Published May 12, 2010 12:28PM
Former NHL player Tyler Wright of Canada has started training for this August’s Ironman Canada Triathlon. Wright will be training and racing to raise money to fight pediatric cancer.
When the alarm clock goes off at 6:00 A.M. and Tyler Wright jumps out of bed and on his bike, this retired veteran of 613 NHL games admits he thinks about playing hockey again.
“Since I’ve gotten back into shape and almost down to my playing weight, it always goes through my mind.”
His strict training regimen is getting his body back into playing shape, but that’s not the motivation. He’s preparing his body for a 17-hour event with a purpose bigger than any he had on the ice.
In late August, Wright will take part in the Ironman Canada. He’ll run, bike and swim for more than 140 miles to test his personal limits and raise money to help fight pediatric cancer.
“It’s a process, but when you train to be a professional athlete, you’ve trained for 15 years running and biking. It’s the swimming part I think I might be a little bit worried about, but I live on a lake in Canada so I have no excuse. It’s going to be exciting. It’s a chance for me to put myself out of my comfort zone like these families do every single day and give back at the same time.”