Paul Wozniakowski

TRIATHLETE
There is no doubt 37 year old Paul has always been a natural athlete, running his first marathon in ’97 at Chicago with a 3:40 finish time.  It wasn’t until recovering from a torn ACL he sustained snowboarding that a friend coaxed him into trying triathlon.  Paul’s first “real triathlon race” was the 2003 Chicago Triathlon where he finished 2:24.  He has competed in countless triathlons at all distances but became hooked on Ironman when he completed his first Ultramax Ironman KS with a 10:55 finish time.  Since that time, Paul has become a six-time Ironman finisher with his last race, 2008 Ironman Wisconsin, qualifying him for that coveted Kona spot. Congratulations, Paul!

Paul credits his ability to balance a career, training and family to his very supportive wife, Dora, and 13 year old son, Alex.  They push him out the door for training and are his biggest supporters during races.  Paul also acknowledges his coach, Adam Zucco, for helping him to perfect his pacing this year.

One of Paul’s motivations for endurance sports and for making it to Ironman Hawaii comes from a comment made by his father while they were watching Ironman Hawaii on TV.  He argued with Paul that “it is impossible for someone to do all that in one day.”  His father passed away before he could see his son finish that first Ironman many years ago.  Paul will be wearing a shirt with his dad’s picture on it across the finish line at IMHI.  His father will not only be there to see him finish in Hawaii, but Paul will prove that “it can be done in one day, and I can and did do it, Dad.”