Forward Advantage Employee Completes Seventh Ironman Triathlon

Congratulations to our very own Charles Williams for having recently completed his seventh Ironman triathlon!  As Forward Advantage’s Vice President of Migration and Integration Services, Charles has a demanding schedule that makes having trained for such a grueling competition all the more impressive. Consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run, Ironman training is not something that can be taken lightly. To prepare himself for the Lake Placid Ironman held on July 12, Charles started training a year in advance. “I tend to run at night during the week and then bike or run for distance on the weekends as soon as the sun is up,” says Charles. “My wife and kids are very supportive of my efforts.  I try to pick times for training that won’t impact them, but it does require a lot of training. Without their support it can’t be done.”

As for the triathlon itself, Charles enjoyed the bike portion the most on race day. “Biking is most enjoyable for me during the race but is least enjoyable during training because of safety concerns. The reward comes when I see the faces of my family as I bike or run by.”  When asked how he feels on race day, Charles replies, “I have grown to become quite relaxed prior to, and during, the race. Most people are riding a nervous high, but I just try to enjoy the day and do my best.” This relaxed attitude has worked well for Charles as he finished at an impressive 1117 out of 2493. Most people who have successfully completed seven Ironman triathlons would be happy with a well-deserved break. This is not the case for Charles who has set his sights on a few ultra-marathon trail races and is hoping to take on a 100 mile run next summer. Good luck Charles!