28-Days-to-Lean Meal Plan (Note: Context Adjusted to IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Coverage)

Following the conclusion of the Precision Fuel & Hydration IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Marbella, Spain, last month, the event’s transformative impact on participants endures as a life-altering experience. Athletes from diverse backgrounds, each navigating unique mental and physical hurdles, converged on the coastal city to attempt the iconic triathlon distances: a 1.9km (1.2-mile) swim, 90km (56-mile) bike ride, and 21.1km (13.1-mile) run in November, pushing the boundaries of human endurance.

To explore the motivations and lessons of these athletes, Men’s Fitness (M&F) conducted interviews with four inspiring competitors, revealing how their journeys toward competition—often as profound as the race itself—highlighted resilience, determination, and the pursuit of personal breakthroughs.

Rafael Rivera: A Legacy of Transformation Through Triathlon

Rafael Rivera, a 42-year-old native of Wisconsin, overcame a 300-pound frame and alcohol dependency through triathlon, redefining his life trajectory. His primary motivation stemmed from a commitment to becoming a husband and father worthy of his family’s pride—a goal he achieved by embracing the sport as a catalyst for transformation.

Post-overcoming addiction, Rivera, whose wife is Mexican, proudly displayed his wife’s cultural heritage by unfurling the Mexican flag at the Cozumel finish line, symbolizing his dual identity and family legacy. Since his lowest point, Rivera has shed 150 pounds and competed in multiple IRONMAN and endurance events, qualifying for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and completing the race under the six-hour threshold.

Fear and Triumph: Rivera’s initial anxiety centered on the race’s scale: “The sheer magnitude—2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling, and 26.2 miles of running consecutively—felt not merely arduous but insurmountable.” This fear of failure, he explained, “verged on the dread of acknowledging the immense journey remaining, yet paradoxically, this terrifying impossibility became the very fuel driving his resolve to prove his transformation was authentic and lasting.”

By replacing fear with euphoria through years of training, Rivera now embraces “unbridled exhilaration” as a race-day norm, viewing the finish line as a milestone in overcoming his past self—a testament to the feasibility of profound, life-altering transformation.

To follow Rafael Rivera’s progress on Instagram, click here.

Ryan Briscoe: Adrenaline-Fueled Transition from Motorsport to Triathlon

Ryan Briscoe, a Sydney-born Australian professional racing driver, achieved acclaim in European and American motorsport circuits, including significant success as an IndyCar competitor. His victory in the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona—a high-stakes endurance race—epitomized his competitive prowess, yet triathlon has emerged as an equally adrenaline-fueled pursuit.

Swim Strategy and Balance: Twenty years prior to his first triathlon, Briscoe’s primary concern centered on open-water swimming, particularly the chaos of mass starts. “My greatest anxiety was managing the tumult of a mass-start swim,” he recalled. To mitigate this, he refined his race strategy, prioritizing organized start protocols and pre-race preparation.

Training and Family: Briscoe emphasized nutritional and hydration preparation as critical yet challenging aspects of endurance training: “Nutrition is inherently demanding due to the prolonged duration of competition.” However, he stressed that endurance sports need not displace family life—a balance he prioritizes through intentional planning, often involving training during unconventional hours. “This is not merely a hobby; it is a lifestyle that demands commitment, but the rewards of balance are immeasurable.”

To follow Ryan Briscoe’s progress on Instagram, click here.

Corey Hawes: Defying Medical Prognosis Through Endurance

Corey Hawes, a Lexington, Kentucky native, had already immersed himself in endurance sports prior to the IRONMAN 70.2, his narrative defined by defying medical and physical limitations. At 17, he survived a severe car accident that threatened paralysis, a trauma that became the catalyst for his rehabilitation.

Post a six-month period in a back brace, Hawes chose to rebuild his strength, exceeding medical prognosis through rigorous training that effectively addressed his spinal complications. Since then, he has competed in dozens of races, yet he vividly remembers the initial fear of cardiorespiratory and muscular fatigue during his IRONMAN journey: “While I had completed local sprint triathlons and extended ultramarathons, the sustained duration and compounded muscular and metabolic demands of an IRONMAN were uncharted territory.”

Advice for Aspiring Athletes: “Embrace the challenge! It is invigorating. Preparation is non-negotiable, as endurance sports become a way of life—once initiated, the journey becomes irreversible.” For Hawes, the off-season is dedicated to refining functional thresholds, strength, and run splits, with future goals already taking shape.

To follow Corey Hawes’ progress on Instagram, click here.

Gregory Schaefer: Parkinson’s and Triathlon as a Therapeutic Journey

Gregory Schaefer’s narrative exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit, as he competed in the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Championships while managing early-onset Parkinson’s disease. “Consistency and durability are not merely training tenets; they are foundational life principles,” he emphasized to M&F.

“In numerous respects, triathlon prepared me for life long before Parkinson’s emerged,” Schaefer explained. “The diagnosis redefined my approach to the sport, yet it also validated the decades spent cultivating resilience, structured routines, and physical strength.” Research ( confirms endurance training’s positive impact on Parkinson’s, slowing symptom progression—a benefit Schaefer attributes directly to triathlon.

Community and Balance: Schaefer’s passion extends beyond competition to the vibrant community that triathlon fosters. “Setbacks are inevitable, but so too is the opportunity to join a community unparalleled in its support and inclusivity,” he emphasized. “Triathlon welcomes all: regardless of pace, physique, or background.” His initial fear—that training might overwhelm his life—has been addressed through intentional balance: “It did not materialize instantaneously; rather, it was cultivated by integrating triathlon as a lifestyle, not a seasonal pursuit.”

To follow Gregory Schaefer’s progress on Instagram, click here.

Join the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Journey

To engage with a community dedicated to endurance and transformation, and to experience the same mental and physical rewards as these athletes, the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship offers an achievable goal. Identify a qualifying event by visiting this link.