When Dale Nelson was a CCHS student he competed in football and down hill skiing. Now, at age 48, Nelson has resurrected some of that athletic talent and he competes in triathlons. This fall he entered a triathlon in Madison, Wisconsin where he swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26 miles 385 yard in a total time of 12 hours 31 minutes and 37 seconds.
Dale Nelson is a very fit 48-year-old, and he demonstrated his fitness when he completed a full Iron Man competition in Madison, Wisconsin on September 9.
Nelson, the son of Charles and Lucille Nelson of Lutsen and a 1983 graduate of Cook County High School, swam 2.4 miles in 1 hour 30 minutes; biked 112 miles in 5 hours 53 minutes and ran a full 26 mile 385 yard marathon in 4 hours and 56 minutes to total 12 hours 31 minutes and 37 seconds. His wife Kristin followed him to make sure he ate right and got enough liquids as he competed.
It should come as no surprise to learn that Dale and Kristin make their living in the fitness field. They started and own “My Body Shop Fitness Center” located in Delano, Minnesota, where they have lived the past 20 years.
The couple got interested in opening a fitness center after competing in Tae-KwonDo at Delano school and meeting other people interested in working towards fitness goals.
Dale and Kristin have owned the fitness center for just over a year and were awarded the 2012 New Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Delano Area Chamber of Commerce. The couple’s two children, Caitlin and Christopher, also help at the center. When he’s not working out Dale is the chief project engineer at the Hilton Hotel downtown Minneapolis.
“The last couple of years Dale has competed in a number of triathlons in the Twin Cities area. He really worked hard to get into this competition,” his mother said.
Dale was a good athlete in high school, competing in football and downhill skiing, qualifying for state twice in skiing. Now that he’s older, he has taken more of an interest in endurance sports, something his father is noted for through his exploits as an accomplished cross-country skier.
“Charlie is 82 but still skiing,” said his wife Lucille said, adding, “But it’s getting harder for him. It’s not like it used to be, but he’s out there still doing it.”
Lucille also competed in several Birkebeiner cross country ski races, so when it comes to Dale’s gravitating towards endurance sports, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
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