Energetic and outgoing, it's easy to assume that Scott Power, a senior brand strategist at Kaiser Permanente, has always led an active lifestyle. But in reality, it took inspiration from friends and family for him to get healthier and push his limits—all the way to the Ironman Triathlon.

Humble beginnings

Power admits that he didn't take his health seriously until his late 20s. Once he did, he met like-minded people who shared this positive outlook.

Some of those friends were marathon runners who were passionate about the sport. They explained to him that, with proper training and preparation, anyone could run a marathon.

With their encouragement, Power set out to accomplish his very first fitness goal—to complete the Chicago Marathon. He crossed that finish line in 2004, bringing home a medal and an appreciation for what people can accomplish through will, dedication, and a positive frame of mind.

Seeing is believing

With the Chicago Marathon behind him, Power moved to Los Angeles. There he began volunteering at local running events. Through these circles, including friends of his wife, he learned about the Ironman Triathlon.

One of the most grueling fitness challenges in the world, the Ironman is made up of three events: a 2.4-mile ocean swim; a 112-mile bike ride; and a 26.2-mile run. It's an awe-inspiring feat of endurance that most would never consider. But Power saw it differently.

"The people who crossed the finish line looked just like me," he says, remembering the competition he watched on television. "They weren't textbook examples of fitness. They came in all shapes and sizes.

"That humanized it for me," Power adds. "I thought to myself, 'I think I can do this.'"

Training for the Ironman

Once he made the commitment, Power learned all he could about preparing for the Ironman. He set his sights on the Ironman Coeur d'Alene in Idaho and began his training six months prior to the event.

"Over 26 weeks, I estimate I swam, biked, and ran more than 250 hours," Power says. "The training is an epic adventure in itself."

Beyond the rigorous mix of running, cycling, and swimming, a healthy diet helped Power maintain energy and build up his endurance. "The quality of the fuel you put in your body makes a difference," he advises.

Power also managed his energy by eating small meals throughout the day, grazing on fruit, nuts, and other healthy snacks at his desk. "Your energy is like a campfire. You add fuel while it's still burning. You don't want to wait until your body is tired to add fuel."

Another key part of training that people often overlook, Power shares, is rest.

"Rest is vital to avoiding burnout and injury," he says. "You have to give your body a chance to recover and get ready for the next test. Sometimes the best thing for your body is to take a day off—and that doesn't mean you stay up all night partying."

The race

An important tip that Power learned from his research and from his friends is to show up on race day in a good mood and injury free. That's exactly how he arrived early in the morning on June 22, 2008.

Throughout the triathlon Power held on to one clear vision: to cross the finish line and drape the Ironman medal around his father's neck. Fourteen hours and 39 minutes later, that's just what he did.

Visit Scott Power's blog for more on his Ironman Coeur d'Alene experience.

filed in: Exercise & Fitness
subjects: exercise, fitness, healthy-habits