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By Caitlyn Blair Photos courtesy of Rick Rano
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Let’s Talk Triathlon
ick Rano is an active member of the Westerville community, part of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club and a local real estate agent for Re/MAX Affiliates, Inc. He’s also a passionate Ironman participant who began competing 12 years ago. He has competed in Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Hawaii and Ohio. It doesn’t end there – Rano has also competed in four local Olympic triathlons and two Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathons. His accomplishments are impressive, considering he began this journey when he was 43. “I got started, I like to say, as my version of a mid-life crisis,” he says. “I was 43 years old and had not ridden a bike since I was 20 years old. ... I thought playing golf each summer was fun, but I wanted to challenge myself both mentally and physically. I have a high-stress job of selling real estate, so this was the perfect release for me, and getting the benefits of fitness was pleasing.” Preparing for a grueling challenge like an Ironman is a daunting task. Luckily, he has a phenomenal coach close by: Carrie McCoy, swim coach and owner of JustTri, a Columbus-based triathlon training organization. “She is a fearless leader and focuses on the mental and nutritional preparations,” Rano says. Each Ironman takes him between 12 and 15 hours, so mental preparation is essential. Nowadays, he follows a personalized training regimen and has specific goals
Rick Rano shares his love of competition www.westervillemagazine.com
May/June 2020
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