This weekend IronTex-trained triathlete Warren Thompson is tackling his first Ironman at The Woodlands. Warren is embarking on his Ironman challenge a mere 361 days from beginning his triathlon career. A long-time marathon runner and coach (and self-proclaimed ninja), Warren turned his attention to triathlon for the same reason most people have–he wanted a new challenge. And as he’ll readily admit, he has found it in triathlons.

Warren and I met a little more than a year ago when he joined the Fort Worth Team in Training triathlon team I was coaching for the Toyota U.S. Open Olympic race. Already an accomplished runner, Warren quickly discovered the same challenges most runners-turned-triathletes discover: swimming and biking. With a lot of hard word and the help of IronTex coaching, he has tackled those challenges and continues to gain speed with each workout. Along the way, he also has discovered the same passion and zeal for the challenges triathlon offers. In the last year, he has tackled two sprints (Take on the Heat and St. Patrick’s Day), the U.S. Open, and Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Galveston. Shortly after finishing the U.S. Open he registered for Ironman Texas.

By using the same focus and psychological discipline he honed while training and coaching marathons (and being a ninja), Warren quickly adapted to triathlon training and put forth the training commitment required to prepare him for the Ironman challenge he is undertaking May 21. And he has done it using a IronTex Triathlon coaching plan.

I look forward to watching Warren compete in The Woodlands this week and being at the finish line to hear the announcer say, “Warren Thompson…you are an Ironman.”