Team Ordinary Athlete: Bartlett, Joe

My Running Story:

In 2009 I was an out-of-shape, overweight, ex-smoker who needed to make some changes. So, my wife and I bought a treadmill for the house. I spent that fall getting back into shape, and in the spring of 2010 ran my first race. Like a lot of runners I was instantly hooked from there, and over the next couple of years I ran races of all distances up to the half-marathon distance. I finally ran my first marathon in Philadelphia in 2013. In 2012, looking for other challenges, I decided to try triathlon and haven’t looked back.

The best moments are always seeing my family when I’m out on the course. As far as biggest accomplishment, it would have to be finishing Ironman Lake Placid in 2014, my first. I overcame so many unknowns that day, both mentally and physically, about how far I could push myself. I recognized that day that the only limitations I have are the ones I place on myself. I still apply the lessons I learned from training for, and racing that day.