OCTOBER 2, 2015
Local resident competing in Louisville Ironman event…..encourages everyone to “focus on what you can do, not what you can’t do”
Louisa, KY — “I got accustomed to being last at everything” said Paul Hickey, when asked what prompted him to venture into the extreme fitness lifestyle that he lives now. Hickey, a local resident and leader of Cross Fit Louisa, described himself as an underachiever as a child due to being stricken with asthma which prevented him from doing what he wanted to do. “I was ICU a lot” he said, but explained that he later got satisfaction from just finishing any physical feat. “I began to focus on what I could do, not what I couldn’t do.”
In his 20’s he got involved in Martial arts, and the conditioning seemed to help build his endurance. When improved treatments for asthma became available, it changed his life, and he was able to in increase his physical capabilities.
As a kid, Hickey saw Ironman on TV and thought it was so overwhelming, he never thought about it again for 20-30 years. Now the 49 year old will compete in the nationally recognized competition. Last September, he completed a half Ironman, called ‘REV 3’ at Cedar Point in Ohio.
The Ironman Triatholon is a series of long distance triatholon races consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 22.62 marathon run raced in that order without a break, with a strict 17 hour time limit to complete. It is considered one of the most difficult one day sporting events in the world.
Originally from Southern California, Hickey migrated to the Tri-State area. Five years ago he got involved with Cross Fit in Huntington, WV which teaches nutrition as well as physical fitness. When Paul and his wife Monica moved to Louisa to take care of her mother, the drive to Huntington just got to be too much, so they set out to see what kind of fitness group they could get started here. “We literally started with 5 people in the city park” he said. It grew from there and developed into Cross Fit Louisa.
Hickey said he is now in the best shape of his life and decided it was now or never if he was going to compete in the famed Ironman competion. He has been training now for 10 months and will compete in Louisville on Oct. 11.
When asked what he hoped to gain from the experience, Hickey said “I will be satisfying that 12 year old boy.” He went on to say he wants to inspire others to create new possibilities of potential for themselves. “If I can do this with all I’ve had to overcome, anyone can move forward from where they are, despite their circumstances or challenges. He said he wants to cultivate a mindset of determination in others. “Never give up on yourself.”
Hickey said to his knowledge, no one else in this area has competed in the Ironman competition. It’s not uncommon for 1,500-2,000 athletes to enter the competition.
“There are four pages of people in my age group” he said.
Hickey is grateful for the support he has locally. “I have gotten amazing support from our local Cross Fit community and coaches. They have been here for me in more ways than I can describe.”
