron Aug. 25. That’s when Sgt. 1st Class Jose (Joey) Garcia, of the 76th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, completed the Ironman Louisville, a grueling competition consisting of a 2.4-mile swim in the Ohio River, a 112-mile bicycle race through the Louisville-La Grange area and a 26.2 mile marathon. Garcia, the headquarters senior supply sergeant, finished his swim in 1:19:22, the biking in 6:40:06, and the marathon in 5:24:15. His mother, who raised five children and battles diabetes, inspires Garcia to attack such challenges. “She would never have experienced in her whole life,” according to Garcia, the thrill of conquering a triathlon due to her life struggles. Garcia’s first triathlon came in 2006, and he has completed numerous 5K and 10K races, half-marathons and marathons. He set his sights on Ironman Louisville 11 months prior to the competition. His favorite training event for the Ironman, a “brick out,” which he did in July, consists of an 80-mile bike ride, followed by a five-mile run for confidence. His advice for other athletes? “You absolutely, positively, have to be disciplined in your training, eating habits, and you have to drink water,” said Garcia, who recommends 96 ounces of water per day. Emotions overtook Garcia within 100 meters of finishing the marathon, the concluding event. He found his mother in the crowd. She hugged him tight. “I did it Ma,” Garcia told her. “I did it.” Article by Capt. Christina Shepard, 76th IBCT Public Affairs Officer
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 16:02:43 +0000
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