Zane Hodge, known for years of athletic challenges that have raised money for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, has decided to challenge himself in a new way this year.
This time, the Greenwood resident will pair with friend and training partner Tyler Kirk in what they’re calling the Crazy Man Quadrathon.
Scheduled for June 2, the event combines the traditional events of a triathlon — swimming, cycling and running — with powerlifting.
Hodge, who will turn 66 the day of the competition, has for years raised money for the foundation through the Chicot Challenge, swims of 13 miles to his personal best of 23 miles at Lake Chicot at Lake Village, Arkansas.
Last year, to freshen things up, he created the Great Geezer Run, a 107-mile run from Greenwood to Ridgeland.
A new challenge awaits him this year.
“Just trying to move the challenge around a little bit,” he said. “Keep it interesting. Things like really extreme endurance events, they need to frighten you a little bit. The Chicot Challenge wasn’t scaring me anymore, so I came up with this one.”
His training peaked in intensity last week. He ran 21 miles, biked 102 miles, swam 20,000 meters and lifted weights three times.
He said Kirk “is up for anything I can dream of. I keep coming up with crazy ideas, and all he says is, ‘I’m in.’”
Kirk, 27, is “a natural athlete” and “a lot stronger than I am,” Hodge said. “The last 15 years, I’ve been the best swimmer in Greenwood. I’m not anymore. Tyler is.”
The pair’s challenge will be conducted in and around Greenwood. The two will run a total of 10 miles, bike 107 miles, swim one mile and do four weightlifting events: a max squat, a bench press, a dead lift and a log press.
Rather than approaching it as a competition, the two will be pushing each other to finish, Hodge said.
Hodge’s efforts have raised more than $14,000 for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi.
“Somewhere along the way, I realized it’s just too much to be just about me,” he said. “I turned it into a fundraiser for diabetes. I was kind of sensitive to diabetes since I’ve been around so much of it.”
He said he has lost many friends and loved ones, including his mother, to the disease, and he wants to bring awareness to the seriousness of the issue, noting that the Delta has the highest concentration of diabetes per capita in the world.
After he originally donated to the American Diabetes Association, he said, the DFM’s director reached out to him asking him to consider that organization. After doing some vetting, Hodge said he found the value in raising money for an organization that helps fellow Mississippians.
Those who wish to donate money may mail a check made out to the foundation to Hodge’s address at 722 Crockett Ave., and he will ensure the checks are delivered to the foundation.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwa-rds@gwcommonwealth.com.
