After New Year’s Eve, most vow to loose weight, quit smoking or change their outlook on life.
Oxford resident Jeff Weaver, on the other hand, made it his goal to qualify for the Ironman Florida Triathalon this year.
If only all New Year’s resolutions went as well as his.
Just last month, twenty-eight-year-old Weaver took part in the Muskoka Triathalon, in Ontario, and after 2,000 meters of swimming, 35 miles of cycling and 9.3 miles of running, qualified for the Ironman Florida Triathalon in Panama City this November.
Weaver, who’s been a runner all his life, said he got interested in cycling when he graduated from Lake Orion High School and began his obsession with sports.
‘I alwasy wanted to do (Ironman) ever since I saw it on TV as a kid,? he said.
The only problem was that Weaver was never a good swimmer. So in 2003, he decided to learn the mechanics of swimming once and for all.
He began swimming at Lake Orion High School’s pool, reading books and even got a swim coach at the Great Lakes Athletic Club in Orion Township.
‘Now, swimming is one of my strengths and running is the hard part,? he said.
Weaver finished fourth in his age group for his second triathalon in Hadley through the national 3 Discipline’s Racing group in 2004.
After Weaver qualified for Ironman last month in Muskoka, he came across a website that made his Ironman goal even more important.
The Janus Charity Challenge, which was incorporated by worldwide company the Janus Capital Group who also sponsors Ironman, encourages any athlete to raise money for a charity of their choice.
All of the money an athlete raises goes directly to their charity. Since its establishment, Janus has donated over $8.7 million dollars to different charities.
The charity Weaver will be racing for hits close to home. Racing for Recovery is a charity which promotes a sober, addiction free lifstyle by being active in sports.
Weaver said his brother and almost all of his friends are recovering addicts and that he was lucky he didn’t choose that destructive path.
‘Instead of getting deep into addiction, I chose to go into sports,? he said. ‘That’s where it really grabbed hold of me.?
Weaver said he does about five hours a week for swimming, eight hours a week for cycling and three to four hours running to help train for Ironman Florida. He will be doing a 2.4 mile swim, 115 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run.
No doubt, Oxford residents have seen him riding up and down M-24. He even tries to ride to work at the Great Lakes Bread Company if he gets the chance.
‘I could ride that thing all day long,? he said.
Besides raising money and awareness for Racing for Recovery, Weaver said his main goal is to just finish the triathalon. If all goes well, he hopes he could qualify for Ironman Hawaii. But he doesn’t count on being that good his first Ironman.
‘I just want to finish in under 15 hours,? he said.
Weaver said all of his family is thrilled with his accomplishment and will be traveling down to Florida to cheer him on in November. Weaver will be going to Florida earlier to get used to swimming in the ocean water. A big difference from the Lake Orion High School pool.
‘I haven’t swam in the ocean since I was seven,? he said with a smile.
To donate to Weaver and his Racing for Recovery charity, visit www.januscharitychallenge.com.