It goes without saying. IRONMAN triathlons are intense.

Cold-water swimming for 2.4 miles, followed by 112 miles on a bike, and capped off with a 26.2 marathon run.

It takes someone special to conquer such a challenge.

Perhaps someone like a civil engineer?

Isaac Kontorovsky is a principal and vice president for BKF Engineers as well as vice president of the ASCE San Diego Section, and he recently took on IRONMAN California. Swim, cycle, run – all of it.

And he found a lot of common ground between his civil engineering career goals and the challenge presented by the most grueling of endurance sports.

In episode 172 of ASCE Plot Points, Kontorovsky talks about the why and how of his IRONMAN experience and why it might be more relatable to civil engineers than most realize.

Learn more about Isaac and his journey at his website.