Chicago , Sunday Aug 28, 2022   The Chicago Triathlon is ranked “the world’s largest triathlon” with over 7,000 participants this year.  There are over 250,000 spectators.  Dr. Joseph Maroon, neurosurgeon and longtime triathlete, finished the Sprint Triathlon (750m swim, a 20k bike, and a 5k run ) first in the 80 year old and over group with a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes.   This year’s race featured nearly 2,000 participants in the Sprint Triathlon which begins with a swim in the cold waters of Lake Michigan followed by a bike down Lakeshore Drive and then a run through the Chicago parks.  This is the first race he has done with his 27 year old daughter, Isabella Maroon, who finished with a time of 1 hour, 48 minutes.  They hope to do several more triathlons together.

Dr. Maroon was late in life when he started training and then participating in triathlons.  In his latest recent book, Square One: A Simple Guide to a Balanced Life, he relates the numerous benefits of exercise, including mental/emotional and health benefits that exercising regularly can provide. In his 40’s, exercise helped to bring him out of a deep depression, improved his focus and allowed him to resume neurosurgery. He was also able to lose excessive weight and ultimately compete in Ironman and other types of triathlons.

Per Dr. Maroon; “The bottom-line is not everyone needs to train as if they will become a triathlete. But there are so many benefits to exercise and sport participation that, no matter what your age or prior training, you should consider it. As the sporting goods company, Nike(TM) advertisement says, “Just Do It”.