Beyond teaching a wide array of P.E. classes, Matt Mickelson also has found time to not only coach a number of sports teams, but also train and participate in marathons and triathlons.
He recently competed in the Barlett Lake Triathlon. It consisted of a 1500 m swim, 6.2 mi. run and a 24.8 mi. bike.
“I finished 45th out of 58th,” Mickelson said. “My total time was four hours 33 seconds.”
Mickelson also ran in the P.F. Changs’ Half Marathon earlier this year and a ten mile race on Thanksgiving. He finished the P.F. Changs’ Half Marathon in one hour and 38 minutes and the other race in one hour and 16 minutes.
Mickelson has figured out ways to train while still maintaining his busy schedule.
“You have to organize your time,” Mickelson said. “Some nights are later than others. Sometimes I run in the morning before school or I squeeze some miles in at lunch. I fit (training) in when I can. I have to save really long swims and runs for weekends and days off.”
Mickelson said that he plans on doing another triathlon in the near future.
“I’d like to get back to do the Boston Marathon.”
Mickelson played football, basketball and baseball and also was on the track team in high school. Since high school, he’s lived by many motto’s as an athlete but one stands out to him.
“’It isn’t the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog’,” Mickelson said, referring to the motto. “We aren’t all gifted in size and speed or athleticism. It all comes down to your mental toughness when trying to meet your goals.”