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Take Up a New Sport
Jonathan Shield on flickr.com
If Jeff Conine were like most recently-retired baseball players, he’d likely be spending his time these days fishing, golfing, and traveling the world. In short, he’d be enjoying the typical pursuits a 42-year-old with financial security might enjoy.
But like a young entrepreneur who sells one company only to start another, Conine is not taking it easy. Instead, the 17-year veteran of six Major League teams has been spending long hours swimming, cycling, and running in preparation for an ambitious triathlon schedule that will culminate in the Ironman world championship in Kona, Hawaii, on October 11.
Several of his ex-teammates, accustomed to the less rigorous conditioning of baseball, have questioned his sanity. “Guys in my position are supposed to sit back and relax, not do something ridiculous like this,” says Conine, who lives and trains in South Florida.
Conine jumped right into the sport after retiring at the end of last season, skipping the entry-level sprint distance and making his debut in April at an Olympic-distance race in St. Petersburg, Florida. Three weeks later, he completed a half-Ironman distance race in Orlando.
“I didn’t think he’d jump into something that would make you train that hard,” says Brian Roberts, who has trained at Athletes’ Performance for years and was a teammate of Conine’s with the Baltimore Orioles. “You see some guys get out of the game and let themselves go. I knew he wouldn’t be one of those guys, but I certainly didn’t think training for a triathlon would be necessary. It’s cool, though. I respect him a lot. I can’t imagine putting my body through that once I stop playing.”
Conine is best known for his role as a first baseman and outfielder for Florida Marlins teams that won the World Series in 1997 and 2003. At 6-foot-1, he finished his last baseball season at 220 pounds, heavy by triathlon standards, and until recently had limited swimming experience. But he was regarded as one of baseball’s better athletes, having played professional racquetball as a minor leaguer.
He certainly looks the part, having been told for years he resembles Lance Armstrong, a likeness that became more pronounced as he lost weight while training for triathlons.
Though baseball is an anaerobic sport with short bursts of activity, unlike the long aerobic nature of triathlon, Conine believes the experience of playing a mentally taxing sport over a 162-game season eased his transition.
“It’s all about being mentally tough,” he says. “With long-distance triathlon, it’s all about knowing when to push your body and when to rest and persevering through these boring six-hour rides and three-hour runs.”
Most triathletes must either qualify or win a lottery spot for entry into that event. Ironman officials granted Conine one of several special invitations given to athletes with compelling stories.
“It’s the most grueling test in sports and for some odd reason that really appeals to me,” says Conine. “I figured the first year of retirement is the time I’ll figure out what to do with the rest of my life so why not take on the biggie now?”
Though Conine’s baseball career did not officially end until March, when he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Marlins, he had no plans to return this year and began triathlon training in October. He left baseball with no lingering ailments, but suffered a broken collarbone the day after Christmas after falling off of his bike. Surgery followed a week later and it wasn’t until March that he was fully recovered.
When Conine retired from baseball, ex-players told him his body’s natural rhythms would make him yearn for the sport come springtime. That didn’t happen, Conine says, since he was so immersed in triathlon training.
“It was a little odd at first being at home training every day and watching ESPN in the evening and seeing my buddies playing baseball, but I’m good with it,” Conine said. “I’m not dying to get back out there. I’m loving the family life, doing whatever I want to do. And triathlon is a whole different challenge.”
The competition, even at the age group level, can be every bit as intense as what he grew accustomed to on the baseball diamond. Like any triathlete, he finds himself trying to set a new personal best in every workout and catch the person ahead of him in every race.
He also plans to stick with the sport even after completing the Hawaii Ironman, which will be held just as the American League and National League Championship Series get underway.
“Getting that title of Ironman will be extremely cool,” he says. “You don’t want to train all that time and just give it up. I know I’ll stay involved in the sport. People always told me it was an addicting sport and I’m starting to understand that now.”
About The Author
Pete Williams – Pete Williams is a contributing writer for CorePerformance.com and the co-author of the Core Performance book series.
