Mower competes in Ironman competition

Turning 40 is a traumatic experience for many people. For Kelly Mower, it turned into an inspiration.

Mower, a Jacksboro ISD school board member, turned 40 years old earlier this year and admitted to himself he wanted to get back into shape. He had done a number of smaller races including a marathon and half marathon about six or seven years ago.

He had a friend who was preparing for an Ironman competition in Galveston and was following him and his workouts. Mower decided he wanted to try it and was put in contact with the man’s coach.

He had a goal of taking part in the Waco 1/2 Ironman in October, which consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 13.1-mile run and a 56-mile bike ride. He began his training June 1.

Mower would workout two hours a day for five months. On the weekend he would go on his bicycle and ride up and down Highway 148 in Jacksboro for three to four hours at a stretch.

“There’s no one riding with you. It’s you and the bike putting in the time and effort,” Mower said. “I’d ride about 25-30 miles.”

When all was said and done, Mower’s training took him 1,100 miles on his bike, another 300 miles on the road running and 61 miles in the water.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Nov. 10 edition of the Jacksboro Herald-Gazette.