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It might surprise those who know him well, that for Dan Cohen, being an athlete didn't come naturally. He started the way a lot of kids do in the "state of hockey" (Minnesota) – on a frozen pond. But these days, Cohen's gear is for the open water, the open road and a fast finish.

Named 2006 Triathlete of the Year along with numerous other accolades, Cohen says he never thought his passion for sports would take him well beyond the rinks of Omaha to the beaches of Ironman competitions.

"I loved team sports, but no longer had the drive to play hockey. I got out of shape, and wanted to do something different, so I took up running," said Cohen, M.Ed and USAT Level II Coach for OptumHealth Performance, a personalized multisport coaching service that combines biometrics and a comprehensive training facility to prepare athletes for endurance events.

Back then, Cohen said he had no form and no regular pace. "My feet were really just pounding the pavement and I was running," he said. And while he was getting into better shape, Cohen realized that he needed to set a goal to perfect his form and stay motivated. "The first race I signed up for was the Grand Old Day 8K in 1998," said Cohen who even surprised himself when he finished 10th out of nearly 500 runners.

"I thought, wow, that was either a very good race for me, or I can really do this," Cohen laughed. "I guess in hockey I always knew how to bury it when I needed to, but I was running faster than I thought I could." Others noticed Cohen's ability too. He was approach by Gear West to be a part of their triathlon team and after finishing in the top ten in the Gear West Dualthlon and in 9th place in the Owatonna Triathlon, he was recognized as Rookie of the Year by Midwest Multisport. But don't get the wrong idea about Cohen. He's quick to point out that doing well in sports "… has and always will take a personalized plan, an understanding of your body's biometrics, physical limitations and a lot of hard work."

It's that personalized approach that sets Cohen apart from other coaches. "A goal that works for one person, doesn't necessarily work for another but it still takes knowledge about your body, emotional focus and determination to get there," said Cohen. "I tell people, it's going to hurt. It is. But you aren't going to die. You are going to finish. That is your mantra today and every time your mind tells you that you can't finish the 5K, run 26.2 or whatever goal you have set for yourself. You repeat the mantra. I'm going to finish. I'm going to finish."

In order to finish something like Ironman, one must essentially complete a series of long-distance triathlon races consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike and a marathon (26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run, raced in that order and without a break and in 17 hours. Cohen has successfully completed Ironman three times.

"When you have that much time to think, it's deeply personal. Going extreme distances like that stirs up all kinds of thoughts, not to mention pain, which is another reason a personalized plan is so valuable and important," said Cohen. "Our bodies are designed differently. It's one of the many reasons a personalized approach to coaching works. Watching individuals set goals, progress and achieve what they set out to do, is truly an amazing and rewarding privilege."

Find out more about services provided by the OptumHealth Performance team by logging onto www.optumhealthperformance.com.

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