Murray Tackling First Triathlon On Sunday

By John Frierson
Staff Writer

As a soccer participant, Aaron Murray was all the time diligent about his preparation. Between the apply area, movie examine and the burden room, the previous Georgia quarterback was keen to place within the work to arrange for the following opponent.

Now, the SEC’s all-time chief in profession passing yards and touchdowns is about to tackle a brand new problem. It’s one that may take a look at every little thing the 35-year-old has bodily and mentally. On Sunday, Murray is competing within the Chattanooga IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon — that is a 1.2-mile swim, a 56.7-mile bike trip, after which a 13.1-mile run.

“I love a new challenge. I love mentally pushing myself and physically pushing myself, and trying to figure out the boundaries for what my body can do,” mentioned Murray, Georgia’s beginning quarterback from 2010-13.

The swim shall be within the Tennessee River, fortunately going downstream relatively than in opposition to the present. The biking part shall be round and up and down the numerous hills surrounding Chattanooga, with greater than 2,500 toes of elevation achieve, and the half-marathon run can even be difficult, with greater than 550 toes of elevation achieve.

“It’s a good race if you’re not a great swimmer, but it’s not a great race if you’re not a good biker, because it’s pretty hilly,” Murray mentioned.

The half-marathon run is the half that Murray is not too fearful about. In March, he and his spouse, Sharon, ran a marathon in California; it was the second for each of them within the span of 9 months. Afterward, he determined to present a triathlon a go. He’s solely had about 9 weeks to coach, however he is gone all-in on his coaching ever since he determined to do the Chattanooga triathlon.

“My mindset was, OK, I am going to be in great running shape with the marathon I just did, so I got the running knocked out. And I thought I could figure out the bike and swim,” Murray mentioned.

Like numerous triathletes, it is the swim coaching for somebody with out aggressive swimming expertise that has been essentially the most difficult.

“Swimming has been very frustrating for me. I think I went in with the wrong mindset of, I’m just going to swim a bunch of laps, and I’m getting in swimming shape that’ll translate to better speed. What I’ve learned from swimming and talking with coaches is it’s such a technique sport,” Murray mentioned. “My times have gone down a little bit, but not as much as I want — and a lot of it is because my technique is so bad. I grew up with a pool, but not one for swimming laps. We just had a pool for fun.”

As you possibly can inform from Murray’s phrases, he is not lining up at first line Sunday simply to complete the race. “I want to be able to get the best time possible,” he mentioned.

Murray, who does some work for ESPN throughout soccer season and in addition works with the management firm he based, Red Zone Advantage, is lively on social media. He has chronicled numerous his triathlon coaching on Instagram, together with doing a little movies with the Georgia swim groups and coaches, with the UGA Cycling Club, and even one in every of him using his indoor coach at Sanford Stadium.

He’s found via his posts on social media that the triathlon group is huge and passionate, and he is met quite a few individuals who have helped him together with his coaching.

“It’s a lot bigger community than I thought it was,” he mentioned. “There are so many people who are super supportive, people who wanted to go on rides and stuff like that. It’s been really, really fun.”

With each mile that Murray covers, he shall be elevating cash for Extra Special People, the charity for folks with disabilities that he is been intently concerned with since he was enjoying for the Bulldogs. He even serves on ESP’s nationwide board and hosts a charity golf match to boost cash for it. If you’d prefer to contribute to Murray’s fundraiser, here is the hyperlink: https://give.espyouandme.org/campaign/795891/donate.

“It’s a great organization, and I’m hoping we can raise a lot of money for it,” he mentioned.

The begin of the triathlon will function a mass of opponents coming into the water on the similar time. Murray figures his time as a soccer participant might come in useful as everybody battles for area within the river.

“Everyone’s like, People are going to be hitting you; it’s going to be physical, it’s going to be crowded,” he mentioned with amusing. “I’m like, listen, I’ve played football my whole life, and I played quarterback, so I’m used to being hit. If anyone’s ready for that, it’s probably me.”

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the employees author for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame. You can discover his work at: Frierson Files.