If you’re beginning your own journey, have faith in your progress. Keep the end in mind, but more importantly, see each day as a chance to get closer to your goal. I’m excited to be back on the bike, back in the pool, and most of all, putting one foot in front of the other. DREAM BIG!
- Jeff Paul, Quad City triathlete and teacher
Bettendorf social studies teacher and professional triathlete Jeff Paul, 31, knows what it’s like to start from square one and overcome obstacles. And whether it’s motivating himself in professional triathlons or motivating his young students in the classroom, his mantra never wavers: Dream Big.
This past fall, the Pleasant Valley Middle School teacher achieved his dream of finishing as an Ironman after spending more than a year in physical therapy and training following a potential career-ending Achilles’ heel injury.
“In March 2010, I was putting in some serious 36-hour training weeks. Then, all of a sudden my heel started hurting,” recalls Paul. “I couldn’t ride my bike without severe pain in my Achilles.” Although a problem since college, the injury flared up at a time when Paul had committed to becoming a professional triathlete.
“I began my journey in the fall of 2009 when I made the tough decision to resign my coaching positions in the Pleasant Valley School District where I teach. I was coming off my best summer of racing triathlons, and I decided to devote my time outside of teaching and family to finding my potential in the sport of triathlon. I hope to inspire others to believe that anything is possible if you set high goals and work like crazy to achieve them.”
Tuvi Mendel, MD - Orthpaedic Specialists, PC
Surgery put his plans on hold and there were worries about his future on the course. But, thanks to the expertise of Dr. Tuvi Mendel, a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon at Orthopaedic Specialists, Davenport, Paul had cause for hope.
Dr. Mendel remembers Paul’s condition. “His Achilles was very inflamed and when it becomes chronic, the body has hard time fighting that inflammation and fixing it. In Jeff Paul’s case, the inflammation became so chronic it was both debilitating and damaging.”
After conventional treatments were explored, Dr. Mendel performed arthroscopic surgery on Paul’s tendon. It’s a minimally invasive procedure designed to repair the tendon without major surgery. “That surgery prevented him from having an even bigger operation which would have meant a longer recovery time away from the sport he loves,” explains Dr. Mendel. “Jeff’s tendon was in worse shape than we thought and it was bleeding internally, however I was able to clean it up and repair the damage so that his tendon could heal.”
Going from grueling schedule to a cast was tough. “Mentally, it was very tough,” says Jeff. “ I wondered if would hurt for the rest of my of life.” Yet within six months, he resumed his training journey after extensive physical therapy and he was back to training 30-40 hours a week.
“When I spend 80 miles running, 460 miles on the bike, and swim 6 days a week, I figure, thanks to Dr. Mendel, my tendon can handle anything!,” he says.
On September 11, 2011, in Madison, WI, Jeff attained his dream and became an Ironman. (For that honor competitors swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and finish with a 26.2-mile marathon, all in one day!) In just over 10 hours, Jeff finished 11th in the pro race and was 29th overall.
In his blog after the race he wrote, “I’d say it was a ‘tough day at the office’ but triathlon isn’t my job…it’s a hobby and a passion, so it would be more appropriate to say ‘It was a tough day at the playground!’
“So what did I learn from this? I learned that I am a risk taker. I learned that I gamble to be great. I learned that I have big dreams…that I don’t care how much work it takes to reach them…and that I have no problem getting work done.
“Along with my wife, Jen, and my two wonderful children, I want to inspire people to do in their life what they didn’t think was possible.
Dream big, Jeff.
Complimentary Links:
For other stories related to this subject, check out the following:
- Thinking about trying out for next year’s Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon? You can learn more about the event by visiting their website.
- Like the sound of being a triathlete but a little intimidated by the whole routine, don’t worry – there’s a handy online resource for beginning triathletes loaded with advice, training plans, forums and gear reviews.
- Dr. Mendel’s professional CV can be found on the Mississippi Valley Health Network website
