GOING THE DISTANCE:
BROWAND COMPLETES IRONMAN CHALLENGE
It has been
an incredible journey for Bob
Browand. Not only does our UH
Director of Parking and
Transportation demonstrate prowess
when facing parking challenges, he
also meets adversity with fierce
determination outside of the UH
campus. On May 21, 2011, Browand
completed his fifth Ironman
challenge at the age of 56.
Browand started out as a sprinter in
high school and said he thought
�distance runners were out of their
minds.� He frequently biked while
growing up and decided to try out
the MS150, a cycling fundraiser for
the National Multiple Sclerosis
Society. He then became inspired to
try a triathlon after watching a
friend complete one but said first,
he had to learn to swim.
�I was hooked after the first one,�
he said.
After several triathlons, Browand
stepped it up a notch and went for
the supreme challenge: to complete
an Ironman. During an Ironman
challenge, athletes complete a 2.4
mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and
a 26.4 mile run. In November 2005,
Browand registered for Ironman
Florida 2006. But his attempt was
cut short with an unexpected,
serious setback.
�Despite my best intentions, the
journey almost never got started,�
he said. �One month after
registering, making my travel
arrangements, buying a new tri bike
and related equipment and clothing,
I was rushed into surgery after an
exploratory procedure for a double
bypass.�
After his recovery, Browand wasn�t
ready to toss in the towel. He got
back up and began the vigorous
training necessary to prepare for
the Ironman.
�There�s a saying in Ironman that
it�s not the race, it�s the journey.
And boy is it true,� Browand said.
�The race itself is the icing on the
cake, but the training is where the
blood, sweat and tears are. A
typical Ironman training plan lasts
between 20 and 36 weeks, and during
that time you will train 10-20 hours
a week, swim 137,500 yards, bike
1,923 miles and run 306 miles. That
doesn�t include the time spent on
weight training, yoga, Pilates and
stretching. But the most important
part of training is recovery and
listening to your body.�
Eleven months after his bypass
surgery, he completed his first
Ironman with a time of 12 hours 37
minutes. Then he went on to do
another the next year and two more
the year after that. His fifth was
last month at the Woodlands for the
Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas.
Browand said he began serious
training for this year�s challenge
in mid January. In an average week,
he would swim 3 to 4 days, bike 4 to
5 days and run 3 to 4 times. Fridays
were rest days followed by long
training days on Saturday and Sunday
ranging from 2-7 hours. However,
this time around he said he almost
packed it in after his motivation
faltered and life issues began
interfering. But Browand said the
support of his friends and
co-workers, Kathy Tran and Jerry Do,
kept him going.
�Without those two in my corner, I
wouldn�t have made it to the
starting line,� he said.
Browand began the IMTX 2011 on May
21 with a swim through Lake
Woodlands alongside over 2,100
athletes.
�I was kicked three times in the
face and was pulled under water
several times,� he said. �The swim
finish is always the most
gratifying. From there you go into
Transition 1 where you get ready for
the bike.�
The bike ride traveled through the
hills north of the Woodlands. Next
up was Transition 2 to prepare for
the run.
�My run started out strong but the
lack of training caught up to me at
mile 10. I pressed on and finished
the race in the time I had expected,
13 hours and 17 minutes. And Team
Browand (Kathy and Jerry) were still
there to cheer me on at the finish,�
he said.
Congratulations to Bob Browand for
his perseverance and hard work to
complete his fifth Ironman!
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