Jim Chapman, 72, a former Vietnam Vet and retired
CIA analyst, lives off the Lovettsville Road with his wife, Barbara, a Leesburg
psychologist.
Of all the things that Jim does, the one that defines
most who he is, what gives him the most pleasure, is his efforts as a
triathlete.
Jim’s been competing in these events for 22 years
and loves it.
“I ran cross-country in school,” Jim said, “but it
was when I was working out at the CIA gym, and getting tired of running around
the block, and talking to my buddies, I learned about triathlons and thought
that must be awful, those three events, running, biking and swimming, all
difficult, but one woman was a triathlete and she suggested a good bet to start
was Maryland’s Rocky Gap State Park Sprint Triathlon.”
“I had no racing bike, nor wet suit,” Jim said, “but
I gave it a try.” “Afterwards, I told my
wife Barbara,” Jim said, “I’m blown away.”
“I could ride a bike as fast as 19.2 miles per
hour,” Jim said, “and there was a time when I ran 7 minute miles.”
“I entered more races after that,” Jim said, “and even
did the Rocky Gap run with my daughter, Hilary,” Jim said.
“I ran in the Reston Triathlon, as well as the
Burlington Vermont Triathlon,” Jim said.
“The best thing about the Triathlon,” Jim said, “is how
much better I feel for doing this training and competition.”
“When I didn’t stretch before and after running,”
Jim said, “I screwed up my knees.”
“You have to learn to stretch before and after you exercise,”
said Jim, “too many do nothing before or after they exercise, no stretching,
and that’s a mistake, and where you get injuries.”
“I had Achilles tendonitis,” said Jim, “and I
figured out a cure for that, and recommended it to other runners who used it.”
“I even broke my foot two weeks before a race and I
had to decide to cancel or not,” Jim said.
“Ultimately I was told by my podiatrist, with a knowing smile, that I
could run on it but I’d have pain.”
You are most likely to see Jim, a lean strong man, without
an ounce of fat to pinch, not at home tending to his beloved orchard and
grounds, or reading widely, another love of his, but running fast past you on
some road or trail, peddling his racing bike up some heavy hearted deep
breathing hilly road, or swimming countless watery laps at the Ida Lee pool in
Leesburg.
Jim follows an exercise regimen that takes two and a
half to three hours a day, and sometimes longer.
Not all three triathlon events every day are
practiced. Jim explained, “Triathlons
force you to think of three critical elements: nutrition, rest and recovery.” “You
have to get rest,” said Jim, “if you’re doing what I’m doing.” Jim also calculates his diet with the precision
of a NASA astronaut. Only Jim and his
trainer, Margie Shapiro, know the details of the personal calculus by which Jim
has won so often in his age division.
“Margie,” Jim said, “tells me when to stop, and when not to overdo it.”
But the best is yet to come. Jim is within months of his ultimate dream, of
running, swimming, and biking, in his age group, 70-74, at London’s world
renowned Hyde Park Triathlon this September.
In order to qualify for a spot on Team USA in
London, Jim had to win a qualifying time over others in his age group.
“They have a parade, an opening ceremony, and I have
a special shirt to wear,” Jim said, “and I expect to have my wife, Barbara, my
daughter, Hilary, my son-in-law and my granddaughter with me for the event.”
With a big smile, Jim said, “I’m so looking forward
to this.”
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