Chris "Macca" McCormack is one of the most accomplished professional Ironman triathletes in the game. Known for his aggressiveness and willingness to talk trash in the press, he has enjoyed both spectacular success and crushing defeats. In 2010, at the age of 37, Macca beat the odds and won the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii for a second time in what many called the most dramatic finish in the race's history. He recently published a new book, I am Here to Win, that chronicles his life in the sport.
I recently spent a day with Chris in New York to talk fitness and hear about his race experience, after getting smoked on the treadmill (I gave Macca a proper New York welcome by secretly cranking up the resistance on his bike) which didn't seem to phase him in the least. With a grueling training schedule I had to ask Chris if he ever actually enjoyed working out and with trademark Australian cheeriness he replied "A lot of it is fun, I actually enjoy it. Training has just been a way of life for me since I was a kid, I have two brothers and a very active family so I only have ever known exercise and it has always been enjoyable for me and I think that was why it was an easy transition to sport and pro sport -- because I enjoy it"