Aaron Hickman Explains How He Motivates Newcomers in Endurance Sports

Aaron Hickman started his fitness journey at 15 years of age because the requirement to join the high school basketball team was also to be on the cross-country team. After high school, Aaron took an 8-year hiatus from running before emerging into running events in the Chicagoland area.

Since then, Aaron has competed in 10 obstacle courses, 5 triathlons, and about 15 endurance running events.  Initially, Aaron did not take triathlons seriously, but his first Chicago Triathlon experience was an awakening experience.  He soon learned the dedication and training that is necessary to successfully  complete a race.  He progressed from the  Olympic distance. After he found success in the Olympic distance he sought the assistance of a coach  He is particularly proud of his completion of Ironman Louisville in 2015. He continued to race Full Distance IronMan 140.6 races but after his initial success he thought he could continue to successfully race without the actual intensity of training that he committed to for his first full distance race. 

He learned the hard way that he had to respect each race. He recently completed IronMan Wisconsin for the second time in the worst conditions September 2022. He has learned that in order to successfully complete a race you need to train the body, you need to also train the mind as both are needed to be victorious. 
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Episode Highlights:

• Aaron starts running in high school.
• After a long hiatus, Aaron returns to  endurance sports.
• Aaron love for obstacle course racing.
• How Aaron becomes a triathlete
• The 2015 Louisville Full Ironman 140.6 race.
• Racing an Ironman event in a  monsoon.
• Lessons about the body and mind connection during a race
• Aaron Hickman has some words of wisdom

Guest Bio

Aaron Hickman began his fitness journey at the young age of 15 while involved with his high school cross-country team. It was at that time that he embraced the moment of running free among his peers as a means to focus on his happiness and not worry about anything around mmm.

Between high school and college, a long hiatus was taken. It wasn’t until 8 years later that Aaron was exposed to the running events in the Chicagoland area. Since then, he has taken part in over 10 obstacle course races, 5 triathlons, and 15 running endurance events. His most inspiring accomplishment came in 2015 at Ironman Louisville. It was at that moment he realized the power of the mind.

Through his accomplishments and tribulations, he hopes to motivate newcomers entering the endurance sport by letting them know it's a long, rugged journey, however, the reward is well worth it.

Connect with Aaron Hickman 

• Connect with Aaron on Facebook

 

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