During the workday, Scott Bradley serves as the CTE Principal for Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, overseeing the programs that help students develop skills to prepare for their future. And for more than 15 years, most of his spare time has been spent preparing for one of the most challenging triathlon races: Ironman.

After watching the Tour de France in person, Bradley started cycling. Years later, he was looking to try something new, and Ironman piqued his interest. The event consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2-mile run. Bradley raced his first Ironman in Cozumel, Mexico in 2011.

“I enjoy the challenge that racing brings, but also the discipline of the journey to prepare,” Bradley said. “There are no shortcuts to be ready for events like that. Completing that work and preparing for races is very rewarding, especially when you can put together a good day on race day.”

In September 2023, Bradley qualified for the World Championship after finishing fourth in his age group and eleventh overall at the Chattanooga, TN race. Just over a year later, the countless hours of training culminated as he arrived in Kona, Hawaii, for the Championship. Despite the heat, humidity and wind, Bradley completed the race.

“I had a mixture of nervousness and excitement when I got to Hawaii,” he said. “Qualifying was the hard part, so I didn’t have the pressure of that. I tried to focus on just enjoying the experience.”

The World Championship was Bradley’s 15th Ironman race, so he is considering sticking to middle-distance races in the near future. He also looks forward to hiking the remainder of the Adirondacks peaks and participating in The Great Race in Auburn.