Justin Maly, a past teacher to many students here at WA, has recently accomplished something most people could not even imagine accomplishing in their entire lives: he has finished an Ironman Triathlon…twice.

The concept of an Ironman Triathlon involving swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112,  and running 26.2, sounds merely impossible to most people, but many students at WA are unaware that a familiar teacher in Westford has completed two full races and five Half-Ironmans, also known as 70.3 Ironmans, over the span of four years. Preparing and training for this incredibly difficult task-both physically and mentally takes an immense amount of time, planning, and effort. Many of Maly’s students and co-workers are unaware of this outstanding life achievement.

The 7th grade social studies teacher at Stony Brook started competing in triathlons just four years ago. He started with sprints, then bumped up the distance of the races he completed after each year. After the fourth year, there was nothing left but the most grueling and arduous triathlon known as the Ironman.

There is absolutely nothing easy about training for an Ironman. A person must sacrifice an immense amount of time from their personal life, make sure they’re taking in proper nutrition, acquire and master certain skills and techniques, and allow their body time to rest and recover. Maly even manages to get solid training in around his work as a teacher. The endless hours of training impacted Maly, but did not diminish his determination.

“The first [100 mile ride] during training was eye opening and tough,” Maly said. Spending 6 hours on the bike without stopping definitely takes a toll on you[…]when you get off the bike after that first 100, you have no idea how you are ever going to run a marathon but you realize that it will get better after each century.”

Even with incredibly high demands through training and preparation, Maly did not even for a moment consider giving up.

None of his outstanding achievements would ever had been made real without a purpose. Maly’s motivation to complete the Ironman came from the urge to take it to the next level by stepping over others and always improving. Training is the only way to surpass his fellow competitors and athletes.

“If other people can do it, then I can and I can do it better,” said Maly.

His motivation while racing is purely to win. With the bike as one of his stronger portions, passing people gives him a motivational boost after a not so strong swim. As for another motive, his new baby daughter supplies him that extra push he needs when his endurance level runs low.

Finally, after non-stop training, commitment, and preparation, Maly completed a full Ironman Triathlon in Wisconsin with an impressive time of 11 hours, 49 minutes, 29 seconds. That finish time is fifty-seven minutes faster than the average finish time for men aging from 30 to 34 for that specific race course. He had completed the ultimate endurance challenge with a phenomenal finish time. Many people would think an Ironman finisher would take their medal, bragging rights, and sore muscles home and never have to worry about training ever again. However, the reality is far from that.

Soon after his first completion of the Ironman, Maly knew he could better himself. Even if it required starting the whole process over again.

“There is nothing like the finish line of an Ironman, the crowd, seeing your family. The rush you get is like no other race. Everything hits you at once; the training, the time spent with friends training, the sacrifices you had to make, everything comes together. You finish and then for some unknown reason, you want to do it again,” said Maly.

Determined to beat his previous finish time, he did not stop training and signed up for another Ironman.

With even more success than the first time, Maly completed his second Ironman, this one being in Lake Placid, in just 11 hours, 34 minutes and 59 seconds, accomplishing his goal of beating his previous time by 15 minutes.

Maly still is not done yet. He continues to constantly train and plans to complete his third Ironman in a few years. This time, his goal is to finish with a time under 10 hours and 30 minutes. Professional triathletes typically finish with a time ranging from 9-10 hours depending on the race course.

As for Half Ironmans consisting of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run, Maly has completed a total of five. His personal best finish time for half distance races is four hours and 48 minutes. Professional triathletes average a finish time approximately around four hours and ten minutes.

After completing multiple Ironmans with astonishing finish times, Maly has figured out that Ironman triathlons are not for everyone.

“You need to have a specific personality, mentality and work ethic to do it. Luckily, I have always been one of those people who always wanted to get better at things and go the next level,” said Maly.