McGuireWoods Consulting’s senior vice president and McGuireWoods partner Mike Reynold recently completed an IRONMAN triathlon on April 26, 2025, in The Woodlands, Texas.
This challenging endurance event requires athletes to complete a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and a full 26.2-mile marathon. The weather was challenging; he battled 88 degree temperatures and 25+ mile headwinds.
While Reynold considers himself a slow and plodding amateur athlete, he has gradually built experience through various ultra-endurance events, including finishing the IRONMAN 70.3 in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and a 36-hour race up-and-down Mt. Whistler in British Columbia, Canada, climbing the height of Mt. Everest. In 2023, he completed the 50-mile Man Against Horse race in the Arizona high desert, beating one of the horses across the finish line. So the full IRONMAN felt like a natural next step.
“I really enjoyed the discipline of waking up early to train and developing new mental toughness skills,” Reynold said. “Because I was on my feet for so long, it was essential that I went into race day being as prepared physically and mentally for all of the unexpected challenges.”
Looking back on the experience, Reynold hopes that sharing his journey might encourage others to consider pursuing their own meaningful challenges, whatever they may be.
“What I’ve learned is that regardless of distance or duration, every event brings periods of self doubt and uncertainty,” Reynold reflected. “But there’s nothing like crossing the finish line and knowing that I pushed myself to the limit.”
Reynold’s journey serves as a reminder that with a positive attitude and preparation we can often achieve more than we initially believe possible.
